Those who have already written the Arkansas Razorbacks off for the coming football season might pay attention to what Bobby Petrino and his football staff have accomplished recruiting and think again.

Petrino and his staff started behind but finished fast this recruiting season to put together a solid class. No, it won't be judged Top 10-caliber by the recruiting gurus, probably not even Top 25.

But there are more than a few coaches out there who had the benefit of an entire year to recruit but would swap recruiting classes with Petrino right now.

Certainly, he built on the commitments Arkansas had already garnered under Houston Nutt, but all of those players who committed to Arkansas while Nutt was coach had the opportunity to say no to Petrino and look elsewhere. A few did. But the majority remained on board.

Petrino said the number of players who stuck to their commitments showed the strength of the Razorbacks football program.

" It showed they committed to the University of Arkansas and not just to a coach, " Petrino said.

However, there is one new Razorback who likely would not have been a Hog if Petrino or another like-minded coach had not been hired.

Central Arkansas Christian wide receiver Joe Adams had pledged to go to Southern Cal to play in a more pass-friendly offense than what Nutt coached.

But with Petrino planning to inject life into the forward pass once again at Arkansas, Adams opted to flip on the Trojans and be a Razorback.

" I think in his heart he always wanted to be a Razorback, " Petrino said. " I know his family were big Razorback fans and were in our corner. And with the change in offense, that made us more compatible. "

While Arkansas had always been on the list of schools that had interest in quarterback Ryan Mallett, there is no doubt when he began looking for a new football team, the Razorbacks had to be more attractive with Petrino at the helm.

And having Mallett on campus when other recruits visited was a boon, according to Petrino. Mallett's personality and leadership stood out on the visits.

" If you are one of these young receivers, how could you not want to catch passes from him after what he did at Michigan, " Petrino said.

Some coaches who get a late start on recruiting because of a new job only seek to salvage a recruiting class, but Petrino and his staff did more than just sign warm bodies and practice fodder with this class.

Petrino's aim wasn't just to tread water with this class. He and his staff worked to make it the best it could be.

And by doing so, they met many of the Razorbacks' immediate needs by signing several good running back and receiver prospects and athletes who can play on either side of the football.

Will it be his best class at Arkansas ? Probably not. But the point is that just because some expected a down recruiting class because of the change in staff, Petrino and his staff did not accept that. They worked to make it better.

One guesses they will approach the coming season with the same strategy. Yes, the Razorbacks experienced heavy losses on both sides of the football and no one should expect the Hogs to win the SEC this season.

But anyone expecting worse than a. 500 season from the Razorbacks this fall hasn't been paying attention. Petrino and his staff haven't written this year off and neither have the Razorbacks.

Petrino's not the type of coach who dotes on making excuses. He's too busy working to improve his team.

Terry J. Wood is the sports editor of the Northwest Arkansas Times.