On To 2012

In his weekly recruiting column for Hawgs Illustrated, Dudley E. Dawson writes about how Arkansas wasted little time in getting its first 2012 commit in Warren's Jalen Cobb, but that's not surprising because they have working the junior class stars like Dorial Green-Beckham for some time now. This story is free and sponsored by the Arkansas Toyota Dealers. Click on the Arkansas Toyota banner.

Even before the first fax of the 2011 class had arrived Wednesday morning at Arkansas (from Canada), the Razorback staff was already off and running on their 2012 class.

In fact, the Arkansas staff has been working on those juniors for some time now.

The class got its first commitment on Thursday in Warren wide receiver Jalen Cobb (6-1, 180), who will follow in the footsteps of former Lumberjacks turned Razorbacks Greg Childs. Jarius Wright and Chris Gragg.

“It’s just the right place for me,” Cobb said. “I want to come up there and do the same thing those guys have been doing.”

The Razorback staff has already issued some 35 offers to some of the nation’s best talent - including Springfield Hillcrest wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham (6-5, 210), Kentucky prep quarterback Zeke Pike (6-5, 225), Arizona offensive lineman Andrus Peat (6-6, 280) and Oklahoma City (OK) Heritage Hall running back Barry Sanders, Jr. (5-9, 180).

They’ve also handed out at least three other offers in-state with wideout Zac Brooks (6-2, 180) of Jonesboro getting his as a sophomore and Pottsville offensive lineman Jeremy Ward (6-4, 275) and East Poinsett County athlete A.J. Turner (6-3, 185) getting theirs on Tuesday.

“We worked several hours yesterday as a staff yesterday on 2012s,” Horton said. “I think it is going to be a good year in state and I think that always helps. There are some kids that we would love to see commit real soon and hopefully we can get a few to commit real soon.”

The Razorback staff has been double-dipping lately according to Horton.

“There are even times late in the recruiting process when sure you were 2011 recruiting, but your day was also spent looking at 2012,” Horton said. “That is a good problem to have and when you can get them all committed, it’s maybe not as dramatic for the fans, but when you can get them all committed, all in the basket so to speak, I think that helps.”

With Broderick Green slated to be senior next season, Knile Davis possibly jumping to the NFL after his junior campaign and vets Ronnie Wingo and Dennis Johnson seniors in 2012, Horton knows one area that the Razorbacks will hit hard.

It just happens to be the one he coaches.

“I think next year the priority is running back because you are going to lose Broderick, you don’t know what is going to necessarily happen with Knile – hopefully he has another season like he did this year and then Ronnie will be a senior and Dennis will be a senior,” Horton said. “So we know we have got to address running back big-time next year.”

Horton then trotted out what will probably be his pitch to those running backs.

“We should be able to get a good running back because in the last four years Arkansas has had four all-SEC running backs and four 1,000 yard rushers – and four different guys,” Horton said. “I don’t know anyone else who can say that.”