Most Memorable Recruiting Battle That You've Followed?

[Tony Perkis]

Everyone has to have a specific player(s) that you have borderline obsessed over and followed during their recruiting.

Mine was probably DGB. I checked the boards more than any medical professional would recommend. I was so upset after watching him commit to Mizzou that I skipped class for the rest of that day and sulked.

[NLRHog92]

Same. Even got up early to see the announcement. Was really excited when night before everyone was so sure, only for this to have changed overnight and be let down (and legitimately pissed) when he announced. In hindsight, sure he was a great player and would have been amazing under Bobby, but he was wasn't here during DGB's collegiate career and Green-Beckham ended up making a LOT of mistakes off the field and never fully living up to potential on. Solly Thomas was a close second, as I was hooked into following recruiting after the DGB fiasco. White and/or Whaley will be this year's letdown.

[jgphillips3]

DGB.  Although, as a combo, White/Whaley is approaching that level.

[sickboy]

The Springdale 5 for me. Because it was five players coming from the same school and Mitch Mustain was supposed to be the second coming. Add Gus to the storyline and it was a lot to keep up with.

[Tony Perkis]

The Springdale 5 for me. Because it was five players coming from the same school and Mitch Mustain was supposed to be the second coming. Add Gus to the storyline and it was a lot to keep up with.

This was right before I really got into recruiting. I can only imagine.

[Country Stylz]

DGB, Brett Smith, Deangelo Williams....

[ThisTeetsTaken]

DGB, Brett Smith, Deangelo Williams....

Deangelo was the first "memorable" one for me.  The big "NO" was the first time I really paid attention to recruiting.

[older boar]

No doubt--The Springdale 5.  Looking back it was the best of times & the worst of times.

[Huds_HawgTide]

Solomon Thomas and Anthony wallace

[PharmacistHog]

Springdale 5 were the very first. Then Michael Dyer. After that I just became cynical and refuse to recognize commitments until they sign. I just cant take it.

[The Boar War]

Easily DGB.  I used to spend a lot of time in the Recruiting Forum.  Now I won't even watch a recruit's film until he's signed on the dotted line.

[Dr. Sheldon Cooper]

DGB.  Damn, that was tough!  First time I'd ever followed recruiting here at HV, or anywhere else for that matter.  Was on here constantly, convinced myself that he was a Hog lock, then felt like I was punched in the stomach! 

Promised myself never again, but I've kinda let that slip a little this year with the White/Whaley sweepstakes.  Won't let myself get too invested though, hopefully one or both will sign-on, if not, I'm sure we'll be just fine...

[Tony Perkis]

DGB.  Damn, that was tough!  First time I'd ever followed recruiting here at HV, or anywhere else for that matter.  Was on here constantly, convinced myself that he was a Hog lock, then felt like I was punched in the stomach! 

Promised myself never again, but I've kinda let that slip a little this year with the White/Whaley sweepstakes.  Won't let myself get too invested though, hopefully one or both will sign-on, if not, I'm sure we'll be just fine...

I was told by a relative of one of our coaches at the time that DGB was as solid as they come. This was two days before my heart was ripped out.

[greenEGnHAWGS]

DGB by far, but I was very excited about Solomon Thomas and was sure he was coming to the UofA. He made the announcement early that day and I left 30 minutes late for work just to watch him pull out that dumb tree from under the table. I was all "Why the FACE?!"😲

[SA Hog Fan]

Dyer

[razorbacker3]

DGB, then Soloman Thomas. I was sure we had both of those studs. Hopefully this doesn't happen with Whaley. I can't see why he would pick Texas over us. That OV scheduled for late jan. concerns me.

[southeasthog]

Cedric Cobbs. Called the Arkansas Democrat to find out who he signed with. 

[Poker_hog]

MM and it's not even close.  I've never seen a hs coach leverage an oc position over one player.  Shotgun wedding...

[Arkansasno1]

My first was in basketball. Was Ryan Humphrey. Dudley Dawson was really burned by him if I remember correct. Lead him on to believe he was announcing for Arkansas. Dudley traveled to see him announce in person and he went elsewhere. I remember Dudley being pretty upset about that one.

Football was Cedric Houston, again another guy who burned us.

[PorkRinds]

Alex Collins was a crazy one.

[Tony Perkis]

Cedric Cobbs. Called the Arkansas Democrat to find out who he signed with.

