One day after receiving his only Division I scholarship offer from a school within a Power 5 conference, Marshall senior Micahh Smith opted to verbally commit five days before National Signing Day.

Smith (5-11, 185), while on an official visit Arkansas, pledged his commitment to the Razorbacks on Saturday afternoon, a decision he announced via Twitter.

The Marshall defender chose Arkansas over Texas State and six other FCS programs, including Abilene Christian and Stephen F. Austin, who reached out in recent days.

Smith gives East Texas 16 players in the 2016 recruiting class that have offered up commitments ahead of Wednesday's signing day.

Arkansas has also made a push for another uncommitted player from the region, Nacogdoches senior Brandon Jones, who is considered by most recruiting outlets the top safety in the country.

Jones, who plans on releasing his top three schools on Monday before making an official announcement live on ESPNU Wednesday morning, recently took an official visit to Arkansas.

The Razorbacks currently have two native East Texans on their roster — junior defensive back D.J. Dean (Newton) and junior receiver Eric Hawkins (Longview).

Arkansas competes in the West Division of the Southeastern Conference and is coached by Bret Bielema. The Razorbacks are coming off an 8-5 season in 2015, which featured a 5-3 mark in SEC play. Arkansas capped the year with a 45-23 win over Kansas State in the Liberty Bowl on Jan. 2.

Smith helped lead Marshall to a share of the District 15-5A championship as a senior. He finished with a team-best 120 tackles (three for loss), and had three interceptions, broke up seven passes, forced one fumble and recovered two others.

The Mavs finished the season 11-2 overall, falling to eventual state finalist Frisco Lone Star in the regional semifinal round of the Class 5A Division II playoffs.

2016 East Texas Football Players With Division I FBS Offers

  • Austin Anderson, OL, Mineola, 6-4, 280 — committed to Texas A&M; additional offers from Arizona State, Arkansas State, Auburn, California, Cincinnati, Houston, Illinois, Kansas State, Louisiana Tech, Miami, Michigan, Mississippi State, Missouri, North Carolina, North Texas, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, SMU, Southern Miss, TCU, Texas, Texas State, Texas Tech, Tulsa, Vanderbilt (27)
  • Riley Anderson, OL, Mineola, 6-5, 280 — committed to Texas A&M; additional offers from Arizona State, Arkansas State, Auburn, California, Cincinnati, Houston, Illinois, Kansas State, Louisiana Tech, Miami, Michigan, Mississippi State, Missouri, North Carolina, North Texas, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, SMU, Southern Miss, Texas, TCU, Texas State, Texas Tech, Tulsa, Vanderbilt (27)
  • Demarco Boyd, LB, Gilmer, 6-0, 215 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Baylor, Florida State, Texas A&M (4)
  • Gabe Foster, ATH, Newton, 6-1, 175 — committed to McNeese State (FCS); additional FBS offers from Arkansas State, Purdue, Texas State, ULL, ULM (5)
  • Ke’Mon Freeman, ATH, Liberty-Eylau, 6-0, 205 — committed to SFA (FCS); additional FBS offers from Arkansas State, North Texas, SMU (3)
  • Travon Fuller, CB, Texas A&M, 6-0, 155 — committed to Texas A&M (1)
  • Alex Gregory, WR, Nacogdoches, 5-11, 175 — committed to SFA (FCS); additional FBS offers from Texas State, ULM (2)
  • Zach Hall, ATH, Tyler Lee, 5-10, 165 — committed to SFA (FCS); additional FBS offers from Baylor, Missouri, Texas Tech, ULM (4)
  • La’Darius Hamilton, LB, Corrigan-Camden, 6-1, 220 — offers from North Texas, Texas State, ULL (3)
  • Adrian Harris, OL, John Tyler, 6-3, 289 — committed to Southern Arkansas (Division II); additional FBS offer from ULM (1)
  • Tanner Holmes, LB, Newton, 6-2, 220 — committed to ULL (1)
  • Jerrod Johnson, OL, Lufkin, 6-2, 288 — committed to Tyler JC; additional FBS offer from ULM (1)
  • Keenen Johnson, ATH, Alto, 6-0, 186 — committed to Tulsa; additional offers from North Texas, SMU, ULL (4)
  • Brandon Jones, S, Nacogdoches, 6-0, 190 — offers from Alabama, Arizona State, Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Boise State, California, Florida State, Georgia, Houston, Kentucky, Louisiana Tech, Louisville, LSU, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue, SMU, South Carolina, Stanford, TCU, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Tulsa, UCLA, USC, Vanderbilt, Washington State (42)
  • Braylon Jones, OG/DT, John Tyler, 6-3, 275 — committed to Houston; additional offers from Air Force, Army, Colorado State, Navy, TCU (6)
  • Corey Lane, CB, Nacogdoches, 5-11, 168 — committed to Trinity Valley CC; additional FBS offer from Louisiana Tech (1)
  • Bronson Massie, DE, Lufkin, 6-3, 215 — committed to Kansas State; additional offers from Cal, Colorado State, Louisiana Tech, Texas State, Washington
  • Jarrod McLin, Carthage, DE, Carthage, 6-3, 215 — committed to UTSA; additional offer from ULL (2)
  • Denzel Mims, Daingerfield, WR, 6-4, 175 — committed to Baylor; additional offers from Arkansas State, North Texas, Texas State, Texas Tech, Tulsa (6)
  • Cody Mitchell, Jasper, TE, 6-5, 225 — committed to ULL; additional offers from Florida, Illinois, Louisiana Tech, Missouri, Nebraska, North Texas, SMU, Texas State (9)
  • Jordan Morales, Tyler Bishop Gorman, DT, 6-3, 275 — offer from UTEP (1)
  • Thurman Morbley, Liberty-Eylau, WR, 5-10, 160 — committed to Texas State (1)
  • Reshawn Parker, Hooks, LB, 6-2, 210 — offers from Oklahoma State, Texas State (2)
  • Kendrick Rogers, Frankston, WR, 6-5, 190 — committed to Texas A&M; additional offers from Arkansas State, Cincinnati, Houston, Louisiana Tech, Memphis, Mississippi State, North Texas, SMU, ULL, ULM (11)
  • Micahh Smith, Marshall, S, 5-11, 185 — committed to Arkansas; additional offer from Texas State (2)
  • Aphonso Thomas, Van, RB, 5-10, 180 — committed to SMU; additional offers from Colorado State, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, Texas State (6)
  • Jeremy West, Chapel Hill, OL, 6-3, 297 — committed to Northwestern State (FCS); additional FBS offer from ULL (1)
  • Andre Wiley Jr., Liberty-Eylau, S, 5-9, 170 — committed to Navy; additional offers from Arkansas State, Army, Louisiana Tech, Texas State, Wyoming (6)

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