Arkansas is enjoying one of its most talented classes in years with the class of 2024, but there is plenty of talent in the pipeline as well. That’s evident in our look at the top 20 prep Arkansas football players regardless of class.
In our list of the No. 20 through No. 11 players, which you can read here, we include multiple future high major college players — including Wyatt Simmons, the Hogs’ latest commit.
In the top 10 below, we see plenty more Arkansas football commits alongside one selection that is sure to raise a few eyebrows…
10. Mytorian Singleton | Bryant | 6-0, 190 | WR | 2024
It would be difficult to find anyone in the state of Arkansas who has made more clutch plays in the biggest moments than Mytorian Singleton. The first two that come to mind are when he hauled in the game-winning touchdown catch against Conway and also snagged a pass on fourth-and-three in the state finals, only to be on the receiving end of the winning score moments later. Both were from his sophomore season in 2021.
Singleton also helped the Hornets win another trophy last season, their state-record fifth consecutive title, while leading the team in all receiving categories with 41 catches for 646 yards and eight touchdowns. Singleton is not ranked by any recruiting services, but does own offers from Arkansas State, Central Arkansas, North Alabama and UT-Martin.
9. Kobe Branham | Fort Smith Southside | 6-6, 320 | OL | 2024
A mammoth prospect who can effectively play multiple positions along the offensive front, Kobe Branham is a three-year starter and was tabbed all-state in 2022 despite playing in only eight games.
The three-star prospect received his first offer from Texas A&M via former Arkansas head coach and current Aggies offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, which led to more offers including, Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss and others. He announced his pledge to the Razorbacks on June 23.
8. C.J. Brown | Bentonville | 6-0, 185 | WR | 2024
C.J. Brown showed flashes of his potential as a sophomore for the Tigers when he hauled in 31 passes for 436 yards and five touchdowns in 11 games. He took multiple steps forward in 2022, leading the team — by a wide margin — in every receiving category with 66 receptions for 1,242 yards and 16 touchdowns while helping Bentonville to its first state finals appearance since 2017.
A three-star prospect, Brown’s offers include the likes of Arkansas, Kansas State, Louisville, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Purdue and Tennessee among others, but he has already made his decision, committing to the Razorbacks on June 15.
7. Marcus Wimberly | Bauxite | 6-1, 180 | DB | 2025
After a highly productive sophomore campaign, Marcus Wimberly was one of the state’s fastest rising prospects over the summer. He received his first Division I offer on May 11 from Arkansas-Pine Bluff, then Sam Houston State, Tennessee-Martin and Memphis followed before Arkansas became the first Power Five offer on June 17. Michigan also came in with an offer on June 21. It did not take long to figure out his future — Wimberly, who has been clocked at a 4.37 40-yard dash, gave his pledge to the home state Hogs on July 29.
A hard-hitting safety, Wimberly snagged three interceptions, returning two for scores, and compiled over 1,500 yards of total offense for the Miners in 2022.
6. Walker White | LR Christian | QB | 6-3, 220 | 2024
Walker White is the next one up in a family filled with high-caliber athletes, including his grandfather who was a starting wide receiver for Arkansas in the late 1960s. His father played golf, one of his older brothers played baseball and another brother played football for the Hogs. While White’s college future will be spent at Auburn, he and Little Rock Christian have extremely high expectations for the 2023 season after a heartbreaking ending in last season’s 6A quarterfinals.
Rivals ranks White the highest of all the recruiting services, tabbing him the No. 3 quarterback and No. 178 overall prospect in 2024. He paired with sophomore running back Ronny Anokye to form an impressive ground attack as White ran 100 times for 821 yards and a team-leading 16 touchdowns. However, he struggled some throwing the ball and finished the 2022 season with 1,972 passing yards and 25 touchdowns to nine interceptions while completing 53% of his passes.
College coaches from all over took notice as Walker’s lengthy offer list included Alabama, Arkansas, Clemson, Florida, LSU, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Texas A&M.
5. Derrick Murdock | LR Southwest | LB | 6-2, 220 | 2024
Derrick Murdock frustrated opposing offensive coordinators while playing for Little Rock Mills in 2022, finishing with 111 total tackles, an impressive 52 for loss, 15 sacks, five forced fumbles and three recoveries and six pass deflections. Murdock is not currently ranked by any national recruiting services and his only offers are from the FCS ranks — from Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Alcorn State, Lindenwood (Mo.), Texas A&M-Commerce and UT-Martin.
