As much as I love our contacts in S. Florida

[nwahogfan1]

I still think our bread and butter has to be in Texas.  I think CBB recognizes that and each year our Texas recruiting will become better and better.

I am hoping we build up to signing 10 blue chip Texas studs a year.

[Großer Kriegschwein]

I still think our bread and butter has to be in Texas.  I think CBB recognizes that and each year our Texas recruiting will become better and better.

I am hoping we build up to signing 10 blue chip Texas studs a year.

Where they're from isn't as important as how they will fit into the program. We need coaches with good contacts everywhere. We'll get Texas kids, but the ability to recruit in the Midwest, Florida & Louisiana will be the most important difference between this staff and previous staffs.

[Hoggish1]

Where they're from isn't as important as how they will fit into the program. We need coaches with good contacts everywhere. We'll get Texas kids, but the ability to recruit in the Midwest, Florida & Louisiana will be the most important difference between this staff and previous staffs.

Truth.

Anybody that thinks our coaching staff will concentrate on just one or two recruiting states just doesn't understand how it needs to work for our program and its staff.

Heck, they haven't even paid attention to how we've already been recruiting. (Hawaii, MO, CO, MN, etc. etc.)

[Wildhog]

I'll take raw florida talent over maxed out Texas talent 9 times out of 8.

[Choctaw Hog]

I still think our bread and butter has to be in Texas.  I think CBB recognizes that and each year our Texas recruiting will become better and better.

I am hoping we build up to signing 10 blue chip Texas studs a year.

Fish where the fish are and where you have a good chance of catching some. 

[Dominicanhog]

We'll have as many or more players from Florida than Texas on our roster very soon and I don't expect it to change in the future... CBB seems to really like recruiting Florida.

[coastalrazorback]

I'll take raw florida talent over maxed out Texas talent 9 times out of 8.

Yup

[ARtillahog]

We'll have as many or more players from Florida than Texas on our roster very soon and I don't expect it to change in the future... CBB seems to really like recruiting Florida.

I think you start seeing LA kids showing up a lil more too.

[The_Iceman]

I'll take raw florida talent over maxed out Texas talent 9 times out of 8.

Yep. I think that's what Texas has had a problem with. A lot of their defensive studs never get any better from the day they step onto campus.

[The Hogfather]

I'll take raw florida talent over maxed out Texas talent 9 times out of 8.

No doubt about it.  If we can make Florida (especially South Florida) our bread and butter, we need to go ahead and do that.

[Hawgey-Davidson]

CBB has dedicated, what, 4 coaches to recruit Texas? Thats pretty significant in my view.

[jackflash]

Going forward in a good year I think four or five from Texas would be what we get. Texas, Texas A&M, OK ST, OK, Baylor and TCU all are recruiting Texas well.

[ricepig]

I'll take raw florida talent over maxed out Texas talent 9 times out of 8.

I'll take Florida studs over Florida raw talent.

[Wildhog]

Going forward in a good year I think four or five from Texas would be what we get. Texas, Texas A&M, OK ST, OK, Baylor and TCU all are recruiting Texas well.

Yeah.  Way too much competition in-state to really recruit Texas at a high level.

[MENARKHOG]

I see Texas like the American Auto Industry in the 70's and 80's.  The product that is available is not a strong as it could be because it doesn't have to be.  People will buy the talent regardless.  Texas recruits basically are the backbone of the Big 12.  They make up the majority of the rosters of all of the teams in the conference.  Texas high-schools for the most part like the Big 12 plays a soft brand of finesse football heavy on offense and lacking in defense.  This culture is pervasive.  Within the SEC footprint the culture is different and the players that grow up in the shadow of the SEC not surprisingly fit with the SEC smash-mouth culture.  Coaching can of course over come this but with most of the Texas recruits staying in the Texas football culture sphere (Big 12) it is difficult to overcome the familiarity these recruits have with a football culture in colleges that is like that they grew up with in high-school.  This and there is a lot of teams competing for that talent.  Texas has an entire conference to support after all.     We will get a handful of recruits out of Texas every year, but I think south Florida and LA will be our out of state strengths well into the future.

