We’re less than 24 hours away from the most important day in America for fax machines — and college football programs — National Signing Day. What used to be a low-key event for only the hardest of hardcore fans has turned into a day-long spectacle, complete with hat dances, late drama and enough stars to fill a planetarium.

The recruiting class Arkansas signs on Wednesday will reflect where the Razorbacks are in the rugged SEC West: the Hogs are gaining strength, but there they still have a way to go.

Bret Bielema’s list of commitments ranked 23rd in the country and ninth in the SEC on Tuesday — solid, though not on the same level as Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss. The Razorbacks’ class ranks ahead of only Mississippi State among division foes.

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Still, the Razorbacks have reason to celebrate. Of the Hogs’ 22 expected signees, seven committed within the last two weeks. And they have a commitment from four-star RB Devwah Whaley, who is likely to be called upon to fill the void left by Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams, perhaps as early as next fall.

Arkansas signed the top four players in its home state, led by five-star DE McTelvin Agim. DT Austin Capps and ATH T.J. Hammonds are the other four-star in-state recruits. The Razorbacks also added two other four-stars, DT Briston Guidry from Louisiana and OG Jake Heinrich from Iowa.

So while Bielema isn’t recruiting the volume of blue-chip recruits brought in by SEC West powers, he is bringing in elite players suited for Arkansas’ power running game.

Bielema should sign five players from Arkansas — including the state’s top for prospects — and four others from Texas.  The overall tally should be 1 five-star and five four-stars, including  a badly needed top-flight running back. The Hogs dipped into Louisiana for four commitments and gained others in Florida, Mississippi, Missouri, Iowa, California, Rhode Island and Georgia.

It’s a class Arkansas can be happy with as it tries to continue its climb up the West ladder.

 ARKANSAS 2016 RECRUITING CLASS

  • National Rank: 23
  • SEC Rank: 9
  • No. of Commitments: 22
  • No. of Commitments by Rating: 1 five-star, 5 four-stars, 16 three-stars

Top incoming offensive players: Four-star RB Devwah Whaley, four-star ATH T.J. Hammonds, four-star OG Jake Heinrich, three-star WR Jordan Jones
Top incoming defensive players: Five-star DE McTelvin Agim, four-star DT Austin Capps,  four-star DT Briston Guidry
Primary remaining targets: Three-star OLB Calvin Bundage, three-star ILB Deontre Hardwick.
Best-case scenario: The Razorbacks have a strong class. Picking up Bundage and Hardwick would add depth at linebacker. Getting a signature from Whaley, who committed to Georgia before Mark Richt was fired and has been pursued by Texas, would be the best way to start the morning.

VERBAL COMMITS

  • Devwah Whaley, RB, four-star
  • Austin Capps, DT, four-star
  • T.J. Hammond, ATH, four-star
  • Briston Guidey, DT, four-star
  • Jake Heinrich, OG, four-star
  • Jordan Jones, WR, three-star
  • Jonathan Marshall, DE, three-star
  • Kofi Boateng, WR, three-star
  • Alexy Jean-Baptiste, OLB, three-star
  • De’jon Harris, ILB, three-star
  • Paul Ramirez, OT, three-star
  • Giovanni LeFrance, ILB, three-star
  • Deon Edwards, S, three-star
  • Cole Kelley, QB, three-star
  • Hayden Johnson, DE, three-star
  • Joseph Putu, CB, three-star
  • Grayson Gunter, TE, three-star
  • Dylan Hays, OG, three-star
  • Dee Walker, OLB, three-star
  • Micahh Smith, S, three-star

CURRENT CLASS

  • McTelvin Agim, DE five-star (early enrollee)
  • Terrance Malone, OG, three-star (signed)

Editor’s note: Saturday Down South’s references to recruiting rankings are to the 247Sports.com industry composite ranking.