FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Fayetteville linebacker Will Caston didn’t have to wait long for his future to change.
After an eye-catching stretch at a Razorbacks 7-on-7 camp, the Class of 2027 prospect emerged from the crowd and saw his college football dreams crystallize.
Arkansas, the flagship program in his home state, extended a scholarship offer and it was a moment Caston said felt both inevitable and surreal.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound junior had already turned heads over the weekend, clocking a 4.50-second 40-yard dash at Arkansas’ on-campus camp. This wasn’t a fluke.
Caston had run a 4.51 at LSU, and he’s no stranger to speed, logging a 10.99-second 100-meter dash in the spring track season.
“The speed is definitely a blessing and something I use to my benefit,” Caston said, his voice betraying a blend of humility and quiet confidence.
Caston’s football roots run deep in Fayetteville.
The son of former Razorback Marvin Caston, who lettered with Arkansas from 1996 to 1999, Will grew up surrounded by the lore and pressure of Razorback football.
“It gives me a great deal of pride,” Marvin Caston said in a previous interview, reflecting on the generational handoff and mutual respect between the Castons and the program.
For Will, the Arkansas offer was more than a validation of his athleticism. It was an invitation to join a legacy and, perhaps, to write a new chapter for a program hungry for homegrown stars.
As a sophomore, Caston recorded 20 tackles, six tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries, and two pass deflections for the Bulldogs, showing a knack for getting into the backfield and disrupting plays.
Recruiters around the region have taken notice.
Before Arkansas, Tulane had already extended an offer, and Caston’s name has started circulating among recruiting analysts looking for the next breakout linebacker in the state.
“He’s got the speed, the measurables, and a football IQ you don’t always see in a player his age,” said a regional scout familiar with Caston’s development. “His ceiling is high, and he’s only getting better each season.”
The timing of Caston’s offer comes as Arkansas intensifies its push to lock down in-state talent. The Razorbacks’ 2025 recruiting class was recently ranked 31st nationally, and Hogs coach Sam Pittman has been vocal about building from within Arkansas’ borders.
“We believe in our state’s players,” Pittman said after a spring practice earlier this year. “If you can run and hit, there’s a place for you here.”
Caston’s combination of track speed and football instincts makes him a tantalizing prospect for a modern college defense.
His 195-pound frame is still filling out, and his times in the weight room benching 275 pounds and repping 185 pounds for 16 reps shows he’s committed to the grind.
At linebacker, he’s shown the ability to drop into coverage, shed blocks, and chase sideline to sideline.
The offer from Arkansas is also a point of pride for Fayetteville High School.
“Will’s the kind of kid every coach wants to have,” said Bulldogs coach Casey Dick. “He works as hard as anybody, he’s a great teammate, and he leads by example. When you see him run at a camp, you know he belongs at the next level.”
Caston’s performances at high-profile camps have only reinforced that assessment, drawing attention from both SEC rivals and national programs.
For Will, the next year promises to be a whirlwind of visits, calls, and decisions. While he’s keeping his options open, the pull of Arkansas is undeniable.
“It’s special,” Caston said. “I grew up watching the Hogs, and my dad played here. To have a chance to follow in his footsteps is something I’ve always thought about. I just want to keep working and see where it takes me.”
Off the field, Caston carries himself with a measured focus that belies his age. Teachers and coaches describe him as quiet but driven, equally attentive in the classroom and the film room.
“He’s a student of the game,” said Fayetteville defensive coordinator Marcus Carter. “He’s always asking questions, always looking for ways to improve. That’s rare.”
Caston’s trajectory will be closely monitored by recruiting services and college staffs alike this sesaon.
With his blend of speed, strength, and pedigree, he stands poised to become the latest in a line of Arkansas defenders to make headlines, not just for who his father is, but for the player he’s becoming.
In the world of college football recruiting, offers can be fleeting, and hype doesn’t always translate to production. Will Caston knows that.
“I know nothing is guaranteed,” he said. “That’s why I try to make every day count. Whether it’s practice or a camp or a game, I’m just going to give everything I’ve got.”
There’s a long road ahead before National Signing Day, and Caston isn’t taking anything for granted.
But with his family’s legacy, a burning drive, and the eyes of the Razorback faithful upon him, Fayetteville’s junior linebacker is already making a name for himself … one sprint, one tackle, one offer at a time.