[zane]

I still think our bread and butter has to be in Texas.  I think CBB recognizes that and each year our Texas recruiting will become better and better.

I am hoping we build up to signing 10 blue chip Texas studs a year.

I'll never understand this mentality

[ErieHog]

It really is a no win-scenario in recruiting.

Sign 10 Texas kids, 5 Florida kids,  and 5 other national level players?

"YOU LOST HALF OF THE TOP 10 PLAYERS IN ARKANSAS!  YOU GOT NOTHIN' FROM THOSE LOUISIANA COACHES WHO WE SHOULD BE POACHING KIDS AWAY FROM LSU WITH!  WHY AREN'T WE IN ATLANTA!"

It is an endless cycle of displeasing someone, all the time.

[Wildhog]

I'll take Florida studs over Florida raw talent.

General Obvious.

[Tim Harris]

It really is a no win-scenario in recruiting.

Sign 10 Texas kids, 5 Florida kids,  and 5 other national level players?

"YOU LOST HALF OF THE TOP 10 PLAYERS IN ARKANSAS!  YOU GOT NOTHIN' FROM THOSE LOUISIANA COACHES WHO WE SHOULD BE POACHING KIDS AWAY FROM LSU WITH!  WHY AREN'T WE IN ATLANTA!"

It is an endless cycle of displeasing someone, all the time.

You forgot about Memphis, STL, and KCY......

[HOGINTENNESSEE]

Going forward in a good year I think four or five from Texas would be what we get. Texas, Texas A&M, OK ST, OK, Baylor and TCU all are recruiting Texas well.

And right now all those teams are ahead of us in the recruiting totem pole in Texas.

In South FL we are up there with all the top dogs.

CBB got Jennings and EK to help change our place in Texas. By right now that's where we stand because of poor recruiting from the previous 3 staffs at Arkansas in Texas.

[Pork Twain]

Where they're from isn't as important as how they will fit into the program. We need coaches with good contacts everywhere. We'll get Texas kids, but the ability to recruit in the Midwest, Florida & Louisiana will be the most important difference between this staff and previous staffs.

That is all.

[BatesvilleHOG]

South Florida is a diamond mind that has barely been dug into. The amount of raw talent and freakish athletic ability is busting at the seams down there. You would be nuts to want to recruit anywhere in the nation over south Florida right now.

I'm glad Bielema has made it a priority to recruit south Florida. It will pay dividends to our future success. Just wait and see

[Chief Mac]

I'll take raw florida talent over maxed out Texas talent 9 times out of 8.

This....especially Dbs/Lbs/DEs. Tall, rangy, athletic and fast

[Paul]

I'll take raw florida talent over maxed out Texas talent 9 times out of 8.

I second that!   

[Paul]

I think a lot of hog fans have been brainwashed into thinking Texas has to be where we get most of our talent because of our SWC history some 25 yrs ago.  But more & more it looks like Louisiana & Florida kids are what we need more of. 

[TMc]

I still think our bread and butter has to be in Texas.  I think CBB recognizes that and each year our Texas recruiting will become better and better.

I am hoping we build up to signing 10 blue chip Texas studs a year.

First of all.., I think we will eventually.  Secondly I would've agreed with you 2 years ago.., but not with this staff we have in place now.  They can actually go get talent out of South Florida because they have relationships down there, and have been doing so for years.  I am not disappointed with any of the Florida kids we have right now.  Personally, I think we need to pluck 4-5 out of Louisiana every year.

[sickboy]

I think this topic is just proof that there will always be something to complain about for some folks...

Average Hogville Recruiting Poster:
"Yes! Recruiting is the best it's ever been in our program's history!"

The Never Satisfied Few:
"I know, I know... but... hear me out. I think it could be better. And here's how..."

Not saying there's anything wrong with it... just funny is all.

[carolinahogger]

South Florida is a diamond mind that has barely been dug into.

A mine is a terrible thing to waste.

