Most first-year college head football coaches hired in December will privately admit they don't recruit, they just salvage for their first class signed in February.

However, after signing every in-state recruit that he and his staff sought, including persuading touted wide receiver Joe Adams of Central Arkansas Christian to decommit to Southern California and sign with the Razorbacks, new University of Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said this was more than a salvage job with the 27 recruits announced in Wednesday's opening of the national signing period.

" I do. I do, " Petrino replied to if he thought it was more recruiting than salvaging. " I feel like we were fortunate some of the needs we had were also some of the strengths of this state's available recruits. That made it a real good fit, the fact the state was loaded with receivers and talented running backs. I thought we did a nice job of identifying the number of linemen we wanted on both sides of the ball and getting that number.

" We can say, " Petrino said, laughing, " this is our best recruiting class to date. "

The last-minute additions of Adams, defensive lineman Brian Christopher of Camden Fairview and athlete Albert Gary of Citra, Fla., to 22 commitments that didn't waver gave Petrino, recruiting coordinator / running backs Tim Horton and all the assistants reason to smile.

ADVERTISEMENT

Actually the smiles started last month at semester when Ryan Mallett, the quarterback from Texarkana's Texas High, transferred as a sophomore from the University of Michigan.

Mallett, in class and eligible to practice, plans an appeal to the NCAA for eligibility in 2008 though NCAA criteria currently indicates he must redshirt until 2009. He was listed on Wednesday's group of prospects that includes 25 freshmen.

Petrino acknowledged the Hogs won some and lost some recruiting out of state but got all they sought in Arkansas and did well in neighboring Texas.

For much of that he credits Tim Horton and Bobby Allen, the holdover assistants from the previous Houston Nutt regime, and his only December hire, Paul Petrino, the offensive coordinator / receivers coach who is Bobby Petrino's brother.

The rest of the staff came in January, other than Willy Robinson, named Wednesday as the new defensive coordinator.

" Fortunately I was able to bring in guys I had worked with before who understand how we like to operate and what direction we go and keep some guys here who understood the state and understood relationships within the State of Arkansas and the State of Texas, " Bobby Petrino said. " Then you draw back on the relationships the other new coaches had. We did well in those areas. We did well in Georgia and got players just about everywhere we went. "

Petrino was asked about holding on to Arkansas commitments despite Nutt and several of his former Arkansas assistants moving to SEC West rival Ole Miss.

" That's one thing we had to fight through, " Petrino said. " Relationships were already built, but I think that's where the State of Arkansas showed its strength. Just the commitment by the state and the fact these young men signed to come with the University of Arkansas and didn't commit themselves early because of a coach that's here. "

Adams drew the most media attention Wednesday having been persuaded away from Southern California and renowned USC coach Pete Carroll, whose Trojan roster has three Arkansans including ex-Razorbacks Mitch Mustain and Damian Williams of Springdale.

" Now that wall's put around the state, " Paul Petrino, who as receivers coach recruited Adams, said. " You keep USC and keep all those people out of here and they know when there's a great player here they're going to be a Razorback. "