This is potentially the biggest news of the day regardless of what happens in the Liberty Bowl.

Devwah Whaley, a consensus 4-star running back from Beaumont, Texas, has declared his intention to sign with Arkansas. Whaley is considered one of the top few running backs in the country this year, coming in at #4 in the nation according to the composite rankings.

Whaley announced his commitment today on national television from Orlando at the Under Armour All-American game. It's a high profile commitment Arkansas desperately needed. The running back position is very much uncertain going into next season with the departure of Jonathan Williams, highly possible departure of Alex Collins, Kody Walker recently stating he was unsure if he would take up the option to return for his 6th season, and the injury of Rawleigh Williams III. The Razorbacks have spent the year targeting a small handful of high-profile running backs to fill that big need, and Whaley has been one of them.

The other finalists for Whaley were Texas and Georgia. Whaley actually committed to Georgia on Thanksgiving Day, just days after taking his official visit to Arkansas and declaring the Hogs his leading school. But when Mark Richt was fired by the Bulldogs, Whaley decommitted not long after. The Hogs jumped back in to the picture pretty much immediately.

Clearly the Razorbacks are hoping Whaley can be the next in Arkansas' long line of highly successful running backs. Whaley's commitment bumps Arkansas from the 30th-ranked class in the nation to the 24th at the moment. He's the second-highest rated commitment on the Hogs' list behind only McTelvin Agim. He is currently the 17th commitment in Arkansas' 2016 recruiting class.