One weekend can't turn a football program completely around, but it could sure be another building block in the process.
New Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman and his staff are expecting to host some 14 official visitors this weekend, including one signee, two commits, two former pledges, two big-time offensive linemen, eight other targets and former Florida quarterback Felipe Franks.
Not only does the Razorback football program get to show off its facilities and blueprint for success, but also the fervor of Arkansas fans during its sold-out and much-anticipated basketball game with Kentucky.
Pittman inked nine signees during the Dec. 18-20 early signing period and added Arkansas State cornerback transfer Jerry Jacobs, one of six players enrolled early. That group should improve the defense. It's not surprising that many Razorback fans sense a move toward turning a corner, if not so much THE corner.
"I tell you this, we're going to sign as many good players as we can," Pittman said. "But I tell you what we're not going to do. We're not going to sign 25 and five of them we're not doing somersaults for. We're going to sign good football players and good people, and if the number ends up at 18, then we'll be fine with it.
"If it ends up at 22, then we'll be fine with it. But we're going after people that we like, and we're going after them obviously in positions of need. But we're not going to stretch here."
A program that has won just eight of its last 36 games has some talent, but needs an infusion of it at several positions.
One of those is clearly the offensive line, a place Arkansas has the opportunity the next few weeks to make an impression on at least three prospects that could be true building blocks.
Georgia five-star commit Broderick Jones (6-foot-6, 280 pounds), a Lithonia, Ga., native who ESPN sees as the nation's top offensive tackle prospect and No. 13 overall prospect nationally, is visiting Arkansas this weekend, Georgia Jan. 24-26 and Auburn Jan. 31-Feb. 2.
The Under Armour All American committed to Pittman and Georgia in April of his sophomore season, but obviously Pittman's new address has Jones' attention with his intention to visit Arkansas.
The Razorbacks are also high on former Missouri offensive line pledge Jalen St. John (6-5, 320) of St. Louis (Mo.) Trinity Catholic, who is also scheduled to be in as an official visitor this weekend at Arkansas and at Florida State on Jan. 31-Feb. 2.
Former Missouri offensive line coach Brad Davis got a commitment from St. John when he was with the Tigers and now is the offensive line coach of Arkansas.
Arkansas is hoping to land Conway offensive lineman Robert Scott (6-5, 300), due in Jan. 24-26 for his official visit to Fayetteville.
Scott, an Ole Miss pledge and viewed as the state's top offensive line prospect, is visiting Florida State this weekend before coming to Arkansas.
Pittman and Davis, who played for Pittman at Oklahoma, made their way to see Scott right after they landed in Arkansas.
"Along the way, I certainly have been proud of him and all that he's done with going to Florida, going over to Missouri, and in my opinion, he's as good of an offensive line coach as there is in the country, and he was actually the first guy that came here when I did," Pittman said. "Great recruiter, great coach, great man, great family, and he's like my son, to be honest with you."
Arkansas has one offensive line signee in Memphis White Station's Ray Curry (6-6, 315) in its 2020 recruiting class to this point.
"Well, I want to get the best players in America because as y'all know, I truly believe that Arkansas is the best place in America," Pittman said. "...We're basically trying to recruit guys that we think can come in here and challenge for a position early in their career."
Sports on 01/16/2020