Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema and his staff continued to show the ability to beat out elite programs for top prospects when running back Devwah Whaley made his oral commitment public to the Hogs at the Under Armour All-America game in Orlando, Fla., on Saturday.

"First off, I just want to thank God, my parents, my family, my friends, my coaches, everybody that supported me through this process," Whaley said before the game on ESPN2. "It's been a long journey. Now it's time to finish it. Without further ado, I'll be furthering my degree and play football at the University of Arkansas."

Whaley, 6-0, 209 pounds, 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Beaumont (Texas) Central, picked the Razorbacks over Texas and Georgia in addition to schools like Texas A&M, Alabama, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Miami and Ole Miss.

Whaley rushed 228 times for 1,701 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior and had 172 carries for 1,225 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior. ESPN rates him a five-star prospect, the No. 8 recruit in Texas as well as the nation's No. 3 running back and No. 49 overall prospect.

Bielema has beaten out Alabama, Texas, LSU, Florida, Michigan, Florida State, Ohio State, Oklahoma and others for elite recruits since arriving in Fayetteville.

Whaley privately committed to Coach Bret Bielema, running backs coach Jemal Singleton and secondary coach Clay Jennings during an in-home visit on Dec. 13.

"I just felt like that's the best place for me, best fit for me all around," Whaley said. "Great coaching staff ... will help me further my degree and get to the next level."

Whaley, who committed to Georgia and Coach Mark Richt on Nov. 26, reopened his recruiting Dec. 7 after Richt was fired. He has an official visit scheduled for Texas on Jan. 15.

National recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network spends about five months each year traveling the nation to evaluate top recruits.

"I went to see him in Beaumont last year and came away impressed with his strength, vision and balance," said Lemming, who rates Whaley a four-star plus prospect. "He's a game-breaker type running back who runs hard. He put together an outstanding 2015 season. He's one of the top players in Texas and a guy that will contribute as a true freshman."

He has a best electronic time of 10.60 seconds in the 100 meters and a best triple jump of 47 feet, 11 inches.

Whaley is the highest-rated running back the Hogs have landed since ESPN started doing rankings in 2006. ESPN rated Hogs junior running back Alex Collins the No. 7 running back and No. 57 overall recruit in the nation for the 2013 class.

He's the 15th commitment and the 17th member of the 2016 class. Arkansas has already signed Hope defensive end McTelvin Agim and offensive lineman Deion Malone of Northwest Mississippi Community College and both will enroll in January. Oral commitments are nonbinding.

Sports on 01/03/2016