State of Arkansas class 2017

[PLHawg]

So what does Arkansas 2017 high school crop look like?  Anyone know?

[Tsarcasm]

Not Good!

[HOGINTENNESSEE]

I read it is weak. Which sucks means another year like this season where the coaches half to fight an up hill battle

[HogFanFromTheHills]

Six three stars in state per 247 and that is it.

[kennymayne]

.

[moto625]

Very weak

[The_Iceman]

Really bad. Not trying to bash the kids, but compare:

http://247sports.com/Season/2017-Football/CompositeRecruitRankings?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool&State=AR

http://247sports.com/Season/2017-Football/CompositeRecruitRankings?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool&State=LA

http://247sports.com/Season/2017-Football/CompositeRecruitRankings?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool&State=MS

http://247sports.com/Season/2017-Football/CompositeRecruitRankings?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool&State=TX


This is why Arkansas will always be at a disadvantage.

[piggie 316]

Really big problem is there is no bell cow to go to the opening and the big time events to make connections with other big time players like Agim was able to do. I think he was able to help get some of these big time guys to visit. Hopefully Powell will turn into that guy. I have heard good things about him.

[jfred59]

Problem in our state and I think most others these days is that most schools play the spread, HUNH offenses and the kids are not taught to the play the brand of football that CBB plays.  Plus a lot of the schools have academic issues and a lot of these kids cant qualify to get in school.

[Uncommon]

LOL

[PLHawg]

By the looks of things best beef up the recruiting $ next year.  Maybe an extra plane as well.

[scruf]

Six three stars in state per 247 and that is it.

Important to remember that spring and summer evaluations haven't come out yet. There will be a few more kids on that list. This time last year there were only about ten kids in the 2016 class that were rated 3* or higher (247 Composite), today there are twenty-three with another seventeen 2*'s.

Give it time. Or don't and just keep freaking out. It's your choice but it is a choice.

[The_Iceman]

This will be the toughest recruiting job maybe in the history of Arkansas coaching. No instate talent. Ole Miss, a&m, LSU, Florida, Bama, Auburn all bringing is top classes consistently.

If this class ends up Top 40, I'll be happy.

[The_Iceman]

Important to remember that spring and summer evaluations haven't come out yet. There will be a few more kids on that list. This time last year there were only about ten kids in the 2016 class that were rated 3* or higher (247 Composite), today there are twenty-three with another seventeen 2*'s.

Give it time. Or don't and just keep freaking out. It's your choice but it is a choice.

The 2017 in state class won't be great. Dudley, RD, Otis have been saying this for awhile now.

Its not freaking out. It is a legitimate, well-founded concern.

[PorkRinds]

I think the state puts out plenty of talent.  Problem is academics. Too much of the talent isn't going to qualify, and has zero chance of qualifying, so they never get recruited.  Pine Bluff has lots of talent, but they all end up either not playing or in JUCO because they can't get academics squared away.  We had kids in state this year that could have been hogs if they had the grades.

[azhog10]

This will be the toughest recruiting job maybe in the history of Arkansas coaching. No instate talent. Ole Miss, a&m, LSU, Florida, Bama, Auburn all bringing is top classes consistently.

If this class ends up Top 40, I'll be happy.

Hmmm

[Polecat]

Monta Thomas in Hermitage looks like a good athlete and will likely get an offer

[Atlhogfan1]

I think the state puts out plenty of talent.  Problem is academics. Too much of the talent isn't going to qualify, and has zero chance of qualifying, so they never get recruited.  Pine Bluff has lots of talent, but they all end up either not playing or in JUCO because they can't get academics squared away.  We had kids in state this year that could have been hogs if they had the grades.

Mississippi has a similar issue except they have greater numbers so more prospects. 

[KevinOMReb]

Little Rock really needs to get its football stuff together...otherwise the Hogs just don't have much of a chance.

LR football hasn't been good since the late 90's and even then nothing like the 70's and before when Central, Hall, Pine Bluff were feeders to Arkansas.  Remember Central went through that awful 0-30 something stretch about 5 years ago.  Arkansas HS football simply isn't producing enough SEC caliber players currently.  Louisiana is but poor Les cannot find a QB there as his missing piece.

Out of state recruiting is of the utmost importance. 

BTW, the 2017 class in Mississippi is lean too.  Strong for about 6 players then falls off fast.  6 players won't keep three NCS teams afloat.  Really will hurt State as they have little national appeal.  Too bad. 

