Danny Beale Earns First-Team Start for Arkansas
The 335-pound defensive tackle lined up with the first-team defense in Arkansas's 26-23 loss to Auburn.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Football
Danny Beale became the first member of Ryan Silverfield's first high school recruiting class to earn a start for Arkansas football. He lined up with the first-team defense in the Razorbacks' 26-23 loss to Auburn on Saturday, Nov. 7.
Why it matters
Beale becomes the third first-year player in the last three years to earn a regular-season start for the Razorbacks, a sign of how quickly newcomers are being pushed into meaningful roles. Defensive coordinator Ron Roberts said Beale had a great week of practice and had earned the opportunity.
Beale logged 21 snaps and made one tackle in the 26-23 loss to Auburn, after a career-high three tackles against Missouri. The 335-pound defensive tackle's workload in the coming weeks has not been specified.
The players
Danny Beale
A 335-pound defensive tackle and consensus four-star prospect from Cross County High School who committed to Arkansas at the 11th hour of the recruiting cycle.
Ron Roberts
Arkansas defensive coordinator who said Beale had a great week of practice and had earned an opportunity to start.
Ryan Silverfield
Arkansas football head coach whose first high school recruiting class produced Beale, the highest-rated player in that group.
The details
Beale, a consensus four-star prospect out of Cross County High School in Vanndale, committed to Arkansas at the 11th hour of the recruiting cycle. Arkansas lost to Auburn 26-23 on Saturday, Nov. 7, with Beale lining up with the first-team defense.
Timeline
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026: Beale started in Arkansas's 26-23 loss to Auburn.
Earlier in the season: Beale recorded a career-high three tackles in the loss to Missouri.
Season Trajectory
Beale's start continues a recent Arkansas pattern in which first-year players, including Braylen Russell in 2024 and Kash Courtney in 2025, have earned regular-season roles. With the Razorbacks at 3-6 and 1-5 in the SEC, the development of younger players has become a central storyline in the rest of the season.
Fantasy and depth-chart watchers should note that Beale is now listed with the first-team defense, which may affect how the Arkansas front rotation is tracked. The 21-snap workload against Auburn gives a concrete baseline for how much playing time a first-year defensive tackle is receiving.
The takeaway
Beale's first-team start shows Arkansas is willing to trust its youngest recruits when they earn it in practice, a signal readers can watch for in future depth charts. Tracking his snap counts over the remaining games will show how quickly that trust turns into a lasting role.
Further reading
For more on the Razorbacks' season, explore Arkansas Football coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fort Smith Times Record.
