Silverfield sparks Hogs’ recruiting push with four local commitments

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — In his first real recruiting swing as the new head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks, Ryan Silverfield used a brief dead period to land four major Arkansas prospects — an early sign of renewed in-state focus for the program.

Silverfield’s haul included the state’s top-ranked player, defensive lineman Danny Beale from Cross County; four-star defensive lineman Anthony Kennedy Jr. from Little Rock Central; four-star running back Terry Hodges from Bryant, who flipped from Missouri; and three-star linebacker Jakore Smith, a former Oklahoma commit also from Bryant.

Silverfield told reporters Thursday in Fayetteville that constant communication played a large role in pulling the class together.

He joked that he probably “talked for about 20 hours straight” between text messages and phone calls before the commitments were finalized.

He added that a key factor in these decisions was what he called “in-state pride.” For many of these prospects, staying home and joining Arkansas mattered.

He said the Razorbacks pushed that message from the start, noting that local talent strengthens the foundation he hopes to build.

Restoring in-state momentum

In recent years, the Razorbacks struggled to keep top Arkansas players in the state.

Part of that was due to on-field performance, but another part stemmed from the previous staff’s shift away from aggressively prioritizing in-state recruits.

With Silverfield now leading the program, the approach appears to be changing. Arkansas has put more resources toward identifying and recruiting local prospects, and the early results suggest the staff’s message has been well received.

Silverfield said he had built relationships with some of these players before taking the Razorbacks’ job, which helped create trust once he made his pitch.

“We talked about building something special,” he said. He emphasized that the rebuild is intended to start immediately, not several years down the road.

Those efforts produced one of the strongest early in-state pushes the Razorbacks have made in several seasons. The early signing period is still ahead, but the commitments give Arkansas needed momentum.

The four additions also send a clear signal to high school programs across the state: Arkansas intends to be a major presence again in local recruiting.

Looking ahead: 2027 and beyond

Silverfield made it clear Thursday that this is only the beginning of the Razorbacks’ in-state strategy.

He said the program is already aiming to build what he called “the best recruiting class in program history” for 2027.

Quarterback Hank Hendrix of Fayetteville is among the early 2027 names receiving attention.

Running backs Trey Stewart of Little Rock Central and Jeremiah Dent of Marion are also on the Razorbacks’ radar and represent the next step in widening the in-state net.

With the NCAA recruiting dead period running through Jan. 4, Arkansas’ next major opportunities will come during early 2026 junior-day visits.

Those events could help determine whether Silverfield’s early gains turn into long-term stability.

Silverfield said he sees these first commitments as a foundation. His goal is for recruits to feel like Arkansas is the place to build their careers — not just a fallback option.

The message moving forward, he said, is simple: the Razorbacks want players who want to play in their home state and help reshape the program’s direction.

Key Takeaways

1. Ryan Silverfield quickly secured four major in-state commitments, including the state’s top player, Danny Beale.

2. “In-state pride” and long-built relationships were central to Silverfield’s early recruiting success.

3. Arkansas aims to build on this momentum as it targets a landmark 2027 recruiting class.