Most Memorable Recruiting Battle That You've Followed?

[14erHog]

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

Why did he pick UM of Ark?  Sorry I was living out of state so I don't know the story. 

[oldbear]

Batman Carroll and the Batmobile is easily the most memorable. He was a big recruit but none has been so over the top. Can you imagine Coach B hiring a Batmobile to impress a recruit? Hilarious.

[Nuttcracker, Sweet!]

My first was Jerry Eckwood who was one year behind me, although not at the same school, but both in eastern AR.

I recall a guy a year before Eckwood became a household name telling me Brinkley had a stud player everybody would be after. I though the was blowing smoke at the time, then schools from all over swarmed all over him, just as the guy predicted.

An assistant from GA. Tech whined in the Gazette that Eckwood had been "pressured" to go to UA, like they had a private commit from him.

However, the most memorable easily is the Springdale 5! Out of those 5 kids, only Damian W. ever became more than an average player on the college level, though Mustain had the talent to do better.

That should lend some sanity to recruiting. 2 of the 5 never played a down in college, if I'm not mistaken. Cleveland was average and Mustain started 10 games in 4 years for two schools.

Out of all the battles, many stand out to me in that so many of the players so coveted, both guys who signed with us and those who did not, never did much. Fred Bledsoe for example.

Marc Winston had Florida panting after him. The CB from Marianna who couldn't cover  a manhole, Darius Winston and many more.

I started taking recruiting with a grain of salt years ago. I follow it, but don't live and die with every commitment.

Even when they sign, until I see them on the field against major college competition, I don't get too excited in most cases.

Collins was a pleasant surprise as was Kirkland. I really thought they would go to Miami, but I didn't do cartwheels.

I was a bit let down by DGB, especially after so many on here and other Hog sites were so cocksure he was coming here. The worst part of it was the Mizzou jerk MU Bobby turned out to be right.

Still, I figure he would have bailed after FU Bobby rolled his Harley and DGB played all of two seasons in college as it turned out and set no records at that.

Recruiting is important, but for perspective check in 5 years how many of those 5 star kids bombed in college. Or never got into school.

[pigskenG]

I don't remember the recruiting 'battle', but losing Eric Mitchel from Pine Bluff to Switzer at OU was the most upsetting to me. This guy was an unbelievable talent at QB and we needed a QB badly at the time. Then to watch him spend his career at OU as a back up to Jamile Holloway at QB or a back up RB was tough. I still can't get over it after all this time. You can pull up his OU highlights on youtube.  Can't believe he didn't go to Arkansas. Could have been a record setting wishbone QB for the Hogs, IMO.

[Pigasaurus]

Springdale 5, boss caught me with headphones on at work listening to Shawn and Wally announce BJ Young for Hogs and DGB.  I had a bad feeling about the the thug picking Mizzou.

[SPAL]

Chris Baker, Marvin Byrdsong, Marcus Whitmore.

That was when I really started following recruiting.

[ChicoHog]

Springdale 5 for me.  That's when I joined Hogville about 10 years ago.  I followed recruiting through newspapers before that but when I started reading MMQB everyday to find out what was going on with those guys then I realized I was hooked on Hogville. 

[Huds_HawgTide]

Devin white is my new one...with all the off  field stuff and now enrolling early and he does a good job at showing three to four schools enough love to feel good bout their chances

[duckman]

DGB, although White could end up that way but in our favor....  No source, just my gut.

[sowmonella]

Keith Lee.

[presidenthog]

DGB., then collins. probably in that order as well.

[upperdeck_hawg]

dgb....how often are we favored to get the #1 player? Never

[upperdeck_hawg]

I don't remember the recruiting 'battle', but losing Eric Mitchel from Pine Bluff to Switzer at OU was the most upsetting to me. This guy was an unbelievable talent at QB and we needed a QB badly at the time. Then to watch him spend his career at OU as a back up to Jamile Holloway at QB or a back up RB was tough. I still can't get over it after all this time. You can pull up his OU highlights on youtube.  Can't believe he didn't go to Arkansas. Could have been a record setting wishbone QB for the Hogs, IMO.

