The way to fix our Texas recruiting

[elviscat]

1. Survey Texas coaches- most respect ,best practices , most innovative, best coaching minds, hardest workers, etc.
2. Data collection and ranking top to bottom
3 Contact coaches and invite them to Fayetteville to view campus and sport complex, coaching clinics
Paying expenses for travel, lodging etc.and specking fees at coaching clinics.
4 Visti top coaches annually establishing a good relationship.This is the key for long term recruiting.
5. Hire best position coaches for staff. Letting coaches know their work is noticed.
6. Work your entire list from top to bottom looking for talent

This is the only way we are going to develop a better recruiting practices.

[PorkRinds]

And how do you know these aren't already being done?

[Wildhog]

Better idea:  Spend recruiting resources elsewhere.

[tophawg19]

dodge chargers or challengers if they are really good . seems to be the going rate at bama

[King Kong]

Better idea:  Spend recruiting resources elsewhere.

No doubt

[WriterWrong]

1. Survey Texas coaches- most respect ,best practices , most innovative, best coaching minds, hardest workers, etc.
2. Data collection and ranking top to bottom
3 Contact coaches and invite them to Fayetteville to view campus and sport complex, coaching clinics
Paying expenses for travel, lodging etc.and specking fees at coaching clinics.
4 Visti top coaches annually establishing a good relationship.This is the key for long term recruiting.
5. Hire best position coaches for staff. Letting coaches know their work is noticed.
6. Work your entire list from top to bottom looking for talent

This is the only way we are going to develop a better recruiting practices.

If only the coaches were as smart as people on message boards, we'd be national champs right now. Fingers crossed Bielema stumbles into this thread so he knows what to do now.

[SpaCityHawg]

If only the coaches were as smart as people on message boards, we'd be national champs right now. Fingers crossed Bielema stumbles into this thread so he knows what to do now.

[Wildhog]

The only part of Texas where we really see a decent ROI is Houston.

[elviscat]

It's apparent that someone is not getting the job done. 1 recruit out the 100 best list 247 for Texas. Bob Stoop, has been getting most of his talent from Texas, we are getting very little. We can't make it without Texas athletes and Oklahoma, is the same demographic as Arkansas. It's all about RELATIONSHIP!!!! Someone job needs to be pulled.

[Wildhog]

It's apparent that someone is not getting the job done. 1 recruit out the 100 best list 247 for Texas. Bob Stoop, has been getting most of his talent from Texas, we are getting very little. We can't make it without Texas athletes and Oklahoma, is the same demographic as Arkansas. It's all about RELATIONSHIP!!!! Someone job needs to be pulled.

Texas is an EXTREMELY difficult place for us to recruit.  There's just so much competition, and CBB doesn't really hire "recruiters."

[Muskliketusk]

Hire a bigtime Texas highs school coach just like Baylor done with the Cedar Hill guy. Gonna be able to add a 10 th assistant next year might as well be one.

[colbs]

Texas is an EXTREMELY difficult place for us to recruit.  There's just so much competition, and CBB doesn't really hire "recruiters."

Maybe he will consider adding more of a recruiter if the rule allowing 10 assistants is passed.  It wouldn't hurt my feelings if he hired a HS coach from IMG or another school that has tons of talent.

[Wildhog]

Frankly, we can narrow our recruiting base down to three areas (outside of Arkansas.)  Louisiana, South Florida, and Houston.  Hit those three as hard as we can and spot recruit everywhere else.

[tophawg19]

you forgot DFW. it is important to us

[Wildhog]

you forgot DFW. it is important to us

I assure you, I did not forget it.

[MuskogeeHogFan]

It's apparent that someone is not getting the job done. 1 recruit out the 100 best list 247 for Texas. Bob Stoop, has been getting most of his talent from Texas, we are getting very little. We can't make it without Texas athletes and Oklahoma, is the same demographic as Arkansas. It's all about RELATIONSHIP!!!! Someone job needs to be pulled.

