FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — For the third straight recruiting cycle, Arkansas’ top high school football prospect is heading out of state.
Cross County High School’s Danny Beale, a 4-star defensive lineman, announced his commitment to Oklahoma State on Wednesday via a post on his X account.
The 6-foot-4, 315-pound defensive tackle is one of the nation’s top-ranked players and has built a reputation for dominating opposing offenses throughout his high school career in Arkansas.
According to 247Sports, Beale is the No. 115 overall prospect in the 2026 class, ranked No. 15 among defensive linemen and holds the top spot among Arkansas recruits.
Beale chose the Cowboys over 21 other programs that extended scholarship offers, including Arkansas, Georgia, Missouri, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Mississippi State, Oregon, SMU, Texas A&M, USC, and more.
Danny Beale’s commitment to Oklahoma State comes as a surprise to many, especially after he made multiple visits to SEC programs such as Missouri and Ole Miss over the past year.
His decision highlights a growing concern for Arkansas football, which has struggled to keep top in-state talent home in recent recruiting cycles. That includes Delta-area standout Carius Curne, who flipped to LSU in the 2025 cycle after a brief commitment to the Razorbacks last summer.
Beale, known for his rare combination of size and agility at 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, has drawn national attention for his ability to disrupt offenses. Despite Arkansas’ strong push, the Razorbacks now face the possibility of missing out on each of the state’s top five players in the 2026 class.
No. 2 prospect Evan Goodwin of Bauxite has narrowed his choices to Missouri, Mississippi State, SMU, and Oklahoma State — none of which include Arkansas. The recruitment of No. 3 prospect Terry Hodges, a powerful running back, has remained relatively quiet, though he has taken official visits to both Arkansas and Missouri this month.
Meanwhile, new Bryant High School linebacker Jakore Smith, another 4-star prospect, committed to Oklahoma in May. Smith’s recruitment included offers from several national powers such as Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, and Arkansas, but ultimately the Sooners won out after a long process.
Little Rock Central 4-star defensive lineman Anthony Kennedy decommitted from Missouri last month, briefly giving Arkansas renewed hope in his recruitment. However, the window may be closing again.
Kennedy announced Monday on his X account that he has narrowed his choices to three schools: Miami, Missouri, and SMU. The 6-foot-4, 335-pound lineman is one of the most physically gifted players in the state and is considered one of the top defensive line prospects in the 2026 class.
As a junior at Maumelle, Kennedy posted 26 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and six sacks. He’s set to suit up for Little Rock Central this fall under third-year head coach Anthony Robinson.
It’s a rare occurrence for Arkansas to produce two 4-star defensive linemen in a single recruiting cycle. The last time that happened was in 2016 when the Razorbacks signed 5-star McTelvin Agim (Hope) and 4-star Austin Capps (Star City). Prior to that, in 2014, the state produced Josh Frazier (Springdale Har-Ber), who signed with Alabama, and Bijhon Jackson (El Dorado), who committed to Arkansas.
Currently, Arkansas holds commitments from 4-star defensive end Colton Yarbrough and three 3-star defensive linemen: Ari Slocum, Carnell Jackson, and nose guard Cameron McGee. While the Razorbacks are building depth, the in-state losses of elite prospects like Beale and potentially Kennedy could sting if the trend continues.
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