Bits of the past, present and future will all be on display today when rebuilding Arkansas (1-4, 0-2) takes on No. 1 Alabama (5-0, 2-0), college football’s best program which simply just reloads every year.
When you arrive at the Reynolds Razorback Stadium and the teams begin going through their warm-ups, take a good, long look at the Crimson Tide players.
Alabama’s roster features a combination of size, speed, skill and power that is the envy of college football as it has been for the past decade since coach Nick Saban arrived from the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.
It will likely be that way until Saban retires, if he ever does.
The Crimson Tide averages a nation’s best 54.2 points, put up 62 on Ole Miss and 57 on Arkansas State. It has been kept under 50 only in a 45-23 win over Texas A&M and basically has not been pushed this season.
Their defense loses players to the NFL every season and seems to just keep replenishing itself with future pros.
Seeing as how Alabama is a 35-point favorite today, an Arkansas upset today is about as likely as me finally hitting that growth spurt at 55 that shoots me up from present day 5-foot-9 to my long awaited 6-4 frame I have wanted since high school.
But that being said, it would also be a good idea to take a look at the northwest corner of the Arkansas sideline between 10-10:30 a.m. for a glance at the future.
On hand at that point should be several highly ranked Arkansas commits taking official visits. In addition, there will be around 70 other prospects from the 2019, 2020 and 2021 recruiting classes on unofficial treks. Signing a good number from that bunch could help close the vast gap of talent.
Arkansas’ 2019 haul, which could include as many as 29 players with four counting back to the 2018 class, is ranked 14th nationally by Rivals. That’s as high as it has been since 2002.
Razorback offensive pledges expected to be on the sideline before the game are Sardis (Miss.) North Panola quarterback KJ Jefferson (6-foot-3, 215 pounds), four-star wide receivers Trey Knox (6-4, 210) of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Shamar Nash (6-3, 198) of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy and Phenix City (Ala.) Central tailback A’Montae Spivey (6-1, 205).
Uncommitted Mission Viejo (Calif), Saddleback College offensive lineman Tim Anderson (6-5, 270) is also on his official visit this weekend. Anderson has been clear that Arkansas is No. 1 on his list.
There will also be some top-notch defensive Arkansas pledges on official visits in Joe T. Robinson defensive end Zach Williams (6-4, 220), IMG Academy defensive end Eric Gregory (6-3, 260), Murfreesboro (Tenn.) Blackman cornerback Adonis Otey (6-0, 190) and Mansfield (Texas) Legacy defensive tackle Enoch Jackson (6-0, 290).
Arkansas also hopes to land the services of two other Mansfield Legacy stars on official visits this weekend in defensive end Taurean Carter (6-3, 260) and safety Jalen Catalon (5-11, 190) and is also hosting Ellenwood, Ga., defensive end Dante Walker (6-3, 237).
All are not only four-star prospects, but they have legitimate offers from BCS playoff contenders such as Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State and others.
Arkansas has 11 commitments from players among the consensus took 500 national list, a feat that has not been done to my knowledge in the 30-plus years I have covered recruiting.
One other very beneficial thing for Arkansas in this recruiting class is several commitments are set to enroll early. Those stating plans to be in college by January are Gregory, Nash, Knox, Williams and defensive end Mataio Soli (6-4, 227)of Douglas County (Ga.) Douglasville.
Anderson would also be an early enrollee who would go through spring practice with the others if he commits soon to the Razorbacks as expected.
That would help the rebuild get going quickly in a season that has not start -ed as coaches, players and fans wanted.
Realistically, head coaches don’t get fired and paid millions of dollars to walk away if everything was going right, or even good.
The Tide hasn’t always been rolling since Saban arrived in 2007 as evidenced by his first Alabama team finishing 7-6 and closing out its regular season by losing at home to Louisiana-Monroe 21-14 and Auburn 17-10.
Five years ago, Arkansas could have won a game over Alabama in Fayetteville. The No. 7 visitors escaped with a 14-13 triumph. It took a Razorback fumble at the 1-yard line, a bad snap on failed field goal attempt and a missed PAT for the Crimson Tide to win.
So why it may not be pretty today, again, take a look before the game at the assemblage of talent on the sideline as well as the field. That’s a key factor in closing the gap and what should give most fans hope in a year that started out looking hopeless.