Texas H.S. Players Signed Last 15 years (2002-2016)

Texas                  19 p/yr
A&M                    18 p/yr
Baylor                  18 p/yr
TCU                     16 p/yr
Okla                      9 p/yr (most of which are 3 stars)
Okla State            14 p/yr (most of which are 3 stars)
Arkansas                5 p/yr
LSU                       3 p/yr

[JackJohnson]

Better idea:  Spend recruiting resources elsewhere.

[Hawghiggs]

Texas H.S. Players Signed Last 15 years (2002-2016)

Texas                  19 p/yr
A&M                    18 p/yr
Baylor                  18 p/yr
TCU                     16 p/yr
Okla                      9 p/yr (most of which are 3 stars)
Okla State            14 p/yr (most of which are 3 stars)
Arkansas                5 p/yr
LSU                       3 p/yr

We should be averaging about what Oklahoma does. 7 or 8 Texas recruits per year. Add in 7-8 Louisiana recruits. That only leaves about 9 spots left.

[CDBHawg]

It's apparent that someone is not getting the job done. 1 recruit out the 100 best list 247 for Texas. Bob Stoop, has been getting most of his talent from Texas, we are getting very little. We can't make it without Texas athletes and Oklahoma, is the same demographic as Arkansas. It's all about RELATIONSHIP!!!! Someone job needs to be pulled.

We should be averaging about what Oklahoma does. 7 or 8 Texas recruits per year. Add in 7-8 Louisiana recruits. That only leaves about 9 spots left.

Oklahoma can guarantee a kid multiple games a year in Texas. We can't.

If we were in the Big 12, we'd see our Texas numbers rise dramatically.

[carolinahogger]

Texas H.S. Players Signed Last 15 years (2002-2016)

Texas                  19 p/yr
A&M                    18 p/yr
Baylor                  18 p/yr
TCU                     16 p/yr
Okla                      9 p/yr (most of which are 3 stars)
Okla State            14 p/yr (most of which are 3 stars)
Arkansas                5 p/yr
LSU                       3 p/yr

Forget it, he's rolling.

[1highhog]

1. Survey Texas coaches- most respect ,best practices , most innovative, best coaching minds, hardest workers, etc.
2. Data collection and ranking top to bottom
3 Contact coaches and invite them to Fayetteville to view campus and sport complex, coaching clinics
Paying expenses for travel, lodging etc.and specking fees at coaching clinics.
4 Visti top coaches annually establishing a good relationship.This is the key for long term recruiting.
5. Hire best position coaches for staff. Letting coaches know their work is noticed.
6. Work your entire list from top to bottom looking for talent

This is the only way we are going to develop a better recruiting practices.

Hire the best recruiter we can that has made Texas his home State as far as recruiting it with great results and make sure he's also a top notch defense coach and get him on this staff.  This sounds like the answer to my prayers anyway.

[Tusks]

The day that Okie lite out recruits the Hogs in TX is a BS day.  There is NO reason for them to out recruit the Hogs down there, none, nada. 

Someone should get a boot up their arse when OSUlite recruits better than the hogs.

[1highhog]

The day that Okie lite out recruits the Hogs in TX is a BS day.  There is NO reason for them to out recruit the Hogs down there, none, nada. 

Someone should get a boot up their arse when OSUlite recruits better than the hogs.

Speaking dah truth ^^^^^!

[PorkRinds]

The day that Okie lite out recruits the Hogs in TX is a BS day.  There is NO reason for them to out recruit the Hogs down there, none, nada. 

Someone should get a boot up their arse when OSUlite recruits better than the hogs.

Except that they are higher ranked and play in the B12 where they play multiple games a year in Texas. We play 1-2 max.

[MuskogeeHogFan]

Oklahoma can guarantee a kid multiple games a year in Texas. We can't.

If we were in the Big 12, we'd see our Texas numbers rise dramatically.

That may be part of it. There has to be a certain attraction to playing in one of the premier (if not the toughest) conference in the country(the SEC) too.

But what Oklahoma can say that we can't is, we have averaged 10.6 wins to 2.7 losses per year for the last 15 years, had double digit wins 12 of the last 15 years, won 10 conference championships since 1996 and have gone to a lot of major bowls that would put you in the spotlight for the next level.

And you know darned well that is the kind of stuff that they use when recruiting a kid.