How can someone without even an FBS offer be ranked so high, you ask?
Well, on top of what he has already proven, Murdock transferred to Little Rock Southwest in the spring and has already received very high praise from new head coach Daryl Patton, who told SBLive Arkansas that he compares him to former Razorback and current San Francisco 49ers starting linebacker Dre Greenlaw. Patton was Greenlaw’s high school coach at Fayetteville. Patton mentioned that Murdock will primarily play safety while also contributing at linebacker, as well as on the edge in some packages for the Gryphons. He was named as one of the Most Valuable Players during July’s Top Gun Showcase in Naples, Fla.
4. Braylen Russell | Benton | 6-2, 235 | RB | 2024
Braylen Russell re-commited to Arkansas on July 14, solidifying his college decision after opting to open up his options last October, nearly a year after he was the Hogs’ first commitment for the 2024 class. The four-star back is most heralded by ESPN, which lists Russell as the 228th-best player overall and 16th-best running back in 2024. He picked Arkansas over Tennessee and South Carolina, along with a host of Power 5 offers.
Following an impressive sophomore campaign at Hot Springs Lakeside, Russell transferred to Benton and helped the Panthers to the 6A state semifinals. He gashed opposing defenses, rushing 240 times for 1,643 yards (6.8 yards/carry) and 26 scores — all while nursing a broken toe throughout the season.
3. Charleston “Charlie” Collins | LR Mills | 6-4, 250 | DE | 2024
The consensus four-star prospect committed to Arkansas in April alongside his cousin, Courtney Crutchfield. Charleston Collins is ranked no lower than the No. 2 prospect in Arkansas across all recruiting services, with On3 and Rivals having him in the top spot. Along with the Razorbacks, Collins’ loaded offer list includes Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee and Texas.
While helping Mills to the program’s best season since 2010, Collins led the Comets with 124 tackles, including an incredible 46 for loss, 12 sacks, four pass deflections, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception.
2. Omarion Robinson | LR Parkview | 6-1, 180 | DB | 2025
Omarion Robinson has been exceptional since bursting onto the scene as a freshman for the Patriots. Playing just defense and special teams, he managed to score six touchdowns in as many games and was named to the MaxPreps Freshman All-America Team. Arkansas offered in January of 2022, while other offers include Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, Oregon, TCU, Tennessee, Texas and USC.
The four-star prospect is listed as the 10th-best safety for 2025 by ESPN and helped Parkview win its first state championship since 1978 while collecting seven tackles (five solo), hauling in a 69-yard touchdown pass and passing for another. For the 2022 season, Robinson logged 63 tackles, 22 pass breakups, four interceptions (including one returned for a score) and one forced fumble. He also compiled 1,041 all-purpose and 15 total touchdowns.
1. Courtney Crutchfield | Pine Bluff | 6-3, 175 | WR | 2024
Many consider Courtney Crutchfield as the top overall athlete in Arkansas and he has plenty to back that up. He committed to Arkansas over an impressive offer list that included Auburn, LSU, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Texas A&M, among others. Per 247Sports, Crutchfield is the top-ranked player in Arkansas for the Class of 2024, as well as the nation’s 11th-best wide receiver. He made the biggest jump of any prospect in the 2024 class, going from unranked to 64th, and has moved up three more spots since to No. 61 overall.
Crutchfield impressed on the national stage while competing in Overtime’s OT7 7-on-7 tournament in June, finishing in the Top 10. As a junior for Pine Bluff, Crutchfield caught 25 passes for 706 yards and 11 scores, along with collecting 30 tackles, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries on defense. Crutchfield also led the Zebras to their first state championship in basketball since 2015, earning 5A state tournament MVP honors, and was tabbed all-state in track and field, as well.
Analysis of the Top 20
As you’d expect, especially considering how deep the 2024 class is, most of the players are seniors. Three juniors (2025 class) made the cut, though.
Four teams had two teams on the list: Bryant, Little Rock Parkview, Malvern and Pine Bluff. Not surprisingly, three of those teams – Bryant (7A), Parkview (5A) and Malvern (4A) – are defending state champions.
Many of the players play both sides of the ball in high school, but 12 of them are projected to play on offense in college, while the other eight are projected defensive players.
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Want another take on the top prep Arkansas football players? Recruiting expert Byron Jenkins publishes an annual Top 40 list at ArkansasFootballRankings.com. Check out that outlet here for more Arkansas recruiting info.
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Did you miss the first part of our top-20 countdown? Check it out here:
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