FAYETTEVILLE — While Arkansas does not have a football game next Saturday, Razorback head football coach Bret Bielema and his staff certainly don’t have an off week.
Instead, the coaches will hit the recruiting trail in an effort to finish up a 2017 class that already has 19 commits and continue to take a look at 2018 and 2019 prospects.
The Razorback staff is expected to visit prospects in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and a few other states.
“Bye weeks are a little different for us, but that is what college football is all about,” Arkansas tight ends coach Barry Lunney, Jr. said. “It’s your lifeblood - recruiting.
“When you get an opportunity to do it - and that’s one thing about coach is that he really doesn't like to do is put us out on the road during the season so we can instead concentrate on game week on coaching our guys and have them ready top play on Saturdays. … But when you do get an opportunity to go then we try to take full advantage of it.
“We have been talking about it daily for the last few days to get our plans finalized, but we will be spread out all over the country and going to hit as many of our targets and commitments and guys that we are trying to target down the stretch as we can.”
Arkansas receivers coach Michael Smith - who has had great success recruiting Louisiana for the Razorbacks - is raring to get out on the recruiting trail.
“It’s real important,” Smith said “It’s coming at a good time in the middle of the season. “…That’s always it for me is what I’m selling, and Arkansas is a tremendous product to sell.”
Arkansas’ humbling 56-3 loss at Auburn on Saturday night was the fifth ESPN primetime game of the year for the Razorbacks.
“I was sitting there thinking about it today and this is fifth time on the Saturday night ESPN primetime game,” Lunney said. “That happens because we have got some momentum going.
“Obviously we are also playing some good teams so there is a draw on the other sideline as well, but I also think that is a reflection of the health of our program right now and that allows for great opportunities to get exposure and for people to know who we are and what we are.
“Coach B is also a very visible guy in college football and people identify with him and know when they see him they know which sideline he is on and all that is really good for us in recruiting.
“The more the merrier. The more we can play at night the better. You would like to just get up and play in the morning, but from an exposure standpoint and recruiting and all that, it is tough to beat.
“…It is a good reflection of the health of our brand right now.”