LITTLE ROCK — With the firing of Arkansas football Coach Bobby Petrino on Tuesday night, Razorbacks fans have started to wonder whether an interim head coach will be named from the current staff or if a coach from outside the program will be hired.
From a recruiting standpoint, national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network said he believes naming an interim coach from the current staff is best, along with keeping the staff intact.
“For over a half a year or so, they [Arkansas coaches] have already built relationships with the top recruits,” said Lemming, who has covered the national recruiting scene for more than 30 years. “If these guys are gone, are they going to believe that Arkansas is the place for them after these guys get a boot?”
Running back Jamel James, 5-11, 218 pounds, 4.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Katy (Texas) Cinco Ranch, who committed to the Hogs last summer, reopened his recruiting Wednesday. He cited the uncertainty of the program.
Arkansas coaches plan to hit the road after the Red-White game April 21 for the spring evaluation period that runs until May 31 to check on 2013, 2014 and 2015 prospects.
“There’s no use in changing in what’s been working,” Lemming said. “They’re only allowed to call [recruits] once from April 15 to May 31. The kids are allowed to call you and most of the coaches nationally have had the top recruits calling them for months.”
Lemming, who travels the nation for about five months each year seeing approximately 2,000 prospects, has seen the Hogs mentioned by more athletes this year.
“Arkansas’ name is everywhere now,” Lemming said. “I’ve been the road since the day after Christmas and will be until May 10. I noticed Arkansas’ name in Florida, in California, Texas and throughout the South. I’ll even notice their name pop up in Ohio or New Jersey, which you never saw before.”
Lemming said he’s high on the Arkansas staff’s recruiting ability and had kind words for recruiting coordinator Tim Horton.
“The organization at Arkansas is fantastic, and it’s led by Tim Horton,” Lemming said. “I would rate them now as one of the top 10 teams organizationalwise. That’s why Arkansas is one of the elite schools in the nation now.The structure is still in place for them to recruit very well. They still have the whole staff there.”
An interim coach could win enough games to keep the job and allow continuity among the staff, which helps recruiting, Lemming said.
“If they don’t do that well, then that’s when other coaches will be available,” he said. “It will give more time [to attain] a quality coach. If you’re looking now, you don’t have much time to get it done. If you wait until December, it gives you eight months to find a quality coach.”
While none of Arkansas’ 2012 signees has said he plans to ask for a release, numerous haven’t publicly announced their plans. Lemming said an intact staff is key.
“As long as they’re there, the majority of the 2012 class will stay intact,” Lemming said. “But if not, a good number of them, if they can get their release, will start looking around. There’s no doubt about that.”
WHAT TIMING
Arizona quarterback Tyler Bruggman arrived in Fayetteville on Monday to visit Arkansas and left Wednesday.
Bruggman, 6-2, 190 pounds, 4.8 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Phoenix Brophy Prep, has nine scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, Arizona State, Arizona,Michigan State, Washington State, Purdue and Colorado State. He said Tuesday’s firing of Coach Bobby Petrino was “really bad news,” but he added he’s still high on the Hogs.
“It really doesn’t change my view on Arkansas at all,” Bruggman said. “I know the rest of the staff is still here. I saw the practice today which was run with the staff they’re going have moving forward. It was very well organized. The players had a lot of energy, so I know the football program will be fine moving forward with the current staff.”
He said he has a great relationship with Arkansas offensive line coach Chris Klenakis and is impressed with the knowledge of offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Paul Petrino.
6-11 AND INTERESTED
Florida center Bradley Hayes is expecting to host Arkansas basketball coaches for an in-home visit Saturday afternoon.
Hayes, 6-11, 250, of Jacksonville (Ariz.) Sandalwood, reports scholarship offers from Memphis, Texas A&M and Georgetown and said he expects to receive a scholarship offer from the Hogs during the visit. He also said Coach Mike Anderson’s time at Arkansas as an assistant coach intrigues him, especially the national championship season of 1994.
“That’s something that stands out in my eyes,” said Hayes, who also said he’s considering an official visit to Arkansas. “With him coming back, I see him trying to do something special. I definitely have a thought about going there.”
Hayes, who averaged about 15 points, 12 rebounds and 5 block shots per game this season, said he considers himself to be more of a defensive player but said he has the range to hit the 15-foot jumper.
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Sports, Pages 24 on 04/13/2012