Personally I think we can do better in Texas than we do and we need to cherry pick 7-9 every year out of Texas while continuing to make in-roads in La., FL. and selectively throughout the South while picking up some big time talent from other states.

Texas has produced 40-49 of the 4 star variety athlete every year over the last 6 years and about 5 of the 5 star variety. Might as well forget about the 5 stars, most of them are headed to big time programs, though we might get lucky...you never know. But there isn't any reason that we shouldn't be able to land 1-2 of the 4 stars out of Texas every year and 5-6 of the more highly valued 3 stars. It is a lot of territory to cover, but we just have to recommit to working and networking that area, especially as it relates to QB's, RB's and Linemen on both sides of the ball.

[tophawg19]

charger for the top 3 and 4 stars and a challenger for 5 star guys . works for Bama .

[elviscat]

Guys, Frank Broyles did it  year after year and we were competitive . Yes, we were playing a lot of schools in Texas that were part SWC. It seems our coaches don't hit the state like other programs do. We need to cherry pick Texas with 8/10 athletes a year. We can do it only by deveohpling relationship with the high school coaches. Nothing else will work other than Ole Miss plan, buy your athletes.

[CDBHawg]

That may be part of it. There has to be a certain attraction to playing in one of the premier (if not the toughest) conference in the country(the SEC) too.

But what Oklahoma can say that we can't is, we have averaged 10.6 wins to 2.7 losses per year for the last 15 years, had double digit wins 12 of the last 15 years, won 10 conference championships since 1996 and have gone to a lot of major bowls that would put you in the spotlight for the next level.

And you know darned well that is the kind of stuff that they use when recruiting a kid.

Personally I think we can do better in Texas than we do and we need to cherry pick 7-9 every year out of Texas while continuing to make in-roads in La., FL. and selectively throughout the South while picking up some big time talent from other states.

Texas has produced 40-49 of the 4 star variety athlete every year over the last 6 years and about 5 of the 5 star variety. Might as well forget about the 5 stars, most of them are headed to big time programs, though we might get lucky...you never know. But there isn't any reason that we shouldn't be able to land 1-2 of the 4 stars out of Texas every year and 5-6 of the more highly valued 3 stars. It is a lot of territory to cover, but we just have to recommit to working and networking that area, especially as it relates to QB's, RB's and Linemen on both sides of the ball.

Can't argue with success. That's a given.

[MuskogeeHogFan]

Can't argue with success. That's a given.

True, but contrary to what some think, Oklahoma doesn't rely on Texas for most of their signing classes like a lot of the Texas schools and Oklahoma State. OU will swoop in and average picking up 1 Five Star every other year and about 3 Four Stars and another 5 of the three stars and 1 two star about every three years. They only average 9-10 per year as a total. But they try to cherry pick the best from each level.

We need to work the 5's and certainly the 4's, but we could make a lot of gains by picking up some of the better 3 stars every year and the potential for that is there, if we just develop better connections and work them.

[ricepig]

Guys, Frank Broyles did it  year after year and we were competitive . Yes, we were playing a lot of schools in Texas that were part SWC. It seems our coaches don't hit the state like other programs do. We need to cherry pick Texas with 8/10 athletes a year. We can do it only by deveohpling relationship with the high school coaches. Nothing else will work other than Ole Miss plan, buy your athletes.

44 out of 197 offers were to TX kids this year, 22%.

[MuskogeeHogFan]

44 out of 197 offers were to TX kids this year, 22%.

So the closing ratio so far in Texas is 1:44 ? I wonder how that compares to past years? Or, the competition?

[Rzbakfromwaybak]

Texas is an EXTREMELY difficult place for us to recruit.  There's just so much competition, and CBB doesn't really hire "recruiters."

There is strong competition for the best players......everywhere.

Texas usually has more D1 recruits than any state....& our borders touch.  There's plenty of talent to go around, we just aren't getting it done with recruiting there.  Whaley & RW II are both from Texas.  Glad we didn't decide there was..."too much competition"...for us down there, & let those 2 get away.