[PLHawg]

LR football hasn't been good since the late 90's and even then nothing like the 70's and before when Central, Hall, Pine Bluff were feeders to Arkansas.  Remember Central went through that awful 0-30 something stretch about 5 years ago.  Arkansas HS football simply isn't producing enough SEC caliber players currently.  Louisiana is but poor Les cannot find a QB there as his missing piece.

Out of state recruiting is of the utmost importance. 

BTW, the 2017 class in Mississippi is lean too.  Strong for about 6 players then falls off fast.  6 players won't keep three NCS teams afloat.  Really will hurt State as they have little national appeal.  Too bad.

And to really succeed at out of state recruiting you almost have to implement alternative $trategies.

[#1 STUNNA]

Monta Thomas in Hermitage looks like a good athlete and will likely get an offer

if he was at a different school... he would already maybe have an offer

[HogFanFromTheHills]

Important to remember that spring and summer evaluations haven't come out yet. There will be a few more kids on that list. This time last year there were only about ten kids in the 2016 class that were rated 3* or higher (247 Composite), today there are twenty-three with another seventeen 2*'s.

Give it time. Or don't and just keep freaking out. It's your choice but it is a choice.

I'm not freaking out just pointing out its not looking promising. Assumed there would be another round of evaluations come later but didn't know when. Thanks for the info.

[Fatmanhog]

Means we will have to hit Texas and LA with everything we got.  I know a captain obvious statement.

[secneahog]

So we can't throw around any names?? I know ppl has seen some guys play this past year. 
Powell looked good at Fayetteville.

These guys might progress well from a jr to a sr in HS.

names?

[Tim Harris]

I'm assuming it will end up like most every year in Arkansas with us signing 6-8 kids from here.

[IronHog]

I think the state puts out plenty of talent.  Problem is academics. Too much of the talent isn't going to qualify, and has zero chance of qualifying, so they never get recruited.  Pine Bluff has lots of talent, but they all end up either not playing or in JUCO because they can't get academics squared away.  We had kids in state this year that could have been hogs if they had the grades.

There is some truth to this......


Everyone packed up and moved then wonders why their hometown no longer produces college football players.

[jgphillips3]

I'm assuming it will end up like most every year in Arkansas with us signing 6-8 kids from here.

If we sign 8 from Arkansas next year, barring 4 or 5 guys literally blowing up their senior years, then next year's recruiting class is going to be as bad as Petrino's 2010 class.  Hopefully it's more like 3 or 4 and we do a much better job out of State than we did this year.

[hei5manhog]

If we sign 8 from Arkansas next year, barring 4 or 5 guys literally blowing up their senior years, then next year's recruiting class is going to be as bad as Petrino's 2010 class.  Hopefully it's more like 3 or 4 and we do a much better job out of State than we did this year.

Well if we know it and have known it, our coaches do too and have hopefully been spending their time and energy elsewhere.

[hawginbigd1]

Dang looking at this it sounds like we better get real enthused about this recruiting class, Have we even offered any of these guys. Powell has an offer from everybody under the sun doesn't he?

[piggie 316]

Oklahoma doesn't look great either. It may get real crowded in Texas next year.

[GoHogzzGo]

Is the amount of ranked kids at this one of year normal or low? I know sometimes it takes a bit for the recruiting services to find and rate kids especially in more rural areas.

[jgphillips3]

Well if we know it and have known it, our coaches do too and have hopefully been spending their time and energy elsewhere.

I would assume they do.  Hopefully, they learn from their screw ups this year on stingy offers and get more out since we are going to have to rely more heavily on the out of State kids than usual.  Personally, I think they are bright and know they screwed up.  I think we will tweak things, rebound and finish next year where we failed this year.  If we can post 8 or 9 wins, that would be helpful too.

[Hogsfan1981]

ugh this @#$% is bringing me down. Already been a crap day.

[Razorpigg]

if he was at a different school... he would already maybe have an offer

Bingo...he would have.  And I bet with the talent pool instate next year he will get one anyway.

[scruf]

The 2017 in state class won't be great. Dudley, RD, Otis have been saying this for awhile now.

Its not freaking out. It is a legitimate, well-founded concern.

It's a concern but it's early. Based on early returns I would venture a guess that there will be about 12-16 3* and higher prospects next year and that 6-8 end up on scholarship. About like this year. I agree that it will be a thin year. I think the first to get an offer will be Akial Byers. Maybe Darius Hopkins and Taylor Powell after that. WR Josh Johnson is already committed to Indiana. It's really too early to tell. Summer camps will be critical this year.