I love that.

[Dominicanhog]

Billy Simms, Big Earl and Jerry Eckwood was exciting... Joe Ferguson, Billy Ray Smith, Ron Furoughtt, Lawrence Richardson and his buddy, who we missed on... Dalton Santos, DGB  etc, etc, etc...

we've missed on so many that you become immune after a while, happy with what you get and forget what you didn't.. some coach said if you don't get em, you don't need em...

[Hambunctious]

JUCO recruit Dorsett Davis.  Lost him to MSU when his father refused to let him sign with AR.  There were some very heated threads on the old Pigpen board when that happened.  Mass Hog fan bannings on Gene's MSU forum as well.

[whosiskid]

Showing my age, but Jerry Eckwood. It was never really in doubt that he was going to Arkansas, but he was the first kid in the state who put up incredibly gaudy number. Well, his recruitment was the first.

DGB was probably the most intense, though Devin White is a close second. It didn't help that DGB apparently told more than one school that he was going there. In retrospect he hasn't proven to be a bastion of moral rectitude.

To Devin White's credit, I'm not aware that he has told anyone that he is attending their school.

[DCimport]

Cedric Houston.  I remember the gurus having to drive all the way to Clarendon To hear him announce for the  vols

[Boss Hog in the Arkansas]

Solomon Thomas and Bijhon Jackson. I was so sure we would get Thomas and lose Jackson to Bama. Woke up early on NSD to watch the "Official signatures" get faxed in and reported to the public. Reality was the complete opposite of my prediction.

[trphog]

DGB for sure. I will never forget: I went home from work to watch the announcement live. During the broadcast someone on the broadcast whispered over the air, very attainably, "it's Arkansas" only then to hear DGB say "Missouri." After that, I believe nothing until the ink is dry.

[The Hogfather]

[CENSORED] DGB.  What a POS.

[Tony Perkis]

DGB for sure. I will never forget: I went home from work to watch the announcement live. During the broadcast someone on the broadcast whispered over the air, very attainably, "it's Arkansas" only then to hear DGB say "Missouri." After that, I believe nothing until the ink is dry.

I remember hearing the whisper over the air and jumping up and down...I don't think I've ever cursed anyone so hard.

Funny (kind of) now that I cheer for him every Sunday.

[Fatmanhog]

Jonathan Adams picking Arkansas State. Then Deangelo Williams and Cedric Houston going against the Hogs. Ever since those days i have never got my hopes up until the LOI as faxed in.

[Country Stylz]

Marvin Byrdsong? Tony Ugoh as well.

[LRHawg]

DGB for sure. I will never forget: I went home from work to watch the announcement live. During the broadcast someone on the broadcast whispered over the air, very attainably, "it's Arkansas" only then to hear DGB say "Missouri." After that, I believe nothing until the ink is dry.

Yeah what a kick in the pills that was.

[Bubba's Bruisers]

No doubt--The Springdale 5.  Looking back it was the best of times & the worst of times.

[IBleedRazorbackRed]

DGB. But also Demetrius Jackson. He was Kirkland's cousin and was committed to Miami, but had told everyone he was gonna sign with Arkansas on NSD. Even had 2 folders at his ceremony, 1 for Miami and 1 for Arkansas. Ended up signing with Miami when it was all said and done.

[71832]

Eric Mitchell as a big one back in the day not to mention Keith Jackson.

[wholehog92]

Ahmaad (Batman) Carroll was probably the first one I tracked.

The Springdale 5 was a whole new level of intensity and drama.

By the time DGB came along, I was calloused, but it also helped we were doing really well on the field.

[Torqued pork]

Houston Nutt in football.
Penny Hardaway in basketball.

[SamBuckhart]

Mustain.

[redeye]

Jonathan Adams picking Arkansas State. Then Deangelo Williams and Cedric Houston going against the Hogs. Ever since those days i have never got my hopes up until the LOI as faxed in.

I don't recall the circumstances, but I remember knowing that Adams would not sign with Arkansas for some reason.

With the exception of Eckwood, I remember all the battles mentioned here, but really don't know which was more memorable.  The Springdale 5 was a long affair that was full of angst and DGB was a huge disappointment because everyone knew he'd choose Arkansas.  It seems like there was one in particular that changed my approach to how I view recruiting, but I think it was bad and I've blocked it out.  I can remember being very happy when Joe Adams flipped, though.

edit: I think I might say Lawrence Richardson, because he was considered such a huge get at the time.  Nutt actually had a lot of success with highly rated players and Richardson was considered the cherry for that class.  Batman Carroll was just as big and was more dramatic, but Richardson was the first huge out-of-state recruit in the modern era, imo.