[Melorock089]

Florida and Louisiana first I think. Texas is 3rd.

[OTTER]

Ya get talent, where you find it.  All that privelaged Texas talent, ain't helped Texas lately. 

[Chief Mac]

Ya get talent, where you find it.  All that privelaged Texas talent, ain't helped Texas lately. 

Or TAMU at least on defense

[Hawghiggs]

A mine is a terrible thing to waste.

[1highhog]

I still think our bread and butter has to be in Texas.  I think CBB recognizes that and each year our Texas recruiting will become better and better.

I am hoping we build up to signing 10 blue chip Texas studs a year.

Why?  Florida athletes have long been viewed as some of the best in the Country.  When we have such a strong recruiting background down there with this staff why no exploit the timeframe of Mimi and Florida both being down at this time?  We need to keep a strong recruiting precence there while we can.

[texas tush hog]

Believe me, I know very well the talent level in Texas, as I watch seven or eight games a year in between running up to the hill most weekends. I also am aware that south Florida has enough players to fill our needs most years, if we get the right ones. I have learned that this staff more than understands the recruiting needs we have, and what we can recruit, concentrating first in state. Having said this, I hesitate to tell them what we need, as they seem to know better than anybody on this board, and I'm willing to trust their judgement. E.K. Franks is da man.

[Rzbakfromwaybak]

Yeah.  Way too much competition in-state to really recruit Texas at a high level.

There is going to be a lot of competition for recruiting "at a high level" anywhere there is top talent.

Florida is hit by.......Florida St, Florida, Miami, Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, & many other schools. There is just as much, if not more...competition in Florida, as Texas.

[Hellafied]

He is recruiting Texas but the kids don't seem to be showing us as much love. They can make that easy drive from Texas to Arkansas for a unofficial and don't.  Have one of the best running games in America and no big running back from Texas is liking us. They seem to like soft big 12 and texas am. 

[1highhog]

There is going to be a lot of competition for recruiting "at a high level" anywhere there is top talent.

Florida is hit by.......Florida St, Florida, Miami, Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, & many other schools. There is just as much, if not more...competition in Florida, as Texas.

Whatever the deal may be, and however you guys see it, we're getting dome great kids out of Florida that any SEC school would be glad to have, plus we've finally built a pretty solid fence around our instate talent that was really good this year and has the potential to be even better next year.  As long as we can keep this staff together, I have no worries about recruiting, stop your worrying.

[redeye]

He is recruiting Texas but the kids don't seem to be showing us as much love. They can make that easy drive from Texas to Arkansas for a unofficial and don't.  Have one of the best running games in America and no big running back from Texas is liking us. They seem to like soft big 12 and texas am.

Texas players do seem a little more cultist with their schools, but when we become one of those schools, we'll clean up there.  And I do think we're making improvement there, but we're also targeting better players.

When it comes to players not making their visit, I don't think any have been worse then Louisiana and Georgia.  We're already having better success in Louisiana and Georgia has too much SEC talent to ignore.

We're doing very well in Florida and I don't think anyone is arguing for us to stop.  But I think it's very unlikely that we'll ever fill a significant percentage of our class with SEC-caliber Florida players.

I don't really understand why this is even a discussion anymore.  We seem to be making great strides in all the areas we should be targeting.  If I had to complain, I'd like to see more effort in Missouri and Memphis, but we're doing well in Florida, Louisiana, Texas and even Oklahoma.  Our coaches seem to know what they're doing, imo.

[Großer Kriegschwein]

We have 17 players from Tejas on our roster this year. Why do we need 10 per year? That's just silly stupid. If they are good, we'll take care of them. If they aren't, we ain't blowing smoke up their ass to keep them on the chain. Players know when we're interested.

[Torqued pork]

There is going to be a lot of competition for recruiting "at a high level" anywhere there is top talent.

Florida is hit by.......Florida St, Florida, Miami, Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, & many other schools. There is just as much, if not more...competition in Florida, as Texas.

Probably more competition for players in Florida. Any southern, midwestern and east coast school with a semblance of a recruiting budget hits Florida.

