One week from today, Arkansas will turn its attention to its bowl invite and recruiting.
The Razorback staff has 20 commitments so far in the 2017 class and that's a number that's high for a program that usually has to get a lot done in December and January.
"We are just starting to piece that together about what exactly our plans will look like -- although we know generally what it will look like and it is starting to come together pretty specifically," Arkansas assistant coach Barry Lunney Jr. said earlier this week.
"We have talked about this before, but we recruit our guys that are committed just as hard as we do guys we are trying to get to commit. You have to in this day and age and really is the only way to do it and the way we do it.
"So having 20 commitments doesn't really change that. It maybe helps you dive in more on exactly what you are going to do because you re not chasing a lot of ghosts or rabbits at this type of year and you know exactly where you are going."
Arkansas' 20 commitments include 13 offensive players and 7 defensive player although there is a side on the offensive side of the ball that could end up seeing action on defense.
Some of the uncommitted players that the Razorbacks are likely to have in during December are Dallas Bishop Dunne four-star cornerback Chevin Calloway (5-foot-10, 180 pounds) and Monroe(La.) Neville safety Jaiden Cole (6-1, 195).
There's also Blinn College defensive lineman Javier Edwards (6-3, 350).
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One of the biggest rages in social media is the "Mannequin Challenge" an internet fad which is basically a group of people in action standing absolutely still while a camera pans around the room or wherever it is taking a place.
This is how Baton Rouge (La.) Madison Prep Academy defensive lineman Troy James (6-3, 276) chose to announce his commitment to Arkansas last Monday on social media with a one-minute video while also having a ceremony at his school.
James chose the Razorbacks over Oklahoma, Kansas, North Carolina State, Wake Forest, SMU and Indiana among others and is the 20th commit in the 2017 class.
James, a three-star prospect per ESPN.com, actually privately committed to Arkansas coach Bret Bielema back on Oct. 13, but wanted to keep it quiet.
"I asked him not to tell anyone because I wanted to do it at school," James told The Advocate. "He was a man of his word. I can't wait to play for him. I felt at home at Kansas, but it was a different type of vibe at Arkansas. I felt the family atmosphere there. I wasn't sure until I prayed about it with my family and knew that's where I belonged."
He feels very good about his decision in both the short term and long term.
"Everything during the (official) visit made it feel better," James told The Advocate. "Committing to Arkansas was one of the best decisions of my life. It's not a four-year decision, it's a 40-year decision. Knowing the connections I would have and the people I'm going to be around made it a great feeling."
Sports on 11/19/2016