National Signing Day 2016: Ranking and grading each SEC football recruiting class
The Arkansas Razorbacks have yet to break into the top half of the SEC in terms of recruiting, but the 2016 class is the best class head coach Bret Bielema has put together since coming to Fayetteville prior to the 2013 season. Though the group ranks ninth in the SEC, Arkansas landed a Top 25 class – No. 24, in fact, according to 247Sports.
There’s also some elite talent sprinkled in among Bielema’s usual crop of the underrated and overlooked. Defensive end McTelvin Agim the first consensus five-star player to sign with Bielema’s Hogs, and the first for the Razorbacks since Darius Winston in 2009.
Instant Impact Performer: DE McTelvin Agim
It would be reasonable to expect Agim to play early because of his elite talent though the Arkansas defensive line depth chart is stacked with veteran returning players. Agim is sure to push his way into the D-Line rotation once he arrives in Fayetteville this fall though he probably won’t join the starting lineup until either late 2016 or until his sophomore season.
Other day-one contributors include top-100 running back Devwah Whaley, who could make a case for carries in 2016 in relief of expected top tailback Kody Walker as the Hogs look to replace three-time 1,000-yard rusher, Alex Collins.
Underrated Signee: G Terrance Malone
Agim and Whaley both have the talent to contribute as a true freshman, but the most likely member of the 2016 Arkansas recruiting class to actually compete for a starting role is junior college transfer Terrance Malone. Ranked No. 132 among JUCO prospects in the 247Sports Composite, Malone is listed as a three-star prospect, and only had one other SEC offer (Mississippi State).
Nevertheless, Arkansas has a history of finding diamonds in the rough, and as an early enrollee, Malone will have a chance to make a name for himself this spring. Arkansas lost three members of the starting offensive line following the 2015 season, and Malone will have an opportunity to replace either Sebastian Tretola at left guard or slide into Frank Ragnow’s spot on the right side if Ragnow moves to center, as expected.
Unanswered Question: Is there an explosive offensive playmaker in this year’s class?
Arkansas lost a great deal of firepower from its 2015 offense. While top receivers Drew Morgan and Dominique Reed return, there’s always room on the field for a home run threat. Four-star athlete T.J. Hammonds is the best bet among this year’s newcomers.
Complete 2016 Arkansas Football Recruiting Class:
Final Thoughts: Bielema is one of the hardest working men in college football, as shown by the nearly 20,000 miles the head coach traveled in the six weeks leading up to signing day. As a result, the Razorbacks were able to land players from ten states, including nearby Texas and Louisiana as well as faraway California and Rhode Island. Such hard work also helped the Hogs to finish strong, as eight signees committed after the first of the year.
Next: Texas A&M