FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Ben Mubenga, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound offensive tackle from Buford, Ga., has given his verbal commitment to Arkansas.
It provides a key boost to 2026 football recruiting class. Mubenga, rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports, picked Arkansas over offers from Florida State, LSU, NC State, and Louisville.
Mubenga’s commitment marks the fifth offensive line pledge for Arkansas in this cycle, joining four-star Bryce Gilmore and three-stars Ashley Walker, Tucker Young, and Hugh Smith.
This addition lifts Arkansas’ national recruiting ranking to 21st and keeps the Razorbacks seventh in the SEC, according to 247Sports.
After emigrating from the Congo in 2017, Mubenga has quickly established himself as a sought-after lineman. Despite his family’s ties to Georgia Tech and an older brother at LSU, Mubenga said distance wasn’t a factor.
“Personally I don’t have a problem coming out here far,” Mubenga said. “My brother is also from Georgia and he’s playing at LSU now. He had to make a transition. I feel like that transition if I do come here will help me grow as a man because I won’t always rely on my parents living this far.”
Mubenga praised offensive line coach Eric Mateos and the program’s focus on linemen.
“The way they treat O-linemen out here, they put us at the forefront,” Mubenga said. “Most schools don’t, they just forget about us. But here, they don’t. You can feel the love everybody was showing you. Everybody on the staff making sure you feel the love.”
Arkansas now has 15 scholarship offensive linemen, addressing roster needs after several departures and transfer additions.
Mateos continues to rebuild the group, adding JUCO transfer Bubba Craig and multiple high school recruits.
Mubenga’s commitment is another sign the Hogs are building depth and stability in the trenches for the future.
