According to Blake Stansbery of Born Hog Wild, Arkansas 2010 recruiting class was strong and just what the doctor ordered. Here’s an excerpt:
The Arkansas Razorbacks set out in 2009 to show they can compete in the SEC and to recruit big talented players to the U of A campus. Over the the year and into the new year of 2010 you could say one thing…
Mission accomplished.
Read the entire article here.
From the Memphis Commercial Appeal:
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS WIN FOURTH STRAIGHT GAME
By Noah Trister, Associated Press
Published Saturday, February 6, 2010
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Even during its four-game winning streak, nothing is coming easily for Arkansas.
Courtney Fortson scored 24 points, and the Razorbacks withstood a fluky basket at the end of regulation to beat Auburn, 82-79, in overtime Saturday. Arkansas won despite an injury to center Mike Washington — and moved into sole possession of first place in the SEC West just two weeks after losing by 31 points at Kentucky.
“For what was said and written about those young men — really all season long and after that game in Lexington — nobody gave them a chance to be where they are right now,” Arkansas coach John Pelphrey said. “They deserve the credit for that.”
The Razorbacks have trailed at halftime in all four games of their streak, and Saturday they lost Washington to a left leg injury with 8:09 to play. Still, Arkansas (12-11, 5-3 SEC) was in good shape after Fortson’s layup gave the Hogs a 67-65 lead with 14.1 seconds left.
Auburn’s Tay Waller tried a contested 3-pointer that missed, but Frankie Sullivan saved the ball as it went toward the Tigers’ bench and threw it back toward the basket. Sullivan’s heave didn’t come close to going in, but Andre Malone was all alone to catch the ball and lay it in just before the buzzer, sending the game to overtime.
Playing their fourth game in 10 days, the Razorbacks pressed on.
“We’ve been dealing with adversity,” Fortson said. “As long as we can stick together, anything can happen.”
Fortson’s 3-pointer broke a 71-71 tie, and he later hit from the perimeter and made two free throws with 40.6 seconds left to make it 78-73. After an Auburn miss, Fortson grabbed the rebound and went coast to coast for a layup and a seven-point lead.
Auburn (11-12, 2-6) rallied one more time. With the score 81-76, Arkansas turned the ball over, and Waller made a 3-pointer. Fortson made one of two free throws with 4.2 seconds left, and after a timeout, Sullivan momentarily lost control of the ball rushing it up the court.
Sullivan recovered in time to get off a shot from midcourt. It was on line but hit the back of the rim, and Sullivan collapsed to the floor in disappointment.
“I thought it was good when it left my hand,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan and Waller each scored 18 points for Auburn.
Andy Hodges of the The Hog Country Blog has posted a rather blistering assessment of Razorback Coach Bobby Petrino. He doesn’t think Petrino has proved anything since joining the SEC. Here’s an excerpt:
Bobby Petrino better be as good as many of the fans in Hog Country hope. The reality here is I hope he is, too. Wins are much more fun to write about than losses.
Despite what some in the media will tell you, there is absolutely no track record in The Great Playcaller’s past to think that the future is bright farther than what should be a banner year in 2010 (at least 10 wins should the minimum expectation for fans with the offensive firepower).
Read the rest of the post here.
Here’s a synopsis on the Arkansas-Georgia game tonight from http://hoopdawg.wordpress.com. An excerpt:
Mark Fox’s Georgia Bulldogs (9-10 overall, 1-5 in the SEC) need an SEC win in the worst way. After losing two straight and 5 of their first 6 conference games, the Dawgs need to build a little momentum before heading into Saturday’s game with #18 Vanderbilt.
Nothing like a trip back home to shake off the cobwebs and get a couple wins.
Arkansas (10-11 overall, 3-3 in the SEC) comes into Athens riding a two-game winning streak, including an 80-73 win at Ole Miss last Sunday (their first road win of the season in four tries).
Interesting observations from Blake Stansber writing for Born Hog Wild:
It is the home stretch of recruiting for the 2010 class and a crucial period of recruiting for the 2011 class.
While the Arkansas coaching staff works to improve the team for the future with their recruiting efforts, Hog fans from coast to coast are already envisioning a 2010 with BCS implications.
The fans are not the only ones thinking that 2010 will be a season with championship implications. The Arkansas coaching staff and players have the same thoughts in mind.
The national media already is hyping Alabama to make a run at repeating as national champions, and that is a very strong possibility. The Crimson Tide has talent to spare and is coached by one of the best coaches in all of the country in Nick Saban.
But do not discount the losses in experience and leadership that the Tide is going to have to overcome. On offense, the Tide will be losing All-American left guard Mike Johnson, right tackle Drew Davis, and tight end Colin Peek.
Defensively Alabama is losing nine starters. The biggest area hit will be the defensive line with three seniors graduating. The most notable loss on the line will be that of All-American nose tackle Terrence Cody.
The linebacker group also will take a huge hit, with three linebackers departing. Rolando McClain, who won the Butkus Award this season, opted to declare for the NFL draft and forgo his senior season.
Alabama has the talent to replace these players, but those players are yet to prove themselves and have some very big shoes to fill.
Still, next season when the Crimson Tide comes to Fayetteville to face off with the Hogs, expect the circus to come to town and eyes across the nation to be focused on the early SEC battle of contenders.
The Razorbacks defense struggled in 2009 but was made up of mostly underclassmen. The biggest loss to the defense is Malcolm Sheppard, who graduated this year.
Still, in 2010 the Arkansas defense will actually improve in depth and experience. We will have plenty of time to cover the defense’s areas of needed improvement up until next fall.