[hawgfan4life]

FL, GA, AL, and LA all produce an abundance of talent.  We can easily sign two players per year from each of FL, GA, and LA.  We could easily get a player from OK, MO, AL, TN, MS, 2 JC players, 1 player from Western states, 1 from Midwest, 1 from Nottheast, 7 from AR, and only 2 from TX. 

TX is not as vital as it was in the 70s.

[MuskogeeHogFan]

FL, GA, AL, and LA all produce an abundance of talent.  We can easily sign two players per year from each of FL, GA, and LA.  We could easily get a player from OK, MO, AL, TN, MS, 2 JC players, 1 player from Western states, 1 from Midwest, 1 from Nottheast, 7 from AR, and only 2 from TX. 

TX is not as vital as it was in the 70s.

I'll disagree. With Texas being right next door we should be taking advantage of the regional relevance.

As far as competition for recruits, there is a lot of it in Texas but no more than we experience when we go into La., Miss, Alabama, Ga or Florida. We have made significant strides in recruiting La. under Bielema (9 since 2014) and we are usually pulling a 3-4 from Fla. every year (14 since 2013). But Texas is a talent rich state and I think that we would be well served if we could pull 7-8 out of Texas every year. With Baylor in transition, now would be a great time to step in and try to make an impact in that state.

I think it should lay out like this on average over a period of years.

Fla-3
La.-4
OK-2
Midwest-3
Texas-8
Ark-5

[thefisher]

It's apparent that someone is not getting the job done. 1 recruit out the 100 best list 247 for Texas. Bob Stoop, has been getting most of his talent from Texas, we are getting very little. We can't make it without Texas athletes and Oklahoma, is the same demographic as Arkansas. It's all about RELATIONSHIP!!!! Someone job needs to be pulled.

Actually, it is about location and visibility.

Norman, Oklahoma is within that magic marker of less than 200 miles from Dallas/Ft Worth.
Fayetteville is over 300 miles away.  This has been proven an almost uncountable number of times to be a prime determining factor of where recruits choose to play.

The second consideration is that 40% of the Big 12 are Texas schools.  This means playing at Oklahoma get a lot more visibility in Texas.

Oklahoma's demographics have one VERY, VERY important caveat.  They are simply located in a much superior geographic location to draw Texas recruits than Arkansas is.  That has been true no matter who the coach is.

[Wildhog]

There is strong competition for the best players......everywhere.

Texas usually has more D1 recruits than any state....& our borders touch.  There's plenty of talent to go around, we just aren't getting it done with recruiting there.  Whaley & RW II are both from Texas.  Glad we didn't decide there was..."too much competition"...for us down there, & let those 2 get away.

I never said we couldn't get some players out of there.  We're just never going to get a very good ROI for the amount of time and energy we spend down there.  Of course we should recruit Texas (especially the Houston area).  We just need to recruit Texas smarter.

[ricepig]

I never said we couldn't get some players out of there.  We're just never going to get a very good ROI on the amount of time and energy we spend down there.  Of course we should recruit Texas (especially the Houston area).  We just need to recruit Texas smarter.

How much time and energy do we spend in Texas, does anyone really know? Or anywhere else for that matter? I think if we had a "known" Texas guy, that would help, but we seem to lose that guy every year, anyway.

[zebradynasty]

I think we're over-analyzing some. The number 1 demographic OU has over AR....W's and L's! If OU had Arkansas record they would struggle getting into TX also! OU has been lucky or blessed to be able to hire and RETAIN good coaches over the last 40+ years. That tradition to winning football...can't put a price on it (well Ole Miss can). If a recruiter can sit down with a highly rated recruit and show him your a top 10 program every year and every 3 years or so in the hunt for a national title, I can guarantee you'll have that recruits attention.

[Wildhog]

How much time and energy do we spend in Texas, does anyone really know? Or anywhere else for that matter? I think if we had a "known" Texas guy, that would help, but we seem to lose that guy every year, anyway.

I'd have to do some research for this year.  Having a child has pretty much destroyed any time I had for reading up on recruiting.  I was mainly speaking about the last several years, in general.

[Arthur pigby sellers.]