[scruf]

Oklahoma doesn't look great either. It may get real crowded in Texas next year.

Oklahoma is like Arkansas, pretty lean most years.

[Tim Harris]

It's a concern but it's early. Based on early returns I would venture a guess that there will be about 12-16 3* and higher prospects next year and that 6-8 end up on scholarship. About like this year. I agree that it will be a thin year. I think the first to get an offer will be Akial Byers. Maybe Darius Hopkins and Taylor Powell after that. WR Josh Johnson is already committed to Indiana. It's really too early to tell. Summer camps will be critical this year.

Is Johnson from that area or just jumped on the first offer he received?

[The_Iceman]

Oklahoma doesn't look great either. It may get real crowded in Texas next year.

Only like three 4-stars in the entire state. None in Arkansas. Arkansas coaches will be in Texas and Louisiana a lot next year.

[razorhead94]

Only like three 4-stars in the entire state. None in Arkansas. Arkansas coaches will be in Texas and Louisiana a lot next year.

And coach Anderson should hit up the north and mid west to bring in guys.  Might have been a great time to bring him aboard.  Selling the SEC would be pretty easy I would think.

[cardinalandwhite]

And coach Anderson should hit up the north and mid west to bring in guys.  Might have been a great time to bring him aboard.  Selling the SEC would be pretty easy I would think.

We need Tretola or Kirkland to show out as a rookie. We're going to have to bring in a lot of linemen from out of state, and we need a rookie to be showing out. Collins having a good season wouldn't hurt either. Alumni performing well in the NFL will lend much more credibility when going after these big-time guys out of state.

Also, winning is good.

[secneahog]

I'll watch Har-Ber squad this year better. They have been getting bigger every year. 

[verticalhog]

Mississippi has a similar issue except they have greater numbers so more prospects. 

Arkansas and Mississippi each have a population of 3 million and Mississippi has two SEC schools as well as Southern Miss to compete for their home state recruits.  Alabama has a population of about 4.9 million and has two SEC powers competing for their home state recruits.  Georgia has a population of almost 10 million and only one SEC school (but they do also have an ACC school).  It seems to me that Georgia has the # 1 "home state" recruiting advantage in the SEC.  However, as we all know, Alabama is the 10,000 pound gorilla of college football so they have a national recruiting base.

[ricepig]

It's true that a high percentage of D1 scholarship football players are African American.  If you factor that in, Mississippi is 37%, Georgia is 30%, Alabama is 27% and Arkansas is a little above 15%.  I understand your point but you still must factor in that both Mississippi and Alabama have two SEC schools while we only have one.  Other posters have excellent points in terms of how the quality of high school football in Arkansas has deteriorated over the past 2 or 3 decades.  There are exceptions, of course, but the Little Rock metro and eastern Arkansas do not have the quality that they did in the 70's and 80's.  It's sad for the kids who have great potential that live in these areas.

More than us, anyway.
https://twitter.com/zach_barnett/status/690929498640896000

[Polecat]

if he was at a different school... he would already maybe have an offer

totally agree

[JaketheSnake]

More than us, anyway.
https://twitter.com/zach_barnett/status/690929498640896000

That is from the 2015 recruiting class.  Notice they have Ohio State on Little Rock.  KJ Hill. 

[ricepig]

That is from the 2015 recruiting class.  Notice they have Ohio State on Little Rock.  KJ Hill. 

Actually, it is for both the  2014 and 2015 classes.

[WooPig90]

That is from the 2015 recruiting class.  Notice they have Ohio State on Little Rock.  KJ Hill.

Never heard of him

[Atlhogfan1]

It isn't just about in state for some of our SEC competition but proximity to the region which produces recruits which is Florida/Ga/Carolinas across the Gulf Coast/Bama/Ms/La and into Texas.  Auburn is in a great location from which to recruit.  Ga-N Fl and Al recruits all within a short distance.  A&M and LSU essentially have the same recruiting base.  The we don't have to divide our state thing doesn't really work as Ar doesn't provide much and then you add in our proximity to the most fertile recruiting areas to our competition you should get our issue.  Some point to UK's recruiting.  They have something we don't - close proximity to a fertile recruiting area in Ohio and western Pa. 

[JaketheSnake]

Actually, it is for both the  2014 and 2015 classes.

Point was, it is not for the current class.  But yes, you are correct.

[Pig in the Pokey]

we get a few here and there in state but they don't go to Arkansas.