Count me among those who don't give a rats rump where they're from if they help us win.

[JackJohnson]

There is going to be a lot of competition for recruiting "at a high level" anywhere there is top talent.

Florida is hit by.......Florida St, Florida, Miami, Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, & many other schools. There is just as much, if not more...competition in Florida, as Texas.

The difference is a kid from s fl will have to fly to any of those places just like he would here so a plane ride is a plane ride and unless they plan on going to miami no other major BCS school is Within reasonable driving distance.

However In tex there is most of the b12 and AM that are closer car rides than here... And more in state schools to "stay home" and go to

[MuskogeeHogFan]

Probably more competition for players in Florida. Any southern, midwestern and east coast school with a semblance of a recruiting budget hits Florida.

Count me among those who don't give a rats rump where they're from if they help us win.

I agree that I don't care where they come from as long as they fit what we want in terms of size, speed, ability and attitude.

That said, there is a greater ratio of Div I FBS talent per the number of high school players in Florida than there is in Texas, even though Texas has more high school players.

This staff has already proven that they are tireless recruiters and that they will go anywhere to try to land the best players that fit our philosophy.

[Inhogswetrust]

I agree that I don't care where they come from as long as they fit what we want in terms of size, speed, ability and attitude.

That said, there is a greater ratio of Div I FBS talent per the number of high school players in Florida than there is in Texas, even though Texas has more high school players.

This staff has already proven that they are tireless recruiters and that they will go anywhere to try to land the best players that fit our philosophy.

Due to population demographics some schools have to cast a broader recruiting net than others. We are one of those.

[gmarv]

also is it just me or does it seem that its fairly common among s.fla. kids wanting to get the heck out of fla..

[JoeyCapital]

A small edge for FL recruiting over TX- just like Arkansans have a history with Texas, Texans have a history with Arkansas. They've been exposed to our program for generations with regularity, and the bias and feelings toward us from the older generation texans are being passed on to the kids we are trying to recruit. In Texas we are a known quantity.

In Florida, especially south FL, I think we have a chance to become one of the "It" schools for kids. They probably don't know anything about Arkansas, so we have a chance to brand ourselves without any of the baggage. All a lot of those kids know about Arkansas is our current staff and the players we have brought in from there recently and the success they are having here.

[Pork Twain]

Top talent is top talent and I do not care where this team gets it from and I am sure the coaches have more ears to the ground than any of us.  Some of the best recruited classes I have seen in my life and people still find something to complain about.

[Choctaw Hog]

I'll never understand this mentality

Because that's what they've been told for years and they don't do any thinking or drill-down investigating on their own. They just regurgitate the old line of thinking.

Times change and so does recruiting.  With the explosion of national coverage for all SEC teams, things have changed.  Most SEC teams now have the ability to recruit nationwide and it will only get better in that regard. 

As I stated earlier, you fish where the fish are and have a good chance to land them; i.e. Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Colorado, Minnesota, Florida, NJ, CA, NV, HI, UT, wherever.  The Hogs are quickly getting to the point where they can be very selective who they take. 

[texas tush hog]

also is it just me or does it seem that its fairly common among s.fla. kids wanting to get the heck out of fla..

One night in a Miami ghetto and you will get it, much like Chicago only closer to South America and Mexico. Watch Scarface with Al Pacino and you might understand.

[Paul]

You forgot about Memphis, STL, and KCY......

Memphis--except for the private school kids, prospects have a difficult time meeting SEC academic requirements.  Missouri--since Atwater, I haven't been overly impressed with their physicality/toughness. Hoping Wallace changes my perspective.  those Louisiana & Florida kids are nasty!

[1highhog]

I second that!   

I'll third that motion, motion carried.  We've been needing into Florida since we joined the SEC, now we have found our way in, we've made great impressions with the High School Coaches down there but most importantly Mothers, gotta please Mom.  CBB has put together a staff 2nd to none as far as building relationships and not coming off as blowing smoke up Recruits or the parents asses, this will pay huge dividends down the road.  Winning 8 or more games next year will start to pay off.