Arkansas
Regional Foes Look to Steal Elite Arkansas Talent if Wins Don’t Come
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Razorbacks have a fight on their hands to fend off regional foes for best in-state athletes. Things have already turned south for coach Sam Pittman and his staff after losing out on four of Arkansas’ 10 best players in the 2025 class.
The best remaining uncommitted in-state prospect for 2025 is Parkview safety Omarion Robinson who will announce July 6 after previously visiting Oregon. The Razorbacks, Oklahoma, LSU and the Ducks will be in a fight for Robinson until the bitter end as his recruitment may not be over until National Signing Day after all.
For the 2026 class, Arkansas is in good shape with two 4-stars in Kane Archer (Greenwood) and Evan Goodwin (Benton). Archer has been highly regarded since his junior high days hyped as the next big thing in-state.
Arkansas should be considered leaders for Archer, but SMU is in play. Mustangs coach Rhett Lashlee’s connections in the Natural State have definitely helped their case for the Greenwood product.
Archer’s father tells allHOGS his son loves Lashlee and SMU, but the Bobby Petrino factor intrigues the rising junior. Petrino’s history developing quarterbacks helps Arkansas with many elite passers.
During his first season as a starter for Greenwood, Archer passed for 2,400 yards with 33 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He added another 659 yards on the ground and an additional 16 scores.
Cross County’s 4-star defensive lineman Danny Beale has emerged as the state’s top prospect for 2026. Beale stands at 6-foot-3, 320 pounds and moves well at his size, according to former coach Cody Goulart.
“He’s a big ol boy,” Goulart said. “Great athlete and great movement. Best way to describe him is he moves like he is 225 pounds and 320.”
Goulart tells allHOGS the Arkansas staff is making a concerted effort to recruit Beale. He believes he is Arkansas’ top priotiy for the class as a whole.
When it comes to protecting Arkansas’ borders, there is certainly work to be done for several prospects. The Natural State doesn’t offer a pair of 4-star defensive linemen in a single class often, but this cycle bucks the trend.
Little Rock Southwest defensive tackle Anthony Kennedy is certainly a prospect the Razorbacks will have to scratch and claw to keep away from Missouri. The 6-foot-4, 285 pound lineman is athletic for his size and can handle any position along the line.
Eli Drinkwitz and the Tigers’ staff offered Kennedy last October while an Arkansas offer didn’t arrive until January. He also holds offers from Kansas State, Georgia, Texas A&M and Tennessee.
Other notable prospects are 4-star running back TJ Hodges of Marked Tree who received an Arkansas offer in May. The 6-foot-1, 175 pound back has elite speed with a personal best 10.91 second 100 meter dash.
Little Rock Parkview linebacker Jakore Smith has seen his recruitment blow up recently with offers from Florida State, Alabama, Kansas State and Tennessee. Smith is the No. 232 overall prospect in the country, according to 247sports.
Another Greenwood talent, Cody Taylor, says social media has helped his recruitment surge this offseason. He has received bumps and initial evaluations from three of the four recruiting publications.
Taylor is rated the No. 7 in-state prospect for 2026 and is being heavily pursued by Oklahoma and Virginia Tech. The 6-foot-3, 280 pound offensive guard has bought into the Sooners and Hokies family atmospheres where he feels more at home.
An offer from Arkansas has yet to come for Taylor although he feels his time is coming. Other power conference schools who have been in contact with him are Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, USF and Alabama.
HOGS FEED:
• Arkansas lands premier weekend starter out of portal
• Arkansas collects more Division I transfer portal position players
• Texas enters SEC loud, but numbers say Horns might want to quiet down
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After a cool/chilly morning that started in the 40s and 50s, Tuesday will warm to the upper 70s and low 80s with nothing but sunshine all day long.
There will be a weak front passing through Arkansas on Wednesday. There will briefly be a few clouds along the time the front actually passes through. But once the front clears, it will once again become sunny.
Starting Friday and lasting through the weekend and into next week a strong south wind will set up. That will warm Arkansas into the mid and upper 80s and introduce a higher level of humidity. It will feel a little like Summer this weekend. Rain chances will return to Central Arkansas starting on Sunday.
With a big upper-level system and cold front approaching early next week, the rain and thunderstorm chance will go up Monday, Monday night and Tuesday. Some strong to severe storms may occur Monday evening. The front will become stationary on Tuesday which will prolong the rainy period and overall help the drought situation Arkansas is facing.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — Purple is the color of the month in Arkansas, and Lupus Awareness Month is bringing a busy stretch of events, including a mayoral proclamation and a smooth jazz concert featuring acclaimed saxophonist Merlon Devine.
A proclamation for Lupus Awareness Month is set for 6 p.m. in North Little Rock, with Mayor Hardwick expected to present it. Organizers encouraged lupus warriors and supporters to come out.
Anita Boone, President of the Lupus Foundation of Arkansas Inc. and a former lupus warrior, described the day-to-day reality of living with the disease: “One minute you’re feeling amazing, the next minute your body is saying we can’t do this.”
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, described during the interview as a condition where the immune system attacks the body “inside out.” It can affect organs throughout the body, including the brain, lungs, heart and kidneys. Boone also shared personal impacts, saying, “I am losing, actually, ear from hearing, just because of lupus.”
The Lupus Foundation of Arkansas is also inviting the community to a Lupus Smooth Jazz Concert this Sunday, May 17, at 3:30 at The Space with Grace event venue, 2005 Main St., North Little Rock.
Gale Davis, committee chair for the Lupus Smooth Jazz Concert shared details about the concert.
Davis said guests are encouraged to “dress to impress,” though formalwear isn’t required. The event will include a photo backdrop, light hors d’oeuvres and beverages, and sponsored tables aimed at networking. It’s also a chance for people to meet other lupus warriors, learn more about the foundation’s work, and watch a video presentation highlighting events from the past year.
The featured artist, Merlon Devine, was described as an acclaimed saxophonist known for a soulful, smooth jazz sound, with a career spanning more than two decades and performances across the country and around the world. He’s also an Arkansas native who attended Little Rock Central High School. He now lives in Southern Maryland, outside Washington, D.C.
Davis said Devine’s connection to lupus is personal. She said his father had lupus and has since died, though he didn’t die from lupus. They also said Divine had a sister who died from lupus in 1981 and that he currently has two sisters living with lupus.
She also shared that, according to his doctors, Devine was born with acute asthma and underdeveloped lungs. His latest single, released last year, is called “Mercy.”
Tickets must be purchased online and will not be sold at the door. They’re available online by clicking on the flyer. Prices are $40 for individual tickets, or $400 for a table of nine, with an option to sponsor a table.
Organizers also noted another proclamation is planned for the Little Rock side with Mayor Frank Scott tomorrow, and encouraged people to follow the Lupus Foundation of Arkansas on social media for updates.
The concert will take place this Sunday at the Space With Grace Venue in North Little Rock.
ASHLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — An Arkansas man died after crashing a dirt bike on Sunday.
The 21-year-old Arkansas man, formerly from Newaygo, crashed into a tree while riding a dirt bike on private property in Ashland Township near Grant on Sunday before 2:30 p.m., according to Michigan State Police (MSP) troopers.
Emergency responders tried to save his life but he died at the scene.
Troopers are still investigating but do not suspect drugs or alcohol as factors in the crash.
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MSP did not initially release any additional information.
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