As many as 13 of Arkansas' 25 commitments in the 2010 recruiting class could end up on the defensive side of the ball (Photo by Larry Ash)
By Jimmy Carter
When it came time for Tulsa Booker T. Washington defensive lineman Calvin Barnett to choose his college destination, the 6-3, 330-pounder opted for an interesting location.
East Tulsa.
That’s what Garrick McGee – Arkansas’ assigned recruiter for the state of Oklahoma – dubs Fayetteville when selling the Hogs to Tulsa prospects. Apparently it’s working.
“That’s what I try to tell those guys in Tulsa,” McGee said. “It’s fortunate that we can use Tulsa as an in-state (city) because its only an hour and 40 minutes away from here. I’m a product of Oklahoma high school football. I have a passion for (the kids). I want to see them to succeed, because I was just like them.”
The relationship McGee – a Booker T. alum and former Oklahoma quarterback– established with Barnett was vital in helping the Razorbacks flip the Oklahoma State verbal commit and land one of the consensus top defensive tackles in the country. The Hogs’ new offensive coordinator softened the blow of a small in-state class by securing the signatures of five athletes from Oklahoma.
“There’s nothing like going and watching an Oklahoma high school football game and saying, ‘That used to be me. I was right out there,’” McGee said. “When you’re talking to the parents and the kids, at some point they get an appreciation for that. I really do care about your kid. I was just like your kid one day.”
The product Arkansas coaches are selling makes it easier to be straight-forward with recruits, McGee said.
“You know how coach (Petrino) is, there’s really no gray area,” McGee said. “It’s black-and-white with him. That’s how we approach recruiting. We tell them the truth. There are no games that we play with these kids. You can do that when you have what we have what we have to sell. This place is hot. We have the best facilities.”
Barnett is the highest-rated signee of a class coaches emphasized improving the Razorbacks’ defensive personnel with.
“That was certainly an emphasis,” coach Bobby Petrino said about defensive recruiting. “We have a bunch of young guys coming back, but we needed to add some guys that could come in and contribute right away.”
Barnett visited Arkansas Jan. 22-24 with teammate and fellow-Razorback commit Eric Bennett. The relationship McGee built with Barnett was enough to flip him to the Hogs on National Signing Day.
“Calvin is from my favorite high school, there’s no doubt about it,” McGee said. “There’s obviously a relationship there. I care about those kids. Those kids succeeding in life is really important to me. I believe that when you recruit a kid, it’s a relationship that’s going to last a lifetime. You’re not just going to play for me for four or five years and then it’s over.”
Building a relationship based on more than just football is a priority McGee said his father taught him a long time ago. It’s one of the main reasons the Hogs inked the No. 13 defensive tackle in the country, according to Rivals.com.
“Once you get around the football (aspect)…every coach comes in and says that,” McGee said. “But it gets to the point where the kid goes this guy really does care about my development and cares about me. I think that’s something that got Calvin to wake up and decide to come play for us.”
Barnett will have an opportunity to compete immediately on a defensive line looking to replace graduated senior Malcolm Sheppard. Defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said the talent in the recruiting class should help the defense make a “considerable” leap after the Razorbacks finished last in the SEC in total defense last season.
Barnett will have to compete with another highly-rated, signing-day commitment for playing time. Junction City’s Byran Jones (6-2, 310) chose the Razorbacks over Auburn and is one of only three four star Arkansas commits – along with Barnett and offensive lineman Cam Feldt – according to Rivals.com. The incoming defensive linemen will provide SEC-caliber size and athleticism to a defense lacking in those areas last season.
“You line up and take the field every Saturday and you’re wondering why your guys don’t look like their guys,” Robinson said. “We’re starting to look like that with D.D. Jones from last year. Now all the sudden you’ve got Byran Jones and (defensive end) LaCraig Brown. Every time I’ve seen LaCraig – and I’ve seen LaCraig (6-4, 288) three different times, once here on campus and twice in his home – he just continues to look like he’s gotten bigger every time.
“This is a great growth and size potential in this recruiting class.”
Bennett will start out at cornerback, although Petrino said the 5-11, 180-pounder’s playmaking abilities may warrant a role as a punt or kick returner. Bennett was one of four secondary players to sign with the Razorbacks. Daunte Carr (6-2, 195) and athletes Darrell Smith (6-3, 190) and Alan Turner (6-0, 185) will start their Arkansas careers at safety. The secondary will benefit from the upgrades on the defensive line.
“As linebackers and secondary, your help always starts up front,” Robinson said. “With the addition of these four or five defensive linemen and the fact that we’ve added so many athletes, we’re going to establish our depth even better in the secondary. But we’ve added some extremely good athletes on the defensive line.”
Signing a top-rated class only pays off if the coaching staff can develop the incoming talent, McGee said.
“What’s important here is that everyone here just signed a really good high school recruiting class,” McGee said. The development of these kids is what’s going to be important. Once they get on campus you’re getting them in the weight room, they’re growing up from being boys to being men. Their bodies are developing, their football techniques, they’re all developing. That’s what’s important.”
This class has the highly-rated defensive linemen to develop. The Razorbacks went out and signed the No. 3 defensive tackle class in the country, according to Rivals.com.
East Tulsa must have a pretty strong draw.