 Honestly I think we have the coaching staff with recruiting abilities to get it done in Texas  more so than any group in the last 15 years.   The SEC is still the king conference and with A&M in the SEC the SEC is getting more and more Publicity within the state of Texas.     At this point a lot of our success in recruiting Texas maybe based more on wins and losses.    I'm hopeful that if CBB can continue to work on relationships with the Texas high school coaches and we can look reel off a nine or 10 win season then things Will really take off.

[MuskogeeHogFan]

How much time and energy do we spend in Texas, does anyone really know? Or anywhere else for that matter? I think if we had a "known" Texas guy, that would help, but we seem to lose that guy every year, anyway.

How much time and energy do 44 offers require? One would assume that means at least one visit with each recruit per offer and a lot of time examining film and visiting with their coaching staffs both in person and on the phone, even when they don't have a viable recruit (to build relationships). And with that answer the question is, how much time would be invested if we wanted to double our offers in Texas and how much time would that take away from recruiting efforts elsewhere?

I agree that we need someone (coach) who has established ties with Texas HS staffs to work that state.

[hawgfan4life]

I'll disagree. With Texas being right next door we should be taking advantage of the regional relevance.

As far as competition for recruits, there is a lot of it in Texas but no more than we experience when we go into La., Miss, Alabama, Ga or Florida. We have made significant strides in recruiting La. under Bielema (9 since 2014) and we are usually pulling a 3-4 from Fla. every year (14 since 2013). But Texas is a talent rich state and I think that we would be well served if we could pull 7-8 out of Texas every year. With Baylor in transition, now would be a great time to step in and try to make an impact in that state.

I think it should lay out like this on average over a period of years.

Fla-3
La.-4
OK-2
Midwest-3
Texas-8
Ark-5

You give higher numbers for some states than I did making my post more sound.  I'm not saying TX isn't relaxant or important, but it isn't vital like it was for Broyles, Holtz, and Hatfield.  Satellite TV, TV contracts, willingness of players to play anywhere, significantly better transportation, internet communication, etc makes recruiting nationally so much easier.  We simply need 25 quality recruits.  Really matters little which state they are from.  It is only a little more flying time going to Atlanta than it is Houston.  What difference does it make if the kid is from that area or Texas?

[hawgfan4life]

TX currently has 63 four and five star players spread out over 100s of miles.  Requires multiple airports or vast amounts of driving to recruits spread out over large distances when you get away from the DFW and Houston areas.  FL has 68, GA has 49, AL has 23, etc.  When you break it down by regions the Midlands including TX, OK, NM, CO, etc. has 80 four and five star players.  The Southeast including AR and all of the other SEC states minus KY and MO has over 100 four and five star players.  It is incorrect to say that any state has more pressure than other states when it comes to the four and five star players.  Those players are being recruited nationally by any university they so much as say hello to when contacted.  Sending a coach to TX results in a coach concentrating his efforts in the DFW area or the Houston area or spending hours of driving to see a handful of recruits spread out around vast areas of distance.  Sending a coach to Atlanta allows a coach to focus on the Atlanta area, and the ability to see a much greater amount of recruits in an equal amount of driving time to multiple states of NC, SC, TN, AL, and FL.  Draw a 300 mile radius around Atlanta airport and see all of the areas and cities it encompasses.  Then do the same with DFW or Houston.  TX simply doesn't bear more low hanging fruit for the time and effort to justify placing so much emphasis there when every other name school is there too.  Much better to emphasize FL, GA, AL, TN, MS, AND TX than to go into TX and then try to scrounge a few players in other places to fill what we couldn't get there.  TX is fools gold for out dated recruiting variables that no longer exist or have significantly diminished for a variety of reasons.

A year or two ago a few fans were clamoring to go into CA and scoop up some players because CA produces so many four and five star players.  That is not good strategy due to flying time and distances required once in the state.  A coach can fly to Miami and hit several recruits in a day, stop in Atlanta on the way home, hit several more recruits in a day, and fly home.  Flying to LA and driving around the CA recruiting areas will eat up two days for a fraction of the contacts.  Recruiting CA is good for specific players.  Get in and get out.  Recruiting throughout the entire Southeast and Texas is about relationships, future players, current players, and efficient use of time and resources.  Why on earth would we focus so much in Texas when we can do the same throughout the entire Southeast United States?

