LIKE IT IS : Recruiting is, will remain vital to Razorbacks

WALLY HALL

Posted on Friday, October 3, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/239108/

OK, what we know so far is that the Arkansas Razorbacks are in a learning process on both sides of the ball.

We know that has affected the offensive and defensive lines, which were supposed to be the strengths of this season.

And Bobby Petrino has made it clear on more than one occasion Casey Dick needs to get rid of the ball quicker to avoid sacks.

Lastly, we know Petrino has pulled the redshirt off of 16 freshmen already, which means five years from now he will not have many fifth-year seniors, which is something successful teams do have, especially in the O-line.

That sent your trusty scribe into the archives to take a look at what the Razorbacks do have, and it was rather interesting.

Before getting into the numbers, understand every program loses players because of injuries, grades or transfers.

Some never even get to campus, and in the following numbers a few who are no longer on campus were junior college players.

That said:

In 2004, the Hogs signed four four-star players and ranked 22 or 27, according to two recruiting Web sites (Rivals and Scout ). Of the 32 who signed, only five are redshirt seniors, and with Ernest Mitchell out, Jonathan Luigs is the lone starter.

In 2005, there was one fivestar (Darren McFadden ) and three four-star signees in the class of 24. Only 11 are still on campus, and five of those are starters. That group, depending on the Web site, ranked either 24 or 32.

Another five-star recruit (Mitch Mustain ) and four fourstar players were signed in 2006. None start and two, Mustain and Damian Williams, have transferred. That group of 26 ranked either 30 or 26 and has produced five starters this season.

A class of 27 ranked either 34 or 31 and had four four-star players signed in 2007, none of whom is starting. But this group of redshirt freshmen / true sophomores has produced six starters and five others in the two-deep.

Petrino’s first class was in 2008, and although he signed six four-star players, the group ranked 36 and 24. It has produced five starters and has 11 others contributing.

The recruiting for 2009 is under way, and the Hogs rank 22 on one site and 21 on the other with 16 commitments. The group has one five-star, Darius Winston of Helena-West Helena, two fourstars and the other 13 have threestar ratings.

Recruiting folks can crunch those numbers and come up with all kinds of data, but what is most important in the incoming class is that 11 are from out of state. This is not a great year for SEC-type players in Arkansas like last year.

If you look at the current SEC situation with an open mind, it appears only third place in the West will be up for grabs every year.

Like him or not, since Nick Saban arrived at LSU the Tigers have had it going, and there has been absolutely no drop-off since Les Miles took the reins.

The Tigers are the defending Bowl Championship Series national champions and are again undefeated because they were able to get out of Auburn with a victory.

Now Saban has it going at Alabama.

The Crimson Tide, on backto-back weekends, went into Fayetteville and Athens, Ga., and dominated.

They are back, all the way back.

For Arkansas and Auburn to have a shot at being in the running, they have to recruit nationally.

The Hogs have always counted on Texas for players and now they will need to more than ever, which was why Petrino said he was excited about playing Texas A&M in Texas the next 10 years. It’s recruiting exposure.

Petrino and his staff are still hitting Arkansas hard, but are also working in Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee and Oklahoma, and those are just the states we know about.

Someone once said, you can’t have a zoo without animals, and you sure can’t have a successful athletic program without players.