TAT: Students React to Commits

This article originally appeared in the February 6, 2013 issue of The Arkansas Traveler.

*Note: This was written the day before National Signing Day, so some information is not up-to-date.*

As his first recruiting class as the head coach at Arkansas comes together, Bret Bielema is making a positive impression among students.

Many students, such as freshman Raj Patel, are excited that Bielema has recruited well despite Arkansas’ 4-8 record in 2012.

“I’m impressed because (former UA head coach) John L. Smith kind of left our program in a pretty bad state,” Patel said.

As of Feb. 5, the day before National Signing Day, and with several recruits still undecided, Arkansas’ class is ranked No. 24 on 247sports.com. They are also ranked No. 32, No. 39 and No. 46 according to Rivals.com, ESPN.com and Scout.com, respectively.

Other students are impressed that he has compiled an entire recruiting class in a short period of time, given that Bielema was hired Dec. 4.

“I think he’s come in here and done a great job in a little less than two months,” sophomore Brooks Rosson said. “He’s got a great start to his career here.”

Rosson said that Bielema isn’t quite done, though, as there are still some undecided players expected to announce their decisions today.

Four-star offensive linemen Denver Kirkland and Kenny Lacy have taken official visits to Arkansas. Lacy is committed to UCLA, while Kirkland remains undecided. Both are still considering the Razorbacks.

“Hopefully, we can get those last two linemen,” Rosson said. “That would be the perfect addition and would solidify the class.”

However, a few students are skeptical of the class. They point to former players Ronnie Wingo, Jr. and Darius Winston as examples of highly touted recruits who didn’t pan out.

“It seems like a lot of the fan base is focused on how great it is to have (five-star running back) Alex Collins, yet they fail to remember that Arkansas has also had several cases when they’ve had busts,” senior Paul Williams said. “Stars don’t mean anything.”

TAT: Razorbacks Land Collins

This article first appeared in the February 6, 2013 issue of The Arkansas Traveler.

*Note: This was written the day before National Signing Day, so some information may not be up-to-date.*

A five-star running back from South Plantation (Fla.) High chose Arkansas over Miami (FL) Monday night, landing head coach Bret Bielema a major recruit in his first recruiting class with the Razorbacks.

Alex Collins is a five-star recruit and the No. 1 running back in the country according to 247sports.com.

He is also a five-star recruit according to Scout.com, who has him as the No. 3 running back in the country. ESPN.com and Rivals.com have him as a four-star recruit and the No. 7 and No. 13 running back in the country, respectively.

He took official visits to Florida, Florida State, Wisconsin, Arkansas and Miami, before narrowing his decision to Arkansas and Miami. Last night he chose the Razorbacks live on Fox Sports South.

“To the fans that I’ve made happy, this is for them: wooooo pig sooie wooooo pig sooie wooooo pig sooie RAZORBACKS #GoHogs,” Collins tweeted after he announced his decision.

The 5-foot-11-inch, 200-pound running back earned first team All-County honors the previous two seasons. During his senior season, he gained 1,276 yards and 14 touchdowns on 154 carries.

Along with his official visits, Collins was also offered by Louisville, South Florida and UCF, for a total of eight offers.

“I apologize to every fan and coach that I disappointed or let down, but it had to be a decision I made for me because this is where I will be,” Collins tweeted.

Collins was one of the more unpredictable recruiting battles for the class of 2013. He was originally verbally committed to Miami, but decommitted in November.

Bielema and running backs coach Joel Thomas recruited Collins hard while at Wisconsin, and then continued recruiting him when they were hired at Arkansas.

Getting Collins to commit to the Razorbacks has proven to many college football analysts that Bielema can recruit in the Southeastern Conference.

“Although Bielema will have to earn his stripes in this conference before any respect is thrown his way, he recruits similar to an SEC head coach,” Randy Chambers wrote for BleacherReport.com.

Arkansas had been struggling in recruiting before Collins committed. Bielema’s 2013 recruiting class was ranked as low as No. 60 according to Scout.com just one week ago.

Collins’ commitment increased Arkansas’ national ranking in all four major services. Their highest ranking is on 247sports.com, where they have the No. 24 recruiting class for 2013.

Their ranking could continue to rise today, depending where four-star offensive linemen Denver Kirkland and Kenny Lacy sign, as well as four-star running back Altee Tenpenny.

Kirkland is undecided, while Lacy is committed to UCLA and Tenpenny is committed to Alabama. Despite their commitments, Lacy and Tenpenny are still considering Arkansas.

Collins is Arkansas’ 21st commitment for the class of 2013.

TAT: Razorbacks Ready to Face No. 2 Gators

This article originally appeared in the February 5, 2013 issue of The Arkansas Traveler.

Arkansas’ men’s basketball team will need to play their best basketball of the year when they face No. 2 Florida tonight, head coach Mike Anderson said.

The Gators are coming off a 78-64 victory over No. 16 Ole Miss Saturday and are 8-0 in SEC play, outscoring opponents by an average of 26.5 points per game.