When Broyles recruited TX and it was so important, integration wasn't occurring and he could sign as many players as he wanted.  Loading up on TX players was easier than going into SEC country and trying to get a small percentage of white players to come to AR when those players usually wanted to play at their state universities.  Those days are long gone.

[MuskogeeHogFan]

You give higher numbers for some states than I did making my post more sound.  I'm not saying TX isn't relaxant or important, but it isn't vital like it was for Broyles, Holtz, and Hatfield.  Satellite TV, TV contracts, willingness of players to play anywhere, significantly better transportation, internet communication, etc makes recruiting nationally so much easier.  We simply need 25 quality recruits.  Really matters little which state they are from.  It is only a little more flying time going to Atlanta than it is Houston.  What difference does it make if the kid is from that area or Texas?

My intent was never to make your post more sound, nor less so. I just believe that with a state that is as regionally close to us (especially north Texas) that is so full of talent, it is a great opportunity for us. And, I believe that we tend to be more talented as a team when we have more kids from Texas on the roster. I can't see how having anywhere from 6 to 8 sign with us each year (as long as they are talent at positions that we need) could hurt us. Just a difference of opinion between you and I.

[MuskogeeHogFan]

A year or two ago a few fans were clamoring to go into CA and scoop up some players because CA produces so many four and five star players.  That is not good strategy due to flying time and distances required once in the state.  A coach can fly to Miami and hit several recruits in a day, stop in Atlanta on the way home, hit several more recruits in a day, and fly home.  Flying to LA and driving around the CA recruiting areas will eat up two days for a fraction of the contacts.  Recruiting CA is good for specific players.  Get in and get out.  Recruiting throughout the entire Southeast and Texas is about relationships, future players, current players, and efficient use of time and resources.  Why on earth would we focus so much in Texas when we can do the same throughout the entire Southeast United States?

I think that a lot of fans were clamoring for us being willing to go wherever we needed to go to recruit the talent that we needed to be successful, whether California or anywhere else for that matter. I was and remain, one of those. I just think it is overlooking a valuable opportunity to not bring more players from Texas HS football to our roster. Of course the caveat to that is, provided that they are the most talented that we can land at our particular positions of need.

[Athog]

I assure you, I did not forget it.

Then you made a mistake!

[hawgfan4life]

My intent was never to make your post more sound, nor less so. I just believe that with a state that is as regionally close to us (especially north Texas) that is so full of talent, it is a great opportunity for us. And, I believe that we tend to be more talented as a team when we have more kids from Texas on the roster. I can't see how having anywhere from 6 to 8 sign with us each year (as long as they are talent at positions that we need) could hurt us. Just a difference of opinion between you and I.

Only difference is I don't think we should emphasize TX over other regions.  I believe we include it equally.  If we can get 20 players from TX, we should get them.  I don't care where they originated.

[hawgfan4life]

I think that a lot of fans were clamoring for us being willing to go wherever we needed to go to recruit the talent that we needed to be successful, whether California or anywhere else for that matter. I was and remain, one of those. I just think it is overlooking a valuable opportunity to not bring more players from Texas HS football to our roster. Of course the caveat to that is, provided that they are the most talented that we can land at our particular positions of need.

I agree we go everywhere and anywhere to get talent.  However, some locations must be targeted players and not blanket coverage.  DFW and Houston should be blanket coverage.  Too regional to not do so with the talent there.  Atlanta area must be blanket coverage as well as Miami area.  Trying to blanket Orange County is too time consuming to spend a lot of resources for what we can likely acquire.  I'm with you guys about TX.  I am saying too much focus on TX excludes other regions that can be equally productive.  Do them all!

[elviscat]

Guys, there is enough talent in three states to supply our needs, Texas, La., Mississippi. Tons of talent we have to have coaches that build a long term relationships with high school coaches. We are not getting the job done.

[King Kong]

Guys, there is enough talent in three states to supply our needs, Texas, La., Mississippi. Tons of talent we have to have coaches that build a long term relationships with high school coaches. We are not getting the job done.

Ain't nobody any good coming from Miss to Arkansas unless it's a JUCO. Never have never will