4-star RB Devwah Whaley commits to Arkansas over Texas and Georgia

Beaumont Central running back Devwah Whaley committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks over the Texas Longhorns and the Georgia Bulldogs at the Under Armour All-America game in Orlando on Saturday morning.

The 6'0, 209-pounder's decision might not necessarily be final, as Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and his new offensive staff are set to make an in-home visit after the dead period ends. Since the recent production at running back in Athens continues to be a legitimate appeal for Whaley, the ability of that new staff to sell him on the offense's direction could be a significant factor as National Signing Day approaches.

And if Smart takes a page out of mentor Nick Saban's handbook, it will be a pro-style offense that features a downhill rushing attack to feature the talent already on campus.

However, the Bulldogs can't offer nearly as much immediate playing time as the Razorbacks. Star running back Nick Chubb will be a junior in his return from the knee injury that ended his strong start to the 2015 campaign, but former five-star prospect Sony Michel filled in plenty well for Chubb in rushing for 1,076 yards. There's also a pledge from the No. 5 running back in 2016, Elijah Holyfield, a player Whaley was planning on teaming with in the first place, so in light of that, there's already evidence that the depth chart isn't everything to him.

In terms of depth charts, Arkansas may have the most appealing situation for Whaley. There's a solid chance that junior Alex Collins declares for the NFL Draft and promising 2015 signee Rawleigh Williams III suffered an ugly neck injury as a freshman. He's expected to fully recover, but it's possible that he's never able to fulfill his significant potential.

While there's only one experienced player behind Collins and Williams III in senior Kody Walker, the possibility of both Collins and Williams III returning does complicate the equation a bit and add some uncertainty to the depth chart in Fayetteville.

Interestingly enough, Rivals national recruiting analyst Mike Farrell mentioned last week during an interview with Whaley that Texas needs playmakers at the running back position. Since junior D'Onta Foreman and sophomore Chris Warren combined for two of the school's five runs of more than 90 yards in 2015, that statement doesn't seem entirely accurate. Even sophomore Kirk Johnson broke off a 32-yard run among his eight carries before an ankle injury ended his season.

So the Longhorns don't desperately need playmakers at the position -- the staff merely wants to continue stockpiling playmakers at running back. Regardless of roster management, a player like Whaley should always have a spot in any Texas recruiting class, he's just more of a luxury take for the Horns in this cycle.

However, Whaley's recruitment may not be over when it comes to the Longhorns, either, as he was planning on taking his official visit to Austin in January and that may still happen. If it does, it will provide further evidence that things won't be final with the state's top running back until he signs and faxes his NLI in a month.