Razorbacks Strengthen 2026 Secondary Class with Georgia Cornerback
The Arkansas Razorbacks continue to build their future secondary, securing another key commitment from the talent-rich state of Georgia. On Saturday, three-star cornerback Jalon Copeland from Valdosta, Ga., officially announced his commitment to Arkansas, further adding to the program’s efforts to strengthen its defensive backfield.
Copeland, who hails from the football powerhouse town of Valdosta, had an impressive junior season, recording 21 tackles, eight pass breakups, and two interceptions. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound defensive back made an unofficial visit to Fayetteville, where he spent time with his lead recruiter, defensive backs coach Marcus Woodson. During his visit, Copeland toured the facilities and got a closer look at the program, which solidified his decision to join the Razorbacks.
In the 2026 recruiting class, Copeland is ranked No. 650 overall, the No. 60 cornerback, and the No. 67 player in Georgia. He received offers from over 40 schools, including notable programs such as Georgia Tech, Boston College, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska, Vanderbilt, and Penn State. However, it was Arkansas that won him over.
With Copeland’s commitment, Arkansas now has 10 pledges in its 2026 class, pushing the Razorbacks back into the top 10 of 247Sports’ national composite rankings. Arkansas currently sits at No. 9 nationally and No. 3 in the SEC. The Razorbacks are also one of just six FBS programs with double-digit commitments so far, joining USC, Kansas, Clemson, Illinois, and Louisville.
The coaching staff has clearly placed a strong emphasis on improving the secondary in this class. Arkansas has secured commitments from five defensive backs, all capable of playing multiple positions in the backfield. Defensive coordinator Travis Williams, co-defensive coordinator Marcus Woodson, and new defensive backs coach Nick Perry are determined to strengthen a unit that has struggled in recent seasons. The Razorbacks’ secondary finished last in the SEC in pass defense for two of the past three years, making this focus on defensive backs a priority.
Here’s the current list of Arkansas’s 2026 recruiting class:
- 4-star DE Colton Yarbrough
- 4-star WR Dequane Prevo
- 3-star QB Jayvon Gilmore
- 3-star DB Adam Auston
- 3-star DB Jalon Copeland
- 3-star DL Ari Slocum
- 3-star DB Tay Lockett
- 3-star DB Kyndrick Williams
- 3-star OL Tucker Young
- 3-star DB Jack Duckworth
Leave a Reply