FAYETTEVILLE — Those wanting Arkansas to add more four-star prospects to its 2020 commit list got their wish on Tuesday.
Memphis (Tenn.) Whitehaven linebacker Martavius French (6-2, 240) went public with his pledge to the Razorbacks on Tuesday, becoming their 14th commit in the 2020 class. And he could be bringing an equally talented teammate with him.
French, rated the No. 10 inside linebacker in the country by 247, is part of a duo of Whitehaven senior linebackers that Arkansas would love to add along with fellow four-star prospect Bryson Eason (6-2, 250), the nation’s 14th-best inside linebacker.
Both are expected to be on hand Friday for Arkansas’ Fall Kickoff Cookout, which brings several of the Razorbacks’ top 2020, 2021 and 2022 prospect to campus.
To be honest, these two kids look like fully grown men. They look like what college linebackers in the SEC should look like even though they have another year of high school left.
They both have been nominated for the Butkas Award, which honors the top high school and college linebackers.
If the Razorbacks can also add Eason, who has offers from Florida, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, South Carolina and others, it would give the program a talent influx at a position that has been depth-challenged for a long time.
Not to mention, not having to face them making plays for some other SEC program.
French is also a personable kid who could be a big recruiter in his own right in the Bluff City, a place where many other SEC teams have built up their own rosters.
Arkansas landed a pair of Memphis natives in the 2019 class with defensive end Eric Gregory and wide receiver Shamar Nash, who both finished their high school career at IMG Academy in Florida, signing in December and enrolling early.
The Razorbacks staff added defensive tackles coach and Memphis native Kenny Ingram, too, which should help the push into Memphis.
It would also give Arkansas a fourth four-star prospect pledged after a 2019 class that brought in a whopping 11, most of whom are likely to play significant roles this season.
While coaches and fans would no doubt like to have more of the four-star prospects at this time, it is clear that the offensive line and defensive fronts are being targeted this recruiting cycle after skill players and defensive backs dominated the last one.
French, who had 135 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles and 2 recovered fumbles as a junior, chose Arkansas over a top five that also included Florida, LSU, Mississippi State and Oregon.
Eason played in just six games last season, but still had 55 tackles and forced a fumble.
He was the Region-6A defensive player of the year as a sophomore while French won the award last season.
French made it clear during an unofficial visit to Fayetteville on March 9 that the combination of Razorbacks coach Chad Morris and defensive coordinator John Chavis had pushed Arkansas to the top of his list.
French becomes the second Tennessee prep linebacker to pledge to Arkansas in the past four days along with Knoxville West’s Drew Francis (6-2, 200), who committed Saturday night just a few hours before West defensive end Tyrece Edwards (6-2, 240) also committed to the Razorbacks.
He admits that LSU was his dream school going into the process, but Arkansas pushed ahead of the Tigers due to the depth chart and what he found in Fayetteville.
Both Whitehaven linebackers remind me of current Razorbacks linebacker De’Jon Harris, who led the SEC in tackles during the 2018 regular season with 118 - 62 solo stops.
They are extremely athletic and productive, have a mean streak and arrive at the ball with bad intentions.
Whitehaven also has another Division I player on its defense this season with three-star safety/linebacker Tamarion McDonald (6-2, 220), who has committed to Mississippi State and does not have an offer from Arkansas.
After finishing 23rd last season in the team football rankings, Arkansas is hovering around the No. 30 spot this season.
It’s certainly a process to get from 2-10 in Morris’ first season to where he wants the program to be, but the 11 four stars from last season and guys like French and Carthage, Texas, offensive lineman Ty’kiest Crawford - the nation’s No. 70 overall player - are the kind you need to get there.