OU paid cash money for recruits

[SNORTZENHOGGER]

Well it has got to be Vin Ascolese... on film he was a beast! I believe he is at TCU after not playing football for 2 years... It seemed like we had a Vin Ascolese thread every week when we were recruiting him.

[WMHawgfan]

I remember it being pretty crazy around here during the Darius Winston recruitment. Talk about a 5 star that didn't pan out.

[srange98]

Easily DGB for me. 

I hardcore lurked here on HV.

[regi]

Why did he pick UM of Ark?  Sorry I was living out of state so I don't know the story. 

His goal was the NFL, Arkansas had D Howard committed and he was higher rated than Williams. Hogs also still had Cobbs and Talley with some eligibility left. Tommy West convinced Williams that he would be the center piece of turning around Mumphis, where he would be another back at UA. Tommy didn't lie. Would have loved for him to be a Hog though.

[regi]

Fred Bledsoe is one I want forget. He played it right down to the wire and loved every minute of it. Including wearing a Vols and Hog shirt under his hoodie. Problem is, he loved the recruiting more than the practicing (so I have been told).

[secneahog]

DGB was epic.
Soloman Thomas was good.
Kj Hill was crazy.
Ascolose was bizarre.
Devin White has been good.

[ThisTeetsTaken]

Fred Bledsoe is one I want forget. He played it right down to the wire and loved every minute of it. Including wearing a Vols and Hog shirt under his hoodie. Problem is, he loved the recruiting more than the practicing (so I have been told).

I had forgotten about Bledsoe.  I got kicked off of Volchat over that one haha.  How about Lawrence Richardson and Nutt telling him he was his "big balla shotkolla"?

[MuskogeeHogFan]

I don't remember the recruiting 'battle', but losing Eric Mitchel from Pine Bluff to Switzer at OU was the most upsetting to me. This guy was an unbelievable talent at QB and we needed a QB badly at the time. Then to watch him spend his career at OU as a back up to Jamile Holloway at QB or a back up RB was tough. I still can't get over it after all this time. You can pull up his OU highlights on youtube.  Can't believe he didn't go to Arkansas. Could have been a record setting wishbone QB for the Hogs, IMO.

Jamelle Holieway was an exceptional wishbone type QB who was recruited by the likes of Oklahoma, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Colorado, Oregon and USC. As Oklahoma had decided to go a different way with a Pro Style offense with Troy Aikman at the helm it appeared that Holieway might have made the wrong choice in schools. But with Aikman's injury in the Miami loss (14-27), Swtizer re-tooled the Triple Option Offense and inserted Holieway to lead them to 8 straight wins capped by defeating #1 Penn State 25-10 in the January 1, 1986 Orange Bowl.

As good as Eric Mitchell may have been and as good as he might have been at Arkansas, he nonetheless wasn't a Jamelle Holieway. And as an Arkansas fan I don't say this without some level of regret. But truth is truth.

[redeye]

dgb....how often are we favored to get the #1 player? Never

Corliss Williamson

And Mustain was considered #1 by one service for a while, but I forget which.  He was considered the #1 QB for some time, but IIRC, he was #1 overall for a short time on one of the services.

[The hog meister]

Keith Lee and Michael Cage from West Memphis basketball. If Sutton had gotten those two or just Keith Lee we would have had a national championship banner before Nolan arrived.

[Tim Harris]

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.

That was definitely a tough one.  Some of the recruiting guys already had quotes from him to put in their articles.

[Tim Harris]

Here are a few of the recent ones for me.  Anytime there is a big time recruit in state I follow those closely.  Also have a soft spot for people picking us on national TV.

The ones we won

2016 RBs
Collins (Probably my favorite)
Agim
Gragg
Hjalte Froholdt
Brian Wallace
Denver Kirkland
Whaley

The ones we lost

KJ Hill
Josh Frazier
Jermaine Eluemunor

[smb]

The one and only Alex Collins but thank God he came to the razorbacks. And of course any recruit we flip from Bama, LSU, Ole Miss and Auburn.

[Seminole Indian]

Keith Lee.

Same here. Lots of 'old school' skulduggery in his recruitment.

[ThisTeetsTaken]

Here are a few of the recent ones for me.  Anytime there is a big time recruit in state I follow those closely.  Also have a soft spot for people picking us on national TV.

