Myles Slusher’s Flip Kickstarts Hogs’ Early Signing Period

Myles Slusher

-Tommy Foltz

The early signing period has begun, with the Hogs inking seven recruits on Wednesday.  As I’ve said before, the early signing period hurts schools with new coaches.  About 77% of recruits sign during this time, so we had little time to recruit.

So, for now, look at our class of 2020 recruiting class so far as a “quality over quantity” situation.  Of the seven Arkansas signees, six are 3 star recruits and one is a 4 star. 

Hopefully, we’ll add significantly more blue chip talent in February.

A BUNCH OF 3 STARS?

Sounds lame, right?  It’s almost impossible not to look at the star ratings as we watch the recruiting process play out.  It is an annual source of hope, or despair, when looking at the future of our favorite team.

DON’T FRET MY FRIENDS:

What’s more important to me, as a supporter of the worst team in the toughest league in college football, is not what Rivals thinks. It’s what best and most successful coaches in that toughest conference think.  I’m talking about what Nick Saban, Kirby Smart, Ed Orgeron…..and yes, Sam Pittman.

Peel away another layer of the onion and you’ll find that all of the recruits we just signed had offers from the best programs in the country. They chose Arkansas.  

HERE’S A LOOK AT THE HOGS’ EARLY SIGNEES:

Dominique Johnson:  (6’1” 220 RB) flipped to Arkansas from Missouri.  Thank you, Barry Odom

Kelin Burrle:  (Outside LB) had offers Kentucky, LSU, Tennessee, Texas A&M

Blayne Toll:  (6’5” 245 Defensive End from Hazen) offers from LSU, TCU, Oklahoma, Baylor and Tennessee

Ray Curry, Jr.:  (Offensive Tackle) flipped from Missouri to Arkansas.  Thank you Barry Odom.  Offered by Bama, Auburn, Georgia and LSU among others

Myles Slusher:  (Lone 4-star; safety from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma) Offers from Bama, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M

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Catrell Wallace:  (Outside linebacker from Bryant, 6’5” 210 pounds) Offers from Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss and others

Jashaud Stewart:  (Defensive end from Jonesboro) Offers from Arkansas State, Houston, Liberty, Troy, SMU, Memphis, Kansas and Oklahoma State

THE TAKE:

Nobody expected us to have a great recruiting class, but it’s not over yet.  Still, it’s worth stressing the players we have signed so far seem to be pretty well regarded by the best coaches in the country by virtue of the fact that they had offers from them.  

This small group, which will grow in numbers, has physical size.  It has SEC size.  

The staff Pittman is assembling has plenty of SEC experience thanks to the influx of Barry Odom, Sam Carter (cornerback coach) and Brad Davis (offensive line coach). I have little doubt that they will be able to “coach up” these new players as well as the other 2020 recruits to be inked in February and, of course, the current Hogs sticking it out with Arkansas.

SPEAKING OF STAFF RECRUITING: 

I know we have to hire an offensive coordinator before this happens, but I hope we can bring Clint Stoerner on board as the QB coach.  Stoerner, who’s already said he wants the position, has lived it.  He was coached by Joe Ferguson.  He’s coached many who are playing in college.  And, he held school records until Pass Happy Petrino made his stopover here.

It’s not enough to try to have a “game manager” in Fayetteville.  We need playmakers at that position, period.  Stoerner was a play maker.  The only play he didn’t make was “the fumble.”  Anyone who’s still mad about that needs to get a life.  

After all, he took Tennessee down at his next opportunity.

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Watch the highly sought after Myles Slusher explain why he flipped to Arkansas here:

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