[kp72204]

DGB by far, but I was very excited about Solomon Thomas and was sure he was coming to the UofA. He made the announcement early that day and I left 30 minutes late for work just to watch him pull out that dumb tree from under the table. I was all "Why the FACE?!"😲

This, by 100! I let HV have me write a check that was denied at recruiting team rankings by fellow college fans. Then lost a wr to an Oklahoma fan. Forgot receivers name, but I don't think he ever played again

[EternalSunshine]

As far as football I don't usually get that upset...dgb was definitely one I followed and watched, kj last year  basketball are the ones I remember. Thaddeus Young and Jared Honeycutt come to mind. Al Jefferson signing and then going pro. Andre Igoudala signing and then leaving when Nolan was fired. On the positive Corliss Dmac and Cedric cobbs stand out and who can forget how excited everyone was for Gary Brashears

[redeye]

As far as football I don't usually get that upset...dgb was definitely one I followed and watched, kj last year  basketball are the ones I remember. Thaddeus Young and Jared Honeycutt come to mind. Al Jefferson signing and then going pro. Andre Igoudala signing and then leaving when Nolan was fired. On the positive Corliss Dmac and Cedric cobbs stand out and who can forget how excited everyone was for Gary Brashears

Wasn't Honeycutt's first name Jerald?  I can remember being really disappointed when he committed elsewhere, because I thought Nolan had him locked up.  Othella Harrington was another one around that time that disappointed me.  Both were the power forward types Nolan seeked after Larry Johnson said he needed some men, but it turned out that Corliss, Dwight, Darnell and Lee were plenty man enough to win a national championship.

I almost mentioned Gary Brashears too, because it seems he's always forgotten.  The big thing with him was that he was the most touted QB Arkansas had signed since at least Mike Cherry, if not Joe Furgeson, and many Arkansas fans dreamed of having a great QB to lead a prolific passing attack at that time.  That was also around the same time that rivals and online recruiting were becoming a thing, which I'm sure added to the excitement.

[EternalSunshine]

 

Wasn't Honeycutt's first name Jerald?  I can remember being really disappointed when he committed elsewhere, because I thought Nolan had him locked up.  Othella Harrington was another one around that time that disappointed me.  Both were the power forward types Nolan seeked after Larry Johnson said he needed some men, but it turned out that Corliss, Dwight, Darnell and Lee were plenty man enough to win a national championship.

I almost mentioned Gary Brashears too, because it seems he's always forgotten.  The big thing with him was that he was the most touted QB Arkansas had signed since at least Mike Cherry, if not Joe Furgeson, and many Arkansas fans dreamed of having a great QB to lead a prolific passing attack at that time.  That was also around the same time that rivals and online recruiting were becoming a thing, which I'm sure added to the excitement.

It was Jerald...Im all thumbs typing on the iphone.

[Großer Kriegschwein]

Mine was Corliss Williamson..........

It was just awesome to see the National Player of the Year having committed to Nolan as a 9th Grader and everyone else in the country sulking.

Was a thing of beauty to see. And man he didn't disappoint.

[redeye]

It was Jerald...Im all thumbs typing on the iphone.

Well, I had to look it up.   

I was thinking his name was Gerald with a 'G'.

[Country Stylz]

Good thread.  :razorback:

[FATHAWG08]

DGB- The drama never quit. Alex Collins- Momma runs off with LOI.

[berryhog]

DGB, without a doubt.  Even had a couple of mods bowing up at each other on that one.

[PiggoBitttys]

Springdale 5. I was so obsessed, I drove to and attended the press conference with Damian Williams where he announced he would be a Razorback.

Thankfully, I'm learning to take recruiting in stride.

[b_stackhouse]

The worst one was DGB. I'm a high school teacher, and he was set to announce right after we changed classes. A couple of kids wanted to watch so I pulled it up in class. He said MIZZOU and I was so pissed. It quickly became a "work on something, be quiet, and don't bother me" type of day.

The best was Alex Collins. I remember watching the recruiting show when he committed to Arkansas. It was a wild ride with his mom stealing his LOI, but it had a happy ending.