Since Monday, a maximum seven among coach Bobby Petrino and his nine Razorback assistants will spend a month daily visiting high schools aiming to secure a recruiting class better in February, 2009 than they signed in February, 2008.

Given Petrino wasn't hired until mid December and wasn't able to establish a full staff until after the 2007 Razorbacks finished New Year's Day at the Cotton Bowl, the 2008 class apparently was pretty good.

It had better be, Petrino said. And pretty precocious, too.

At least some of them, anyway, he told the Razorback old grads at last Saturday's annual lettermen's reunion breakfast at the A-Club.

" We are going to need help from our freshman class, " Petrino said. " I see us playing 8 to 10 true freshmen when they come in. "

Don't just round up the usual respects with the most recruiting stars by their name and presume they'll be among those 8 or 10.

" Who that is going to be, " Petrino said, " we don't know yet. "

The August preseason and how they prepare for it will determine that as will varsity depth, or lack thereof, at various positions.

" What I have been telling them is every single one of them needs to prepare to play as they come in as a freshman. From the day we signed them, it was important that they understood that physically, ' I am going to get myself ready to play. Mentally, I am going to get myself ready to play. ' Then we bring them in and take about 10 to 14 days to find out. There will be some that aren't. "

Petrino said he's often been surprised both ways.

" I've had situations before where I thought there is no way this guy won't play as a freshman, but he comes here and lines up and all of a sudden everybody he's lining up next to and against was the best player in their high school, too, " Petrino said. " So the speed of the game and the intensity of the game, he's just not mentally ready to handle.

" So if that's the situation, then he wouldn't be ready to play. But we are going to need some guys physically and mentally ready because we have some areas where we have the need. "

Perhaps surprising, given the entire starting secondary from 2007 has graduated, Petrino did not identify the defensive backfield as acutely needing freshman help.

He approved the message in spring drills sent by cornerbacks Jamar Love, Darrell Glasper and Isaac Madison, strong safeties Dallas Washington and Bret Harris and free safeties Matt Harris and Rashaad Johnson.

Presumably, he anticipates injured cornerback Jerell Norton (pulled hamstring during spring drills ) and safety Walner Leandre (still rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery ) returning healthy in August.

" I like our secondary, " Petrino said. " I think we have depth at corner and depth at safety. I do think we do have a freshman or two who are very talented and can compete to help us there. "

A bonus if they help in the secondary. Nearly a necessity for a rookie or rookies to provide depth elsewhere.

" We definitely are going to need some freshmen running backs who can come in and play, " Petrino said. " We definitely need some wide receivers be able to come in and play. We need an inside guy [tackle ] on defense that can help us. I think we have a couple of candidates there. Linebackers we are very thin. We need some linebackers who can provide some depth and size. "

He'll aim for longer linebackers in the 2009 recruiting class than the Elston Forte, 6-0, 219, Jerry Franklin, 6-2, 229 and Ryan Powers, 6-1, 207 trio closing spring drills first team.

" We are a little undersized for what I like at linebacker, " Petrino said. " If you can write up the perfect linebacker I'll like them 6-4, about 240 pounds who can run a 4. 6. That's what we are looking for. I do believe the length of a linebacker affects the quarterback. It affects his ability to see passing lanes and he gets a little shy to make some seam throws just because of that length. "

The current starting trio may be a little short on height, but it's no stretch to say they can move.

" We are fast, " Petrino said. " I like that. I like that they are young and excited about running around and hitting. "

Of all the assistants, offensive line coach Mike Summers likely faces the least pressure regarding readying a true freshman to play right way. "

That's good, because Summers, Petrino's line coach both at the University of Louisville and last year with the Atlanta Falcons, has the most on his plate, Petrino believes.

" I'll always believe our offense will go as our offensive front goes, " Petrino said. " Therefore there will be a lot of pressure on Mike. I think the thing he does as well as anybody I've been around is making them understand that. They will be the closest group. "

Nate Allen covers the Razorbacks for the Northwest Arkansas Times.