FAYETTEVILLE – It’s hard to find words of encouragement for Arkansas fans these days. Just about everyone I run into – whether it’s at the local gas station, at church or in the neighborhood – Razorback fans are searching for any amount of positive news they can get.
And who can blame them? This year’s Arkansas team is on pace to record not only its worst record in school history, but arguably its most embarrassing run of all time.
The Razorbacks certainly appear to be headed for a 2-10 finish, and while the program has seen two-win teams before, it happened in 1952 when teams only played ten games.
Now, it’s not our job as journalists to sell sunshine. Our job is to call it like it is, whether we’re enjoying it or not.
But the fact of the matter is there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the future of Razorback football despite Chad Morris’ record in his first season as head coach. What the Hogs are doing on the recruiting trail right now is nothing short of remarkable.
Despite the fact that Arkansas is now 1-12 in its last 13 conference games, somehow Morris and his staff have put together a 2019 recruiting class that currently ranks 16th in the nation, according to 247Sports.
The Razorbacks are one of only two teams ranked in the top 20 recruiting rankings that have a losing record on the field this season. The other is Tennessee, and the Hogs have somehow managed to land four, four-star commitments from the Volunteers’ own back yard in this year’s cycle.
What’s even more impressive is that despite an abysmal showing on the field this fall, all 23 of Arkansas’ commitments have shown no signs of wavering in their respective decisions. If anything, the class has only strengthened as the season continues to get worse.
In a span of 11 days in October, the Razorbacks added three, four-star commitments in wide receiver Trey Knox, defensive end Dante Walker, and tight end Hudson Henry.
Plenty of opposing coaches are in the ears of Arkansas’ commits, but so far, it appears all 23 are firm in their decisions.
“I’m still 100-percent Woo Pig, all the way,” said defensive tackle commitment Carl Williams of Lufkin (Texas). “I’m all in for it. The season doesn’t make me hesitate at all. Seeing the group of guys that we have coming in this year, I feel like we can really make a difference. No doubt about it, I think we can be the best defense in the nation.”
One of the Razorbacks’ most coveted additions – four-star wide receiver Treylon Burks of Warren (Ark.) – said Morris’ slow start hasn’t made him second-guess anything.
“I’m not down on them for any reason,” said Burks, who suffered a season-ending knee injury three weeks ago. “They’re still working with Bret Bielema’s recruits. I think we’ll be good with the 2019 class coming in.
“I don’t know if we’ll come in and change things right away, but as the year progresses we’re going to be really good.”
One of the leaders of Arkansas’ 2019 class, quarterback KJ Jefferson of Sardis (Miss.) North Panola, is still being heavily-recruited by the in-state Ole Miss Rebels.
Jefferson, who was visited by Morris and offensive coordinator Joe Craddock last Friday night, told HawgSports.com last week that he, too, is still firmly on board with the Hogs.
“I am 110-percent an Arkansas Razorback,” he said. “Sure, it’s difficult for fans to see the light at the end of the tunnel right now.”
But there is a light, and that light is the 2019 recruiting class.