Analysis: Pittman's early recruiting rally was impressive

Arkansas football head coach Sam Pittman greets fans Saturday during a timeout in the basketball game at Walton Arena in Fayetteville. Pittman has a tough recruiting job ahead with the early signing period, which starts today and runs through Friday. - Photo by Ben Goff of the NWA Democrat-Gazette

— It remains to be seen how Sam Pittman’s first season as a head football coach goes, but he does deserve kudos for the performance that he and his skeleton staff put together during the early signing period.

When he took over on Dec. 7, Arkansas was ranked 119th in the 247Sports composite rankings and last in the 14-team SEC.

It was a recruiting class that had seen eight defections since the firing of Chad Morris, who presided over a pair of 2-10 seasons before being relieved of his duties.

Pittman went right to work, something that has never backed away from during his long career as an assistant.

“Obviously we knew it was going to be hard, difficult,  to sign a number of payers, but we wanted to sign ones that fit into our program and we certainly did that,” Pittman said. “…We were just going after the best players at any position that we could get. We wanted them to be good kids and love Arkansas, but we were just going after who we liked off of film to be honest with you.”

While 12 of the other 13 SEC competitors signed at least 15 prospects during the three-day early signing period this week, Pittman landed nine and moved up 60 spots to No. 59.

Now don’t get me wrong, 59th won’t win you a lot of games, but all nine of the ones Pittman landed could see time next season and three of them will be here in January and be able to go through spring practice.

Pittman is able to turn his attention toward completing his staff and continuing the quest of landing as many as 16 other prospects for the late national signing date, Feb. 5.

The Razorbacks have three commitments who didn’t sign in the early period - Knoxville, Tenn., linebacker Drew Francis and defensive lineman Tyrece Edwards, and safety Mike Harris of Phenix, Ala. All three are expected to tale their official visits to Fayetteville in January.

Recruiting rankings are based in part of quantity of commits as well as the quality of them.

If Arkansas had 25 commits/signees instead of the 12 it has now, and those were similarly-ranked prospects, the Razorbacks would be somewhere in the No. 25-30 range nationally.

Landing Conway offensive lineman and current Ole Miss pledge Robert Scott (6-6, 290 pounds) would be a big win for Pittman and Razorback offensive line coach Brad Davis, who recently visited Scott.

Pittman and his staff will have to look around every corner and under every rock to see what is left beginning in Arkansas.

“I know there's some kids in our state still available,” Pittman said. “I don't know what the percentages (are) of the guys that signed today. It may be 70-75 percent of the kids signed today.

“I will say this: the Arkansas high school coaches have been very gracious in calling me and saying, 'Hey, would you mind looking at this guy, this guy, this guy?' I've been very thankful for that."

Scott is one of many prospects who Pittman and his staff are hopeful of having in for official visits on Jan. 17-19, Jan. 24-26 or Jan. 31-Feb. 2.

The Razorbacks are also scheduled to host a St. Louis three-star Jalen St. John (6-4, 325) on Jan. 17-19 and hopeful of also getting Brady Ward (6-7, 310) of Mobile, Ala., during that weekend.

Defensive linemen Montra Edwards (6-3, 290) of Lexington, Miss., and Jaqualin McGhee (6-4, 260) of Fort Valley, Ga., are slated to be in on Jan. 17-19.

Two cornerbacks who are planning on visiting Jan. 17-19 are Boston's Khari Johnson (6-0, 185), Rae-kwon Starks (5-11, 175) of Harvey, La., and athlete Corey Wren (5-10, 175) is another New Orleans-area prospect due in during January.

Nick Turner (6-0, 185) of New Orleans is another defensive back who will possibly visit.

Interestingly, only one of those eight de-commits signed early - running back John Gentry of Houston with Utah.

It would not be surprising to see Arkansas engage back with tight ends Brandon Frazier and Allen Horace, receiver Savion Williams and maybe the Carthage, Texas, duo of athlete Kelvontay Dixon and offensive lineman Ty’Kieast Crawford.

Pittman very easily could have signed just a trio of in-state signees, all of whom were committed to the previous staff.

But his first early signing period also included a trio of flips from other schools, a coveted early enrollee junior college defensive lineman he signed just two days after approaching him and a pair of linebackers at a position that needs a talent and depth infusion.

Taking everything into account, that’s a positive development for a program that - simply stated - has been the league’s worst over the past two seasons.

• • • 

2020 Signees (9)

Early Enrollees

• Kelin Burrle, LB, 6-2, 200, Harvey, La., Helen Cox

• Julius Coates, DE, 6-6, 270, East Mississippi Community College

• Blayne Toll, DE, 6-5, 244, Hazen

Summer Enrollees

• Ray Curry, OL, 6-6, 300, Memphis White Station

• Dominique Johnson, TB, 6-2, 220, Crowley, Texas

• Myles Slusher, DB, 6-0, 181, Broken Arrow, Okla.

• Jashaud Stewart, DE-LB, 6-2, 223, Jonesboro

• Darin Turner, WR-S, 6-4, 215, Memphis Central

• Catrell Wallace, LB, 6-6, 210, Bryant

2020 Commits (3)

• Tyrece Edwards, DE, 6-3, 240, Knoxville, Tenn., West

• Drew Francis, LB, 6-2, 200, Knoxville, Tenn., West

• Mike Harris, S, 6-1, 180, Phenix City, Ala., Central