New Arkansas head football Coach Bobby Petrino hit the recruiting trail Thursday, and the town of Camden was abuzz.

Petrino and Arkansas assistant Tim Horton arrived around noon for a public appearance, visited the high school and later visited with three Camden Fairview players who have orally committed to the Razorbacks.

Quarterback Jim Youngblood said he was honored to receive the first in-home visit from Petrino.

“It’s something I’ll remember the rest of my life,” Youngblood said.

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Petrino and Horton arrived shortly before 4 p. m. at Youngblood’s house and left at about 5: 45 to visit running back De’Anthony Curtis. They visited defensive lineman Lavunce Askew later Thursday night on a busy day for Petrino, who completed his second full day on the job.

Petrino has until Monday to recruit before a dead period starts. He plans to visit as many of Arkansas’ 19 oral commitments as possible.

“Nothing but positive things to say about him,” said Youngblood, who threw for 5, 562 yards and ran for 1, 612 yards in his career. “He told me the plans he has for me and the rest of us Camden guys. I really liked the things he said. We had a real good visit.”

Youngblood said he liked Petrino’s straightforward approach.

“As a recruiter, he was topnotch,” said Youngblood, who led Camden Fairview to a 12-1 record this season. “I would give him the highest rating. He was real polite, real interested in me and how I felt and how he felt about me. He’s going to shoot you straight and he’s going to tell you how it is, and I kind of admire that in him.”

Youngblood said Petrino had taken time to view film of him.

“He was surprised I could run just as good as I could throw,” Youngblood said. “He thought that was a big plus for me and for him. He said it will make a big difference in the offense.”

Youngblood said Petrino didn’t mention specific names of assistant coaches who might be joining him at Arkansas but hinted some big names were being considered.

“There was two or three different people he was looking at, and he didn’t want to tell me somebody and it not work out,” Youngblood said.

Petrino’s professional approach impressed Stan Youngblood, Jim’s father.

“A very nice individual, and I believe people in Arkansas and the kids that are football players in Arkansas will listen to this man,” Stan Youngblood said. “I believe he’s the man for the job.

“ I liked how he talked Xs and Os. He’s a very intelligent man when it comes to Xs and Os. He knows offense. I liked what he said about quarterbacks and what he expects from them.”

Curtis, who rushed for 1, 237 yards in 2007 and had more than 1, 800 yards receiving in his career, said he learned more about what his role in Petrino’s offense might be.

“We talked about the offense and how many times he would give me the ball in many different ways,” said Curtis, who was selected as the Gatorade Player the Year in Arkansas. “I would be in the I [formation ] and he would spread me out. He said most people think it’s a passing attack, but he said it’s mostly running that he does. He wants me to come in right away and play.”

Curtis said he will take an official visit to Arkansas on Jan. 18. He also plans to visit Texas Tech and Tennessee. He made an official visit to Oklahoma State last weekend.

Askew was the final Camden-Fairview player to be visited by Petrino, who helped solidify Askew’s commitment.

“The new head coach is a very cool guy,” Askew said. “Very cool cat. He’s a laid-back, excited type of guy. He was very excited to come see us. My commitment to Arkansas is very solid. I appreciate them coming down here and taking time to come see me. It’s a blessing.”

Askew said he liked what he heard about Petrino’s defensive scheme.

“He said they’ll run a 4-3, attack the passer and then read and react on the run,” Askew said. “That sounds great. That’s my scheme anyway.”

Petrino and Horton are expected to visit the four Warren commitments this morning and head to Memphis to see committed linebacker Tenarius Wright in the afternoon. They are also expected to visit Southern Cal commitment Joe Adams of Central Arkansas Christian and Cruz Williams of Pulaski Academy on Saturday.

Much of Petrino’s staff will likely be in place by the time Curtis visits in January. Petrino’s brother, Paul Petrino, has resigned from the Falcons and is expected to join the Arkansas staff. Other Falcons assistants who might join Petrino’s staff include offensive line coach Mike Summers, defensive backs cocoach Joe Whitt Jr., and defensive line coach Kevin Wolthausen.

Petrino is eligible to recruit as a member of the Razorbacks’ 10-man staff because Chris Vaughn, Arkansas’ previous recruiting coordinator, left the team to join Houston Nutt’s Ole Miss’ staff.

Any new members of Petrino’s staff will not be able to recruit for Arkansas until they officially join the staff, which would require the jettisoning of an equal number of current staff members. The Arkansas coaches have said they plan on coaching the Razorbacks through the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1. Petrino is expected to at least watch some practices or film footage to begin his assessment of Arkansas’ returning players in the days leading up to the Razorbacks’ Jan. 1 meeting with Missouri in the Cotton Bowl. He met with the team after practice Wednesday. Information for this article was contributed by Marty Cook of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.