Hogs' Logic not Working Giving Up In-state Player Without Fight

Legacy recruit Jackson Daily from Alma never was recruited by Hogs, picked Tigers

Author:
Andy Hodges
Publish date:
Feb 7, 2024 4:50 PM EST

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Whatever logic Arkansas coach Sam Pittman is using to get better players than Missouri obviously isn't working. It apparently hasn't been working for awhile, either. Just look at the record that is the final judge on theories.

The Razorbacks have found creative ways with multiple coaches to be 2-8 against the Tigers over the 10 games they've played since Mizzou came into the SEC back in 2012. What should be especially troublesome should be the number of players in key roles wearing black and gold instead of red and white in the games.

On signing day Wednesday, Alma's Jackson Daily signed with Eli Drinkwitz, who appears these days to be more concerned with getting players from Arkansas than Pittman and his staff are. You can't really compare decades because of rules changes and everything else, but the one thing that has held up for at least over 60 years I'm aware of is the Razorbacks have only had success with a in-state players.

It's a point where even Razorbacks announcer Phil Elson and former quarterback Matt Jones have been talking about the apparent lack of interest of in-state recruits for awhile. Now Drinkwitz, who came up coaching in Arkansas high schools, is at Missouri and kicking the Hogs on and off the field.

Pittman is apparently stuck on some plan that's not winning games. He's never tried to deflect the blame anywhere. He's got plenty of folks in the media who love coming up repeatedly with excuses for failure. Bear Bryant always said when some little-known player made a big play, "it just means a little more to an Alabama guy." Corny, yes. It's also true at Arkansas.

Whether they were stars or not hasn't always mattered. Grant Morgan was a walk-on and became an All-American. The reason for the drop is an indication from Hogs' coaches is they don't have players good enough to play in the SEC. Considering the record for the overwhelming part of the last 30 years, the other plan isn't working, either.

It always comes back around to bite the Hogs. Former coach Houston Nutt has talked about how in-state players are the key to winning at Arkansas. It always has been. While there have been big-time players come in from out of state and have big careers, it's always come down to how many in-state players are Razorbacks and how many key players they can pluck from Texas. You fill in the gaps from other places.

Also look at the players on teams that have won at a high level. Bobby Petrino won with a bunch of wide receivers from inside Arkansas. You have to take some, though, that don't work out but it's how relationships are built within a fairly closed-in group of coaches that communicate with each other an awful lot. They've also pointed out players coming through their program that might develop.

Winners with the Razorbacks aren't built like they are at Georgia, Alabama or Ohio State. It matters for fans, who seem to be at the bottom of the equation these days in terms of interest everywhere in college athletics.

How losing one player to Missouri from Alma isn't the point. It's a long list of guys in-state heading north and it's been going on for a while. Either Drinkwitz is a better evaluator or has a better plan for winning games. All you have to do is look at the record.