Arkansas’ 2027 recruiting class took another hit Tuesday when Marion, Ark., running back Jeremiah Dent backed off his pledge to Ryan Silverfield and the Razorbacks.
Dent, listed at 6-0 and 200 pounds, had been committed to Arkansas since May 2, when he picked the Hogs over Ole Miss, Auburn, Miami and Vanderbilt. His de-commitment comes with Arkansas set to face Vanderbilt on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Nashville, Tenn.
The change drops Arkansas from 37th nationally and 15th in the SEC to 42nd in the national rankings, though the Razorbacks still sit ahead of Mississippi State in the conference standings.
Dent’s season was cut short in the first game after he piled up 282 all-purpose yards in the opener. Per 247Sports, he ranked as Arkansas’ fifth-highest commitment with an overall grade of 88. He was rated the No. 50 running back in the country and the No. 2 player in Arkansas.
This is the second straight Tuesday the Razorbacks have lost a commitment. Last week, 86 three-star wide receiver Darion Moseley of Alabaster, Ala., Thompson, de-committed after drawing a recent push from Northwestern and others. Arkansas has also felt pressure on four-star receiver commitment Jabari Watkins of Thomasville, Ga., Thomas County, with Louisville and others involved.
Arkansas still has 22 commitments in the fold, including nine on offense. That group includes Watkins, Auburn, Ala., quarterback Cason Myers and Clarksville, Tenn., Kirkwood tight end Parker Keenan, along with five offensive linemen: Alijah Shaw of Overland Park, Kan., Blue Valley North; Teagan Parizek of Hendersonville, Tenn.,; Judah Gumbs of Seffner, Fla., Armwood; Bradley Sturdivant of Sheridan, Ark.; and Henry Frazier of Rogers, Ark.
On defense, the class includes three defensive linemen in Mahonri Maiava of Garden City, Kan., Garden City C.C., Jonesboro, Ark., Valley View tackle Eli Thornton and Murfreesboro, Tenn., Riverdale lineman James Stewart. The group also features edge rusher Keith Richmond of Pinson, Ala., Clay-Chalkville, Fayetteville, Ark., linebacker Will Caston, Bridge City, Texas, linebacker Bryce Breeden, and five defensive backs: cornerback Kevin Grant of Arlington, Texas, Martin; cornerback Stanley Peters Jr. of Seminary, Miss.; cornerback John Catlin IV of Denton, Texas, Ryan; safety Rashaad Silver of Decatur, Ga., Columbia; and safety Jameer Cantrell of Buford, Ga.
The Razorbacks also have two specialists committed in kicker Rocco DePrima of Columbia, Mo., Rock Bridge, and punter Declan Hamm of Lewisville, Texas.
HawgSports said it will have more coming, including a VIP refresher on the running back targets who visited Arkansas in June as potential additions to the class.
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Arkansas Heads Into Vanderbilt With Its Offense Under Pressure
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Vanderbilt now offers the next chance to show whether Arkansas can settle into a more reliable rhythm and handle the kind of in-game adjustments that separate a functional offense from an inconsistent one. For a team trying to prove it can execute cleanly and adapt when things go sideways, this game carries extra weight because the answers matter as much as the result. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas' Fourth Quarter Failure Left One Offensive Question Looming
Arkansas spent much of the night searching for an offensive rhythm, and the stretch that mattered most came in the fourth quarter of a 24-17 loss to No. 15 Tennessee. Ryan Silverfield reviewed the defeat with an eye on how the Razorbacks handled the critical downs, including a third-and-10 call that ended with a running back draw and helped underscore how hard it was for the offense to stay on schedule late.
The broader issue was even more troubling for Arkansas, which went 0-for-9 on third downs of three yards or more and never quite found a way to keep drives alive. Silverfield also discussed Braylen Russells role and development, noting the need for him to grow into a more complete back as the Razorbacks keep sorting out what this offense is capable of when the game tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Recruiting Pressure Is Growing At The Worst Time
Recruiting churn has started to hit Arkansas at an awkward point, with running back Dent backing off his pledge and reopening his recruitment. His decision makes him the third Razorbacks commit to do the same in the 2027 class, following Odafe Oruru and Darion Moseley, a stretch that adds pressure to a cycle the staff had hoped to stabilize earlier.
Even with the recent setbacks, Arkansas still has several in-state commitments in place and is working to stay in the mix for other targets. The Razorbacks 2027 group sits at No. 46 overall right now, leaving plenty of room to climb, but also plenty of urgency if the staff wants to keep the class from slipping further. [Read more 🡒]