re: Arkansas Football 2026 Recruiting Thread **OT Bear McWhorter Commits**

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Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco athlete Tay Lockett has committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks for the class of 2026. Lockett, 6-0, 175, went public with his decision Thursday at approximately 5:30 p.m. central, choosing the Hogs over an impressive offer list of 39 schools.

Lockett’s list included Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC and many others. His mother is a native of Vilonia, Arkansas and still has family in the central part of the state, which helped the Razorbacks get Lockett to Fayetteville twice in the spring.

On Tuesday, Lockett reached out to HawgSports to explain why he’s ready to make a decision so early in the process, and why August 24 is a special day to announce it:

“I would just say since the minute I stepped on campus for the first time, they just took me and my family in so well,” Lockett said. “It just gave me such a home vibe. I just kept building such a great relationship with Coach T-Will (Travis Williams) and Coach (Marcus) Woodson. I really do trust them, so I just felt like now is the right time.

“Also, Thursday is both of my parents’ birthday, so I wanted to surprise them by committing to the University of Arkansas. We had talked about going to Arkansas, but they didn’t really have a clue (that I’m committing). Also, on Saturday we play St. Thomas Aquinas on ESPN, so we can get the name out there.”

Lockett, who is wanted as a defensive back in Fayetteville, informed Arkansas’ defensive coordinator of his decision before calling head Hog Sam Pittman.

“I just talked to Coach T-Will, he was just very excited,” Lockett said. “Because once I go, I’m the first ‘26 in the class to commit to the University of Arkansas, so I know that I’m going to bring in a lot more good ball players with me.”

One of Lockett’s personal targets is a former teammate in 2025 wide receiver Dreyden Garner, who visited Arkansas with Lockett on the weekend of April 15. Lockett and Garner played together last year at University City High but have since transferred to different schools, with Lockett landing at St. John Bosco and Garner now attending Lincoln High.

“Oh, I for sure think we can get Dre Garner,” Lockett said. He’s an athlete, he can play receiver or DB. But I definitely think that will help with me committing to Arkansas. He enjoyed his time there, too, so I feel like I can help get him there.”

Lockett also has his eye on another big name in the Natural State.

“Trying to build the 2026 class, you guys have Kane Archer in Arkansas,” Lockett said. “I definitely want to keep him in Arkansas. He’s big-time.”

Lockett has yet to be rated in the Class of 2026, but was recently mentioned as a prospect who just missed the Top100 earlier this summer.

The Razorbacks now have commitments across three recruiting classes, with 18 for the current 2024 class, two for the 2025 class, and one for 2026.

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Arkansas got a head start on its 2026 recruiting class Thursday as defensive back Tay Lockett committed to the Razorbacks.

A product of St. John Bosco High School in Southern California, Lockett has at least 23 offers from some of the nation's best, including USC, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Georgia, Michigan, Miami and others.

The sophomore defensive back — like much of the 2026 class so far — has yet to be rated by Rivals, but he is sure to be in the initial 2026 rankings.

Lockett told HawgBeat he saw what Arkansas can become in the future, and it’s something he wants to be a part of.

“I just feel like what Coach Pittman is building out there, the way that he’s running the program, they’re going to be a national powerhouse,” Lockett said.

Last season for University City High School in San Diego — where he played before he transferred to St. John Bosco — Lockett recorded 92 tackles, forced three fumbles and recovered five. He also intercepted seven passes, the most by a freshman in the San Diego Section of the CIF.

It's worth noting St. John Bosch High School is one of the best high school programs in the nation. Since 2013, the school has won three High School National Championships in 2013, 2019 and 2022.

It's also produced quality NFL talent, too. Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Trent McDuffie and former first-round pick Josh Rosen come from the school located south of Los Angeles.

Former Clemson and now-Oregon State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, as well as his brother Matayo -- a five-star defensive end in the 2023 class committed to Oregon -- also hail from St. John Bosco.

While roughly 1,560 miles separate Lockett’s high school campus from the University of Arkansas, Lockett won’t be by himself, which played into his decision. Lockett said his family is originally from Arkansas and moved to California before he was born.

He told HawgBeat that his grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncles, cousins, nephew and niece all currently live in Arkansas.

“All of my family lives out there, you know, so the decision to go there just feels right,” Lockett said.

Lockett is the first player in the class of 2026 to commit to the Razorbacks. Arkansas currently has 18 commitments in the 2024 class and two in the 2025 class.

