Ryan Silverfield flies into the Florida Panhandle after a defensive tackle target

Ryan Silverfield took a Learjet 45 from Fayetteville to Destin, Florida, on May 29, landing back at Drake Field after a brisk 88-minute round trip. The flight is the latest sign that Arkansas is working the Deep South talent pipeline harder than ever under its new head coach, who was hired in November after a successful run at Memphis.

The destination points to the Razorbacks' pursuit of Jalen Wiggins, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound defensive tackle from Rickards High School in Tallahassee, per 247Sports. Wiggins, a three-star recruit in the 2026 class, is also considering Florida State, Miami, and several SEC programs. The flight came during a quiet recruiting period, meaning Ryan Silverfield could not make in-person contact off campus, but he and his staff were likely visiting the Florida Panhandle to evaluate prospects at a high school spring practice or a satellite camp in the region.

This trip continues Arkansas's strategy of plucking talent from the Gulf Coast states where the Razorbacks lack a natural geographic advantage. The program has already pulled three-star defensive backs from Mississippi and Louisiana in this cycle, and a commitment from Wiggins would shore up a defensive line that lost four seniors to graduation. The Razorback Foundation's Learjet has logged five flights to or through Florida in the past three days, underscoring the priority Ryan Silverfield places on building relationships in the Southeast. Source: 247Sports.