Razorbacks’ suffer another setback as Buford lineman Ben Mubenga decommitted, adding to a string of recent losses.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas’ recruiting class lost another piece Wednesday when Ben Mubenga, a three-star offensive lineman from Buford, Ga., announced he was backing away from his pledge. The 6-foot-5, 290-pound prospect had committed to the Razorbacks in June after an official visit.
His decision makes him the 10th player to decommit from Arkansas in the past three weeks, a wave of recruiting fallout tied closely to the firing of head coach Sam Pittman and subsequent staff changes. Mubenga shared his decision with a brief social media post, writing “AGTG Gods Plan” and tagging national recruiting analysts. His exit drops Arkansas’ 2026 class in the national rankings, falling from 56th to 59th, according to 247Sports.Earlier this week, defensive tackle Ari Slocum of Louisiana reopened his recruitment, joining offensive linemen Carnell Jackson and Adam Auston, who also walked away from Arkansas in the same 24-hour span. In the days prior, the Razorbacks lost commitments from JJ Bush, Caleb Gordon and Keymian Henderson. Four-star tackle Bryce Gilmore had been among the first to decommit after staff changes became public. In total, Arkansas has seen its 2026 commitment list reduced by nearly a third, a dramatic shift that has forced the program to reconsider its approach.The string of departures comes amid sweeping changes to the football program. Pittman was dismissed after a 2-3 start to the season, and interim coach Bobby Petrino quickly fired defensive coordinator Travis Williams, co-defensive coordinator Marcus Woodson and defensive line coach Deke Adams. Those moves unsettled several prospects who had built relationships with the staff. Slocum, in his decommitment announcement, said, “After prayer and discussions with my mother and family, I have decided to decommit. My recruitment is now 100% open.” Athletics director Hunter Yurachek acknowledged last week that the program’s reliance on large freshman classes may be outdated. Instead, he pointed to the transfer portal as a bigger piece of Arkansas’ future roster strategy. “The days of bringing in 25 or 30 freshmen and thinking that you can turn a program with freshmen are going to go by the wayside,” Yurachek said. The comment reflects an evolving approach across the SEC, where schools are balancing high school recruiting with aggressive portal use. Arkansas, in particular, may have to rely on portal additions to stabilize its roster during the coaching transition.Following Mubenga’s exit, Arkansas is down to 18 commitments for the 2026 cycle. The class still features offensive line pledges Ashley Walker, Hugh Smith and Tucker Young, along with skill players and defenders who have yet to waver publicly. The Razorbacks’ class ranks near the bottom half of the SEC, but the eventual hiring of a permanent head coach could determine whether the program can regain momentum with its remaining recruits and attract new pledges.• Staff upheaval, including Pittman’s firing, is a central factor in the instability.Sports columnist, writer, former radio host and television host who has been expressing an opinion on sports in the media for over four decades. He has been at numerous media stops in Arkansas, Texas and Mississippi.
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