Arkansas now has two safeties committed for the class of 2017 after four-star Montaric Brown of Ashdown (Ark.) gave his pledge this afternoon.

Brown, according to Rivals, is the top-rated prospect in the state of Arkansas for next year. I’d like to think it’s a good thing Arkansas has been able to nab the top kid in the state of late.

The defensive back chose to remain in state over offers from top-tier programs like Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and several others. He’s rated the 198th overall player in the composite ratings, and 247Sports actually ranks him 109th overall in the nation. Brown’s commitment now sits the Razorbacks at 18 for the 2017 class, which is pretty dang good considering National Signing Day is still seven months out.

He is a 6-foot-2, 172-pounder, too, and will likely bulk up a bit more in his senior season at Ashdown as well as once Ben Herbert gets his hands on him.

The interesting part about Brown giving his verbal to Arkansas was that a number of players, including recent commit Connor Noland of Greenwood, sent out congratulatory tweets first. Brown finally sent his own just after 4 p.m. confirming the news.

He also “scheduled and re-scheduled” his commitment date a number of times this summer, HawgSports.com’s Danny West says, but he’s now on board. Welcome!