Hogs staff going National for 2011 class

DT Kevin McReynolds of Washington DC.

With 16 high school seniors already committed to play for the University of Arkansas, this class sets up to be one of the strongest of the Petrino era.

The Razorback coaching staff has gotten verbal commitments from 7 in state prospects for the 2011 class. All 7 of those rank in the top 10 prospects in the state. Not bad for the state of Arkansas, considering the Hogs only signed 4 in state players in the 2010 class.

To have success at Arkansas, the recruit map is going to have to extend well beyond the state of Arkansas, and even well beyond the southeast portion of the United States. The state of Arkansas just does not produce enough talent to support an SEC program. Previous staffs at Arkansas would offer anyone in state who were life long Razorback fans or who showed the desire to wear the uniform. It is hard to build quality depth, redshirt program, & championship teams when taking that approach.

From 2002-07, Arkansas signed a whopping 59 athletes from the state of Arkansas. An average of 9.83 in state kids per year in that 6 year range. Of those 59, 30 either had minimal contributions or left the program all together. That is just at a 50% success rate of in state players within that 6 year period.

As we move into the meat of the 2011 recruiting season, the Arkansas staff has plucked what it wants from within the state, and has now moved national. The staff seems to understand that to build a championship program at Arkansas, you must broaden your horizons. You must hit every corner of this nation to find the top talent that there is available.

LB Brock Haman out of Scottsdale, AZ

What has held the Arkansas program back for so long? Why have the Razorbacks never been able to be a consistent winner & contender in the SEC West? It is simple; lack of recruiting on the national scene, and being too caught up in who has been a life long Razorback fan.

As I mentioned before, Arkansas currently has 16 commits for the 2011 class, of which 7 of those are from within our great states borders. Now, let's take a look at the rest.

Arkansas currently has 9 out of state commits, who are all from 9 different states. The Hogs currently have commits from the states of, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Alabama, Kansas(orig.OK), Illinois, Florida,  & Oklahoma.

Astonishing right? What is even more unbelievable about the current staff are the athletes not yet committed, whom they are still chasing.

As of today, Arkansas has sent out 199 scholarship offers for the 2011 class. Of those 199 offers, only 9 are within the state of Arkansas. That means, 190 offers have been sent out nation wide by our staff. West Coast, East Coast, Northeast, Southwest, Northwest, Midwest. You name it, there is a prospect in that area of the country with an Arkansas Razorback scholarship offer.

This staff gets it. They understand what it takes, and what it is going to take to sustain excellence at the University of Arkansas. They do not care who else may be recruiting a kid. They do not care if a prospect is an 11 hour drive, or a 4 hour plane ride away. The only thing this staff seems to care about is finding the best possible athletes available across the country and persuading them to come to Arkansas to be a part of something special.

When the dust has settled, and the letter of intents roll into the BAC in February, Arkansas fans should feel a sense of relief. Why? It is 2011, and Arkansas has a leader who knows what it is going to take to be successful here, and he is not going to let a few miles cloud his judgement on whether he wants a prospect or not.


-Clint Alan

TIME TO ROLL UP MY SLEEVES

The national media and many in the local media have called us crazy, redneck, and stupid idiots.

Well, I'm not taking it anymore.  You wimps in the local media that have not defended us on the National level, or (and SHAME ON YOU!!!) have jumped on the bandwagon and agreed with them should be embarrassed.  

Our fans are being shredded in the national media.  Local personalities have called us "idiots, rednecks, and (in the past) terrorist."  

We are a passionate fan base.  We are FANaticals.  All of that is true.  I own that.  But we also have a lot of pride in this state for our University, our teams, and our people.  The attitude by some of you on this board and most of our local media that have the attitude, "Let them eat cake..." is what the problem is.

The reason that there is a free press is for people to know what is going on.  To not just be fed a bunch of bull by the people with the coin.  Who are representing the fans these days?  Who came to our defense?  

Wait, we are the crazy ones for holding a coach (who is a public employee) accountable for being a bad coach and a worse person?  We, the ones that are paying the bills!  When no one else, including the media would stand up and say anything (you know...their jobs) the fans stood up and said, "We are not taking this anymore."  I don't think I am being dramatic when I say this is kind of the whole reason we have free press, so the common man could know what was going on and do something about it if no one else would.

