TAT: State of the Program - Recruiting Remains Consistent Despite Staff Change

This article originally appeared in the February 12, 2014 issue of The Arkansas Traveler.

**NOTE: This is the fourth installment of a six-part series on the state of the Arkansas football program. For a preview of the upcoming parts of the series, refer to the dates below the article.**

Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema assembled a staff of great recruiters when he was hired a little over a year ago, as discussed in part three of the State of the Program series.

However, that has failed to translate to top 25 recruiting classes so far. Bielema’s first recruiting class at Arkansas was No. 27, while his most recent one was No. 29, according to Rivals.com.

This should not be discouraging to Arkansas fans, though, as the Razorbacks haven’t had a highly touted class in several years. Since Rivals started ranking the classes in 2002, Arkansas’ average ranking has been 29.1.

Also, Arkansas’ highest ranking ever was 16th in 2009, but that was an outlier, as its next highest ranking was 24th in 2005 and 2011. In fact, eight of the Razorbacks’ 13 classes since 2002 were ranked in the 24-29 range.

The biggest problem in recent years has been retention.

Of the 25 players signed in the class of 2010, which would have been seniors (or juniors if they redshirted), only 11 were still with the team last season. That’s only 44 percent.

That year, three four-star recruits signed with the Razorbacks. Only Byran Jones finished his career at Arkansas. Calvin Barnett ended up as a two-time All-Big XII defensive lineman and Cam Feldt transferred to North Texas.

In Bielema’s first recruiting class, he signed four four-star recruits. Of the four, three of them contributed significantly as freshmen in 2013.

The star of the signing class was Alex Collins, the No. 13 running back in the country, according to Rivals.com. He had an immediate impact, rushing for 1,026 yards and four touchdowns.

Bielema was also able to keep the No. 2 player in Arkansas, and No. 4 overall tight end in the country, Hunter Henry, in the state. Like Collins, Henry was also a major factor in his first season in the Razorbacks’ offense. He was the team’s second-leading receiver with 28 receptions for 409 yards.

The other four-star recruit that contributed was Denver Kirkland, the No. 13 offensive tackle in the country, who started Arkansas’ final eight games and was named to the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team.

This year’s class was highlighted by three four-star players, including the No. 2 player from Arkansas, Bijhon Jackson, who is also the No. 8 defensive tackle in the country.

Quarterback Rafe Peavey is probably the most talked about player of the class, as he could potentially come in and battle Brandon and Austin Allen for the starting or backup job. He is rated as the No. 8 dual-threat quarterback in the country.

Finally, Bielema and his staff was able to land Brian Wallace, the No. 1 player from Missouri and No. 9 offensive tackle in the country.

As long as Bielema can continue to land a few big-name recruits every year, he should win more games. As he wins more games, he’ll sign even more big-name recruits, which will lead to more wins, and it will snowball into a successful team.

Likewise, if Bielema can’t improve his recruiting every year, he won’t win more games.

Recruiting is how programs are built, but it takes time.

Future “State of the Program” dates and links to previous parts…

Part I – Offense

Part II – Defense

Part III – Coaches

Part V – Television (Feb. 19)

Part VI – Attendance (Feb. 26)