The story for the Razorbacks in 2010 will be offense. It will be the last season for D.J. Williams and likely the last for Ryan Mallett, and the Hogs return more starters than anyone in the SEC.
In 2009, the Razorbacks had the best offense in all of the SEC and arguably the best quarterback in the SEC in Mallett. Pair that with arguably the best WR corps, and also take into consideration that the star QB and WR players were sophomores, and the 2010 Hogs look to be a sleeper SEC West contender.
Anything less for the players, coaches, and fans will be a disappointment.
Ryan Mallett did not forgo going into the NFL Draft to come back to Arkansas to go to another Liberty Bowl or even a Cotton Bowl.
No, 2010 is BCS or bust for the Hogs. That will be their goal.
Now if it seems that these are overly ambitious expectations, and that here goes another plane-flying crazy Arkansas fan, all I have to say to that is touché.
But really, this is the expectation within the program. The coaches have openly talked about it in their press conferences, and the players also are spreading the word.
The Hogs need big improvement in 2010 for this to happen, but they have the pieces in place and will have a much more favorable schedule in 2010 with their biggest tests coming at home. Alabama, Ole Miss, and LSU all travel to Arkansas to face the Hogs.
The national media has started to jump on board, with more than a handful of the “way too early” preseason polls placing the Hogs in the top 20 and labeling them as a “sleeper” or “dark horse” for a run at the SEC title.
As national signing day approaches, it will only be a short time later that the Hogs go into spring practice, then summer practice, followed by the fall.
All the while, the buzz about Arkansas and their 2010 season will continue to grow, along with the Ryan Mallett for Heisman buzz.
The Hogs want people to think of them as a very good team because they are a very good team with the ability to be great.
Yes, a circus is coming to town in 2010, and all I have to say to that is, bring on the hype.
This is an interesting listen. Click on image for audio.
By Blake Stansbery of Born Hog Wild.
The Arkansas Razorback football team has had a very good week.
In the past week they found out that starting quarterback Ryan Mallett and starting tight end D.J. Williams would forgo early entry into the NFL draft and return to play for the Hogs.
The Hogs also got some very good news on the recruiting front.
First the Hogs received a commitment from 2011 star quarterback Brandon Allen. Allen is the son of assistant coach Bobby Allen.
Just moments later the Hogs received a commitment from William Russ. Russ is a kicker/punter from Shreveport Evangel. Russ should be able to provide an immediate impact on kickoffs and punts for the Hogs. His punts averaged close to 45 yards for the season, and he routinely kicked through the end zone on kickoffs.
The Arkansas coaching staff looks to keep the positives flowing this weekend when they host their largest group of official visitors of the year.
It is being reported by Richard Davenport, The Recruiting Guy, that the below recruits are scheduled for official visits this weekend. These are subject to change, but currently each player has reported he will be here for his official visit this weekend.
CB Deonte Welch of Williston, Fla.
TE Brad Hefley of Joplin (Commit)
OL Jordan Rainey of Joplin (Commit)
OL Cam Feldt of Pilot Point, Tx. (Commit)
S Darrell Smith of Port Saint Joe, Fla. (Commit)
DL Sean Watson of Panama City, Fla. Rutherford
Ath. Jatashu “Big Tex” Beachum of Dallas Maceo Smith (Commit)
DL Jeremiah Jackson of Hoover, Ala. (Commit)
TE Garrett Uekman of Little Rock Catholic (Commit)
Ath. Julian Horton of Norcross, Ga.
RB/LB Braylon Mitchell of Heber Springs (Commit)
WR Maudrecus Humphrey of Hoover, Ala.
LB Courtney Gaston of Fort Gibson, Okla. (Commit)
The nine committed players should have a good impact on the visiting recruits, and the Razorbacks are looking to close the 2010 class on a strong note.
The return of Mallett, many believe, should give the Hogs a boost on the recruiting trail and has optimism for 2010 at an all-time high.
With signing day fast approaching, this weekend is the first of many to come with high attendance of official visitors.
The weekend sets up perfectly for the official visits. With a home basketball game the recruits will get a chance to meet the fans and see what Arkansas fans are all about.
Ken Hatfield, the winningest coach in Arkansas football history, is the guest speaker for the annual Little River Chamber of Commerce banquet Feb. 4.
The banquet will be in the Barbara Horn Civic Center at the Cossatot Community College in Ashdown, Ark.
Here’s more about Coach Hatfield at Wikipedia. Read more in the Texarkana Gazette.
I’m not really good at making predictions, but I’m going to take a stab at a couple in this brief post.
Prediction No. 1 – The Arkansas Razorbacks will beat East Carolina in the upcoming Liberty Bowl, and perhaps convincingly. While the game will be close in the first half, the SEC battle-tested Hogs will prevail over the talented East Carolina team in the second half.
Prediction No. 2 - Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett will decide to stay and play one more year before turning pro. While Mallett is a promising NFL prospect, his stock could potentially go through the roof leading the Razorbacks to a 10 or better winning season in 2010. Heck, if he plays well, he could easily be in the running for the Heisman! Playing another year under Petrino will only make him better.
Prediction No. 3 - Whether predictions No. 1 or No. 2 pan out or not, Arkansas will be much improved in 2010 and will start the year in the Associated Press Top 25.
There you go. Now all we have to do is sit back and see which of my prognostications come to pass.
Happy New Year!
Arkansas talks about its important contest with Missouri State, which is 10-0 on the season with wins over Auburn, Tulsa and Arkansas State (video link via Arkansas Online).