The truth is now coming out about HdN but it didn't happen until he was run out of here by people that demanded better.

I'm sorry, but when people that should know better allow members of the Hog fan base to be run down in the hopes that they (a college kid, Bo, and a radio guy that wanted the play by play) could advance their careers just makes our local media look weak and pathetic.

You guys know I am a minister.  You know I'm pretty even tempered.  I've taken criticism on this board for my reports and now radio show.  You know that I usually am a show it on the field and shut them up guy.  You can say that I am bad at all of those things. But when the national and local media start trashing this state, this fan base and our coaches (Ones that are actually good at their jobs) then it is time to take a stand.

I've got emails and messages into Gregg Doyel, Paul Finebaum and a couple of other hacks today.  We will see if they actually want to defend their ignorance of what is going on here and still writing about it.  Also, Andy, you also have my number and the stations number.  I invite you to give us a call and we will talk about any and all of this on the air.

For those of you that want to change the subject and make it about me trying to promote a show...fine, I'll take it as that.  But I'm also giving the people that have blasted this fan base a chance to defend themselves in a public arena to the fans that they have besmirched. 


-Ched "Ugly Uncle" Carpenter

Hogs get Double Dose of star power

Two phone calls of disappointment for two programs, led to one phone call of excitement for another. 

Saturday night, Neville HS standout DT Demarcus Hodge pledged to continue his football career for the Arkansas Razorbacks. 

Hodge, 6'1" 305lbs, had narrowed his scholarship offers down to 3 schools a few weeks back. The big time DT cut his list to TCU, Mississippi State, and Arkansas. 

Hodge makes the 16th commitment of the 2011 class for Arkansas. What Hodge brings to the Arkansas defense instantly is added depth and size up front. Arkansas signed the #3 rated DL class a year ago according to rivals.com, but continues to add to that depth of star quality players with this comittment. 

Look for Hodge to make an instant impact in the fall of 2012. He brings strength, the ability to plug the middle of the line, and a knack to draw double teams. Hodge is the Hogs 4th DL commitment of this class

-Clint Alan

Early morning hog calls are likely the norm around the state of Arkansas. Today, Kody Walker gained first hand experience, as he rolled out of bed and chose the Hogs over home state school Missouri.

Walker, a 6'1" 230lb RB out of Jefferson City, MO announced his decision at a pre-set press conference held at Atkins Stadium this morning at 9 a.m.

Walker fits the mold of what Head Hog Bobby Petrino wants in a running back. Big, powerful, gains yards after contact, and one who does not go down easily. In an interview Friday, Walker admitted that the style of offense was a big factor in where he would decide to play at the next level.

The Jeff City product will likely get the opportunity for early playing time as a freshman. Arkansas Head Coach Bobby Petrino has a reputation of giving ample opportunity to everyone, no matter the class. Arkansas has led the nation the last two seasons combined in freshman played & started.

-Clint Alan

Stability at QB position post scrimmage

The  Big Story of the Summer has been the foot of Ryan Mallett.  The big story of the fall practice just might be Mallett’s back up Tyler Wilson.
Wilson has been performing at a high level since he got the chance to work soley with the first team offense in the Spring.  Today’s practice scrimmage was no different.  Make no mistake, Mallett is your starter going into the season and it isn’t even close.  However, the coaches, players and fans know they have someone that can step in and not miss a beat should the unthinkable happen.
Mallett’s number one offense struggled some today against the first team defense.  Mallett looked impressive on most of his passes today, but timing, touch, and dropped passes slowed the offense down.  
Tyler Wilson on the other hand carved apart the second team defense all day.  Don’t expect that Arkansas will have a drop off after Mallett leaves next year.  Petrino has another great quarterback just waiting in the wings.  
Check out all the stats from today’s scrimmage on Brandon Marcello’s Whole Hogs Sports: http://blogs.nwaonline.com/slophouse/2010/08/day-10-scrimmage-statistics-unofficial/


    -Ched "Ugly Uncle" Carpenter