Petrino, Hogs ink highly touted class
Football
Jimmy Carter
Issue date: 2/6/09 Section: Sports
For years Razorback fans have heard a common theme relating to recruiting results: it is too difficult to recruit nationally to Arkansas.
Razorback head coach Bobby Petrino appears determined to dispel that theory as myth.
"I think there's no question we can recruit the best athletes - whether that's in the state or outside of the state - [to come] here," said Petrino. "I truly believe if we get them here, if you get them on campus, and they see what we have here, and they get to go down and see the city of Fayetteville and see the surrounding area, their eyes open up. They have no idea what it's like here."
Following a 5-7 record in his first season as head coach of the Razorbacks and faced with a less-than-stellar in-state crop, Petrino and his staff signed 31 recruits to letters-of-intent Wednesday - only six of which were from Arkansas.
This year's haul was ranked No. 19 by Scout.com, No. 14 by Rivals.com and No. 20 by ESPN.com, each the highest ranking Arkansas has earned from the three respective services.
"This is part of the process," Petrino said. "As we build the program and as we build our foundation for the program, recruiting is certainly a big, big part of that. One thing that we've tried to say as a staff is that for us to beat them on the field, we need to compete and beat them also in the recruiting process."
West Helena cornerback Darius Winston headlines a group of seven secondary signees that is ranked No. 1 in the nation by Rivals.com.
"We're very excited to have Darius," Petrino said. "He's a guy that can really play the corner spot. He can come up in press coverage and bump-and-run. He can play off, break on the ball, make plays with his hands, and he's a tremendous tackler. I think that's what stood out as much as anything is his physical-ness in playing that skill position."
Tulsa East Central cornerback David Gordon and College of the Sequoias (Calif.) safety Anthony Leon are two players that Petrino said will help in the Hogs' effort to get bigger, stronger and faster.
Razorback head coach Bobby Petrino appears determined to dispel that theory as myth.
"I think there's no question we can recruit the best athletes - whether that's in the state or outside of the state - [to come] here," said Petrino. "I truly believe if we get them here, if you get them on campus, and they see what we have here, and they get to go down and see the city of Fayetteville and see the surrounding area, their eyes open up. They have no idea what it's like here."
Following a 5-7 record in his first season as head coach of the Razorbacks and faced with a less-than-stellar in-state crop, Petrino and his staff signed 31 recruits to letters-of-intent Wednesday - only six of which were from Arkansas.
This year's haul was ranked No. 19 by Scout.com, No. 14 by Rivals.com and No. 20 by ESPN.com, each the highest ranking Arkansas has earned from the three respective services.
"This is part of the process," Petrino said. "As we build the program and as we build our foundation for the program, recruiting is certainly a big, big part of that. One thing that we've tried to say as a staff is that for us to beat them on the field, we need to compete and beat them also in the recruiting process."
West Helena cornerback Darius Winston headlines a group of seven secondary signees that is ranked No. 1 in the nation by Rivals.com.
"We're very excited to have Darius," Petrino said. "He's a guy that can really play the corner spot. He can come up in press coverage and bump-and-run. He can play off, break on the ball, make plays with his hands, and he's a tremendous tackler. I think that's what stood out as much as anything is his physical-ness in playing that skill position."
Tulsa East Central cornerback David Gordon and College of the Sequoias (Calif.) safety Anthony Leon are two players that Petrino said will help in the Hogs' effort to get bigger, stronger and faster.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Derrick
posted 2/07/09 @ 8:34 AM CST
This was a great article,it was very informative
Johnno
posted 2/10/09 @ 1:42 PM CST
I find it amazing that people still back petrina he has lost quick a number of good players and I cant see himkeeping any of the new sign ons for long either. (Continued…)
johnno
posted 2/11/09 @ 1:33 PM CST
I am wrong? If the senior players have left already, and the results of lasst season are anything to go by then I feel sorry for anyone under Petrino's coaching. (Continued…)
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