Razorbacks wide receivers coach Kenny Guiton at spring practice in March 2021. — (Andy Hodges / allHOGS Images)

Razorbacks Apparently Trying to Land Best WR, Not Fit Prototype

Three highly-touted commits don't all fit the size criteria which shows positive direction

Author:
Andy Hodges
Publish date:
Jul 6, 2023 12:02 AM EDT

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — As some of us figured, when Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said once they wanted to get big, strong wide receivers it was assumed that meant it wasn't a requirement, but a wish.

Their latest group of three committed players for the 2024 class don't all have that size criteria, but they all have speed and are good at catching passes and making plays. This brought back some memories for an old guy that saw an organization worry about the measurables more than being able to just play football well.

It goes back to the latter years of Tom Landry with the Dallas Cowboys and he had Drew Pearson on the coaching staff after the automobile accident that ruined his career. After being sent to look at some recruits, every one was rejected because they didn't fit Gil Brandt's list on "measurables" like height, weight or whatever. Pearson was astonished.

"The Cowboys need to just let me go look at a guy and see if he can run, catch and just play football," Pearson told some media folks strictly off the record. In those days, you didn't want to be on the record as a young coach being too critical. The result was predictable with a horrendous record over the last couple of years with players that had seen their best days or never were going to have good ones, but met all the "measurables."

The Razorbacks have one commitment, Courtney Crutchfield from Pine Bluff, who fits what everyone would like to have at 6-2, 175. It helps the Zebras' star can also play football pretty well. The others like Ashton Bethel-Roman (6-0.5, 165) and CJ Brown (6-0, 185) aren't big, but they can all play football pretty well and catch the ball. How many translate to the SEC we'll see.

What it does show is the point to all this: the Hogs are apparently putting a lot of stock into what assistants and Pittman himself see on film. Most of what they are probably looking for is can he play football or not.

That's a good thing. What's scary is if a staff starts looking at what they see on paper and not what they see someone do in games or practices with their own eyes and if somebody can play football or not. Pittman isn't going to do that.

The whole recruiting thing is that we never know for a few years if someone can play or not. It's not an exact science to begin with although you can spot greatness just by looking at someone in a practice (and even that's barring injuries or mental hangups). It's not looking at what's on paper.