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Cartersville (Ga.) Cass offensive lineman Bear McWhorter has committed to Arkansas' Class of 2026. The 6-4, 297-pound lineman went public with his decision on Sunday, becoming the Razorbacks' second commitment for the class, joining heavily-recruited safety Tay Lockett of Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco.

McWhorter chose the Razorbacks over Tennessee, Texas, Alabama, Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Florida State, Ole Miss, Penn State and many others. McWhorter, who was once displayed on a Northwest Arkansas billboard telling head coach Sam Pittman that he wanted an Arkansas offer, made it back to Fayetteville this past June for a camp and unofficial visit with the Hogs.

In addition to Lockett and McWhorter in the 2026 cycle, the Hogs also have two for 2025 in Maumelle (Ark.) Central Arkansas Christian quarterback Grayson Wilson and Bauxite (Ark.) safety Marcus Wimberly.

Arkansas has 18 commitments for the Class of 2024, including eight commitments on the offensive side of the ball in four-star quarterback KJ Jackson of Montgomery (Ala.) St. James, four-star running back Braylen Russell of Benton (Ark.), three-star athlete/running back Jadan Baugh of Decatur (Ga.) Columbia, four-star wide receiver Courtney Crutchfield of Pine Bluff (Ark.), four-star receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman of Missouri City (Texas) Ridge Point, three-star wide receiver CJ Brown of Bentonville (Ark.), three-star offensive lineman Kobe Branham of Fort Smith (Ark.) Southside, and three-star offensive lineman Zuri Madison of Lexington (Ky.) Frederick Douglass.

The Razorbacks have ten defensive commitments in four-star defensive lineman Charleston Collins of Little Rock (Ark.) Mills, four-star defensive lineman Kavion Henderson of Leeds (Ala.), three-star linebacker Justin Logan of Marietta (Ga.) Kell, three-star linebacker Wyatt Simmons of Searcy (Ark.) Harding Academy, four-star athlete Julius Pope of Batesville (Miss.) South Panola, four-star cornerback Selman Bridges of Temple (Texas) Lake Belton, three-star cornerback Jaden Allen of Aledo (Texas), three-star athlete Ahkhari Johnson of Texarkana (Texas) Pleasant Grove, and three-star defensive back Tevis Metcalf of Pinson (Ala.) Clay-Chalkville.

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Cartersville (Ga.) Cass 2026 offensive lineman Bear McWhorter announced his commitment to Arkansas on Sunday, choosing to play his college football for Sam Pittman and his staff over the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, NC State, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Penn State, Tennessee and Texas among others.

The 6-foot-4, 297-pound McWhorter visited many of those campuses, but nothing stacked up with the several trips to Fayetteville.

“I had seen everything I wanted to and met so many great people and nothing could compare to what Arkansas had to offer,” McWhorter told 247Sports. “I had been thinking in my head for a while that this is what I was gonna do.”

McWhorter becomes commit No. 2 for Arkansas in this sophomore class joining Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco athlete Tay Lockett who gave his verbal this past week.

“When I saw Tay commit I decided to go ahead and do it and build a special class with him,” McWhorter said.

McWhorter did not allow a sack as a freshman and comes into the fall a MaxPreps Sophomore All-American. Pittman and the Razorbacks staff were one of the first programs to offer back in January.

“I gotta say it's Coach Pitt and (Cody) Kennedy,” McWhorter said. “The combination of those guys, the area and the fanbase was too much for me to say no to.

“The people up there are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. The facilities don't lack anything and the offensive line guys Pittman has sent to league.”

That last part is why McWhorter trusts Pittman and Kennedy with his future.

“I would have to say their development of linemen as well as the relationships I’ve built with them,” he said. “Every time I talk to them it's not just about me and football. it's about my family and my personal life. It's different.”

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Fresh off landing one elite prospect in the class of 2026, the Hogs got more good news on Sunday as offensive lineman Bear McWhorter announced his commitment to join the Razorbacks.

McWhorter made the announcement on his Twitter account.

The Cartersville, Georgia, native chose Arkansas over a plethora of other programs, including Alabama, Georgia, Florida and others.

McWhorter has taken multiple visits to Arkansas, and said after his latest trip each time is better than the last

"I love it here," McWhorter said. "I think this is probably my sixth time back. I can't get enough of it. Every time I come up I learn something new about it and fall in love even more."

He is also expected to be on campus for the BYU game in Week 3.

With McWhorter’s commitment, Arkansas is up to two in the class of 2026. Defensive back Tay Lockett committed to the Hogs on Thursday.

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Tennessee, Texas, Alabama, Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Florida State, Ole Miss, Penn State

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