The ones we won

2016 RBs
Collins (Probably my favorite)
Agim
Gragg
Hjalte Froholdt
Brian Wallace
Denver Kirkland
Whaley

The ones we lost

KJ Hill
Josh Frazier
Jermaine Eluemunor

I had forgotten about Frazier also. That was some drama.

[Calling All Hogs]

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

Both of those hurt but it turned out OK as far as Mitchell not coming to Arkansas because we picked up Quinn Grovey.

[IronHog]

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.

Ron Johnson had a nice career......for UAPB.

[sgfhog]

DGB
Brian Wallace
Felix Jones
Brett Smith
Ahmad "Batman" Carroll
Keith Jackson and Eric Mitchel

[hei5manhog]

Malik Monk

[hei5manhog]

Alex was a wild ride too. Short lived but very intense.
Least exciting: Dmac. Thank the Lord.

[hei5manhog]

I remember a bizarre drivetime story/caller, I can't remember, claimed there was a fistfight between Arkansas coaches and OU coaches over Tony Ugoh at his house.

[WMHawgfan]

Keith Lee and Michael Cage from West Memphis basketball. If Sutton had gotten those two or just Keith Lee we would have had a national championship banner before Nolan arrived.

Well Dana Kirk personally gave Keith a shoe box full reasons to go to Memphis State.

[GalaHawg]

I remember it being pretty crazy around here during the Darius Winston recruitment. Talk about a 5 star that didn't pan out.

Surprised more people did not mention Darius Winston. 5-star in-state CB, committed, de-committed, re-committed, and the uncle was on here arguing with posters. There was a lot of drama in that story.

[supersaint]

My own. The Hogs didn't offer me until the day before signing day. I was happy.

[The hog meister]

Well Dana Kirk personally gave Keith a shoe box full reasons to go to Memphis State.

Sutton learned a valuable lesson there. Just 3 years later he left to a program with lots of shoe boxes I mean resources. The program there almost got the death penalty for some serious allegations about players and money. He should have stayed a hog cause he is still revered here.      WPS

[bphi11ips]

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.

Thanks for saving me the time.

In 2015, Jerry Eckwood might be the number one player at any position.  As I recall, he was near the top nationally in rypg as a true freshman when he completely tore up his knee in a game at WMS.  I think he was averaging around 150 ypg and had over 700 at the time.  He never was the same again even though he played for a while in the NFL.  Other than Steve Little, one of the tragic stories of life after football for a former Razorback.

I'd add Solomon Thomas to the list, but yours is a good one.

[Big Boi]

Dorial Green-Beckham soured me on recruiting.

[Hey Super]

Michael Dyer, Kiehl Frazier, Darius Winston, DGB, Whaley.

As you can see, it's nice to finally land one. I wish Winston would have lived up to his hype.

[Tony Perkis]

I believe Cleveland and Fulton might be up for consideration for me now.

[LightHog]

Battle among Hogs, Texass, and OU for QB Jack Mildren - 1968.

[hogcard1964]

DGB

....and thankfully we didn't get him.

[HOGINTENNESSEE]

No doubt Mitch Mustain

DGB next

[DeltaBoy]

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

Those 2 and Basil Shabazz !

[Cobbler]

His goal was the NFL, Arkansas had D Howard committed and he was higher rated than Williams. Hogs also still had Cobbs and Talley with some eligibility left. Tommy West convinced Williams that he would be the center piece of turning around Mumphis, where he would be another back at UA. Tommy didn't lie. Would have loved for him to be a Hog though.

Howard was c/o 2001. Williams was 2002. We had Dedrick Poole already committed, but Williams was rated higher (at least on Rivals).

[bigyellowdog]

Basketball:  Keith Lee, Willie Cutts, Corliss, Ronnie Brewer, the two guys who signed with UK

Football:  Cobbs, Brett Smith, Alex Collins, Dyer, Springdale 5, Tenpenney, DGB, the kid who flipped to Ohio State

[rogersvillemohog]

The Good: Alex Collins

The Bad: Jordan Eluemunor

The Ugly: DGB

Honorable Mention: Michael Dyer