FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Caleb Gordon, a 3-star linebacker from Ashbrook High School in Gastonia, North Carolina, left his official visit to Arkansas highly impressed by the Razorbacks’ football program, joining other 2026 recruits with positive experiences.
The 6-foot, 215-pound standout made an impact for the Green Wave, amassing 141 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks, and two interceptions, helping his team reach the third round of the state playoffs.
Gordon is ranked No. 999 overall nationally, No. 77 among linebackers, and No. 40 in North Carolina.
He holds offers from Virginia, Liberty, Appalachian State, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Memphis, North Carolina, Pitt, and Virginia Tech.
During his official visit to Arkansas over the weekend, Caleb Gordon observed the deliberate approach of sixth-year head coach Sam Pittman.
“Coach Pittman is an exceptional coach,” Gordon remarked. “His genuine care for the program, assistant coaches, and players really stands out.”
In the SEC, everything is elevated, and Gordon found Razorback Stadium and the facilities for Arkansas student-athletes to be state-of-the-art, comparable to top programs nationwide.
“The stadium blew me away,” Gordon said. “It’s massive.”
Throughout his tenure at Arkansas, head coach Sam Pittman has benefited from strong linebacker play under defensive coordinators Barry Odom (2020-22) and Travis Williams (2023-present).
“The coaches’ commitment and passion for the Razorbacks program really stood out to me,” Caleb Gordon said during his visit.
Recruits often evaluate which programs can best prepare them for a future in football, and Williams is building a linebacker room focused on that goal. Since 2020, Arkansas has developed standout linebackers like Grant Morgan, Drew Sanders, Bumper Pool, Hayden Henry, and now Xavian Sorey.
Sorey, a former Georgia linebacker, led the Razorbacks with 99 tackles last season, including 9.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. At 6-foot-3 and 231 pounds, the senior is poised to solidify his status as a potential 2026 NFL Draft pick, establishing himself as one of the SEC’s and nation’s top linebackers.
Williams’ linebacker group also boasts young talent, including sophomore Brad Shaw, a former 4-star recruit who committed to Arkansas on Christmas Day 2023. Ranked No. 192 overall in the 2024 class, No. 16 among linebackers, and No. 14 in Alabama by 247Sports, Shaw chose Arkansas over offers from Clemson, Notre Dame, Auburn, Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, Missouri, Tennessee, and USC.
Another promising talent is true freshman Tavion Wallace, a highly sought-after 2025 recruit with 24 offers from programs like Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Auburn, LSU, Michigan, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ohio State, South Carolina, and USC. The 6-foot-1, 228-pound linebacker recorded 49 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, two interceptions, a forced fumble, one pass break-up, and a blocked extra point in high school. Offensively, he added 506 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 56 carries as a running back, showcasing his physicality and versatility.
Williams emphasizes a relentless work ethic in his defensive unit, a mindset echoed by the team. “Tavion Wallace stood out to me,” said teammate Worth. “He works like a walk-on, always putting in extra effort before and after practice. He has an edge and drive, and I expect big things from him.”
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