FAYETTEVILLE -- The Magnificent Seven did not describe the junior college recruits Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema signed in December 2012 and February 2013 as he sought instant help for that upcoming season.
The beleaguered Razorbacks plummeted to 3-9 overall and 0-8 in the SEC in the fall in Bielema's first season. Among the junior college transfers, only Sam Irwin-Hill -- the excellent ambidextrous-footed punter from Australia -- provided help beyond the fringe. Some played on special teams and some did so-so as reserves and occasional starters, but some never rose above the scout team.
Some didn't return for a 2014 season.
One out of seven doesn't cut it, Bielema said last January. Bielema acknowledged that during in his head coaching tenure at Wisconsin (2006-2012) he had never faced the need to pursue a junior-college quick fix like the 2013 Hogs needed after a senior-laden 2012 team crashed to 4-8.
The need was so obvious that 2012 lame duck interim coach John L. Smith had several junior-college players committed that Bielema took on while he and his hastily-assembled staff hastily added more.
"We signed seven," Bielema said last January. "It gave me proof in the pudding that we are much better off signing high school kids and developing them the way that you want. I have never been a big juco guy."
He might be a bigger one now. His Hogs are 3-1 with only a poor second half in the Aug. 30 season opener at Auburn as a 2014 blot heading into Saturday's 2:30 p.m. game against No. 6 Texas A&M at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Offensive guard Sebastian Tretola, receiver Cody Hollister and linebacker Josh Williams -- all junior college transfers -- and senior UNLV transfer offensive tackle Cameron Jefferson have played pivotal parts in Arkansas' improvement.
A full year to research recruits and team needs made a significant junior college difference, Bielema said Monday.
Bielema never said he would quit recruiting junior colleges cold turkey, only that he would be more selective.
"We were on those guys for a longer period of time," Bielema said Monday of his second junior-college recruiting class. "So we knew what we expected of them and we were trying to fill a specific void.
"It's not just what they're bringing to you, it's what you're bringing them in to be a part of. If they don't fit what we believe in academically, athletically and socially, we're not going to have a good fit."
Bielema believes this second transfer class is a good fit. He also finds that two of last year's junior college transfers, cornerback Carroll Washington and linebacker Martrell Spaight of North Little Rock, adroitly fitting into the starting defense.
"My only regret with Martrell is last year we couldn't redshirt him and needed to play him," Bielema said of the Razorbacks' leading tackler this season. "He's playing really good football for us, but it's nowhere close to what I think he can be down in the future.
"If we had that kid another year, the sky would be the limit."
Sports on 09/24/2014