Assessing Arkansas' 2016 class the week before signing day

Arkansas’ 2016 recruiting class got a boost recently with the addition of four-star running back Devwah Whaley.

In doing so, head coach Bret Bielema’s class of 17 players saw its rankings, according to 247Sports, rise from No. 30 nationally to No. 23 (No. 9 in SEC), where the Hogs currently sit with less than a week before National Signing Day.

But the coach isn’t done yet, and it’s very possible that Arkansas can still add several key pieces as he pushed his class toward his goal of about 25 players.

Bielema has already had a coup on the recruiting trail and didn’t have to leave the Natural State to land strong-side defensive end McTelvin “Sosa” Agim — the first ESPN five-star recruit in Razorback history since the news outlet began its star rating system seven years ago. Equally impressive is that Bielema lured Agim, arguably the top defensive end in the country, to Fayetteville out of a southwest portion of the state that’s heavily-invested in conference rival LSU.

There’s no mistaking that Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema is looking to add depth along his defensive front this recruiting season. The coach currently has a quartet of defensive ends committed to his 2016 recruiting class and is still pursuing at least four more at the position in the days leading up to Feb. 3.

Arkansas also has a trio of three-star wide receivers arriving in Fayetteville, which should provide nice depth to what might be the most experienced corps of pass-catchers returning to the SEC next year. The coach also has three, three-star linebackers in this year’s crop.

The biggest area of need, however, where the Hogs could use someone that can come in and make an early impact is in the secondary. Arkansas, along with much of the SEC, is still in pursuit of cornerback Kristian Fulton, who is rumored to be leaning toward the aforementioned LSU. If Bielema fails to convince Fulton to bring his talents to the Razorbacks, the coach could still strengthen his last line of defense by adding cornerback Eric Cuffee or coveted safeties Brandon Jones and Deontay Anderson.

We find out Bielema’s magic on Feb. 3.

ASSESSING ARKANSAS’ 2016 CLASS

Current commits or enrollees: 17 (avg. star 3.41)

Remaining primary targets: CB Kristian Fulton, S Brandon Jones, WDE Brian Burns, S Deontay Anderson, OLB Jeffrey McCulloch, DT Chris Daniels, RB Kyle Porter

National/SEC rank: 23/9

NOTABLE COMMITS