“They are arguably the best team in the country,” Anderson said. “We get the ultimate challenge of playing them here at Bud Walton Arena.”

Last season, Florida came to Fayetteville and beat the Razorbacks 98-68, led by Erving Walker, who had 31 points and five assists.

“Last year’s game wasn’t a fun game,” Anderson said. “Hopefully we can perform a little better. I think we’re a better team than we were last year.”

While Walker graduated after last season, the Gators still have a deep roster, with four players averaging more than 10 points per game.

Senior guard Kenny Boynton leads the way with 13.4 points per game and 3.4 assists per game. Senior forward Erik Murphy, senior guard Mike Rosario and junior center Patric Young also average double figures, with 12.9, 12.1 and 11.1 points per game, respectively.

“When you’re talking about their basketball team, you’re talking about their total team,” Anderson said. “We have our hands full, but our guys are looking forward to it.”

Of those four players, Anderson is most impressed with Murphy.

“He can go in and post up, throw up some nice hook shots and can also step away from the basket and really shoot the ball well,” Anderson said.

For Arkansas to have a chance against Florida, their “defense has to be at an all-time high,” Anderson said.

“You have to pick your poison,” Anderson said. “What are you going to cut off? We can’t let them have open shots.”

“Our defense has been good sometimes, but it needs to be really good all the time against Florida,” Anderson said.

Another key for the Razorbacks will be their bench play. Tonight will be their third game in six days. Thursday they fell to Alabama 59-56 and Saturday they beat Tennessee 73-60.

“With so many games in six days, I think it’s going to be important that guys come off the bench and give us great energy,” Anderson said.

Despite coming off the bench to score 25 points against Tennessee, sophomore guard BJ Young is still “considered a starter,” Anderson said.

Arkansas is 4-0 at home in SEC play this season, winning by an average margin of 17.5 points per game.

“(Playing Florida) is an opportunity to showcase our basketball team and showcase Bud Walton Arena,” Anderson said. “We want to come out and defend our home court.”

The Razorbacks face the Gators tonight at 6 p.m. on ESPN.

TAT: Countdown to Diamond Hogs: Coaching Staff

This article originally appeared in the February 5, 2013 issue of The Arkansas Traveler.

When most fans go to baseball games, they rarely notice the coaches, unless they get into an argument with an umpire.

However, Arkansas’ coaching staff this year will be one of their strengths, as the six coaches combine to have 18 College World Series appearances.

Todd Butler

During 15 seasons as an assistant coach in the SEC, associate head coach Todd Butler has been a part of five College World Series teams.

Butler serves as the hitting instructor, outfield coach and recruiting coordinator for the Razorbacks. In seven seasons at Arkansas, he has helped bring in five top-10 recruiting classes.

He was instrumental in bringing in players such as highly-touted freshman pitcher Trey Killian from Mountain Home, Ark., and junior Dominic Ficociello, who was drafted in the 23rd round out of Fullerton (Calif.) Union High in 2010.

As a hitting instructor, Butler developed Zack Cox, Matt Reynolds, Brett Eibner and Andy Wilkins into top five round draft picks.

You can expect Ficociello to continue to improve under Butler’s instruction, after hitting .301 in SEC play last season.

Dave Jorn

Arkansas’ pitching staff has flourished under UA assistant coach Dave Jorn.

In his 16 seasons with the Razorbacks, he has five College World Series appearances. He is entering his 11th consecutive season at Arkansas after a 14-year stint as a minor league coach with the Mets, Yankees and Diamondbacks.

Jorn will be vital for Arkansas this season after having two pitchers, D.J. Baxendale and Nolan Sanburn, sign with professional teams.

Despite these losses, the Razorbacks still have preseason All-American juniors Ryne Stanek and Colby Suggs. They also have Killian, junior Barrett Astin and senior Randall Fant.

Astin will begin the season in the starting rotation, while Jorn develops Killian. Jorn must decide when and if Killian becomes ready for a starting role and when to move Astin back into the bullpen. He will also have to manage when to bring in Suggs, junior Brandon Moore and senior Cade Lynch out of the bullpen.

Arkansas’ 2.83 ERA was the fifth lowest in the country last season and many experts predict a similar season this year.

Former Players, Now Assistants

Three recent former Razorbacks will also assist Van Horn this season.

Clay Goodwin, the director of baseball operations, is in his sixth season as a member of the coaching staff. He was a third baseman for Arkansas’ 2004 College World Series team and helps with hitting and the infielders.

In just his third year as a coach with the Razorbacks, Brian Walker is a volunteer assistant coach who primarily helps the catchers. As a Razorback, Walker only committed five errors in 145 starts at catcher.

The last two seasons he has coached James McCann, who was a second-round draft pick and a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award given to the top catcher in college baseball, and junior Jake Wise, who committed no errors last season.

Jacob Julius is in his first season as a student assistant coach for Arkansas. In his only season with the Razorbacks, he hit .309 and five home runs before being drafted in the 33rd round. He will tutor the outfielders, including junior Jacob Morris and senior Matt Vinson, who are already excellent defensive players.