By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino ran through his list Wednesday afternoon, taking a position-by-position look at what the Razorbacks accomplished on national signing day.

They got their quarterback. Eight defensive linemen, too. Linebackers? Check. There were defensive backs and wide receivers to help with depth. And, the most pressing need, five offensive linemen.

“Since we’ve been here, I feel like this is the most complete (class) when you hit all the positions,” Petrino said during Wednesday’s press conference.

Arkansas’ 30-member class, which was unveiled Wednesday, won’t rank as high as many of its Southeastern Conference foes. But the Razorbacks were still brimming about their latest haul Wednesday.

Petrino believes help is arriving at every position — including the needs at critical spots like the offensive line and linebacker positions — as the Razorbacks try to build on their 10-3 season.

Rivals.com had the Razorbacks signing class ranked No. 24 in the nation on Tuesday night. Scout.com (No. 16) and ESPN (No. 18) both believe the Razorbacks secured enough talent to warrant a top 20 finish.

“Every coach is happy because every coach got a player,” Arkansas running backs coach/recruiting coordinator Tim Horton said. “So whether it’s running back or tight end or our defensive end spot really got some great depth, our interior defensive linemen. Our offensive line guys that we got. I mean, just like everybody, we feel real good about it.”

The Razorbacks signed players from 12 different states Wednesday, led by a seven-member Arkansas high school class. Petrino and the Razorbacks didn’t have to go far to sign most of them, either. Five of the seven in-state prospects played in Northwest Arkansas, including a trio of offensive linemen.

Springdale Har-Ber High’s Brey Cook (who is the highest-rated member of the group, according to Scout.com), Springdale High’s Mitch Smothers and Bentonville High’s Marcus Danenhauer stayed home.

“The thing I’m looking forward the most is just playing in front of Arkansas’ home crowd. I’ve been a Razorback fan all my life,” said Smothers, who is rated No. 66 on ESPNU’s top 150 in the 2011 class. “So having that opportunity is something I can’t wait to do. I’ve been dreaming of that day my whole life.”

Said Petrino: “To be able to get three offensive linemen from right up the street is something you can’t say enough about.”

But Arkansas spread out, too, pulling players from Texas, Virginia, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Florida, Arizona, Illinois, Maryland and, even, Canada.

Jeremy Crabtree, who is the senior coordinator for recruiting for ESPN, believes Arkansas’ 2010 success, which included the school’s first appearance in a Bowl Championship Series, contributed to the solid haul.

“Kids are attracted to winning,” Crabtree said Tuesday night. “Arkansas is starting to show that they’re more consistent and that they’re playing better games and bigger bowl games. Kids like to see trends in programs. Is the program on the upswing or on the downswing? And you can definitely take a look and see Arkansas is definitely making progress on the field and it makes it a little easier to go out there and win some of these SEC recruiting battles.”

Petrino said 13 of Arkansas’ 30-member class attended the program’s football camps. Many of them made verbal commitments before signing day, too, leaving the Razorbacks with little drama unfolding Wednesday.

Arkansas did lose tight end Chris Barnett (Hurst, Texas), who broke his verbal commitment and signed with Michigan. But Arkansas also gained a tight end when Andrew Peterson (Seagoville, Texas) chose the Razorbacks over Texas A&M and Utah.

The Razorbacks experienced another sigh of relief when defensive end Lonnie Gosha, a three-star prospect from Lake Butler, Fla., held onto his verbal commitment despite being courted heavily by Miami.

“That was a great get for us,” Horton said. “Any time you can go to the state of and go against the university of, whoever that may be, which we did on several of these kids, and beat them that’s good.

“We’ve got to beat those same people on Saturday.”

Gosha announced his choice during a ceremony at his school, which is 30 minutes north of Florida’s campus.

“It was real close, I would say 60-40 close,” Gosha told the Miami Herald. “On my visit [to Miami], I liked the campus but the surrounding of it, it didn’t really fit me. I am from Providence. It is a small country town outside of Lake Butler. When I went to Fayetteville, it was the same. So I felt comfortable.”

Five members of Arkansas’ class (Cook, receivers Quinta Funderburk and Marquel Wade, linebacker Tyler Gilbert and defensive tackle Robert Thomas) are on campus and will participate in spring drills. One more (offensive lineman Jason Peacock) is planning to enroll and arrive on campus later this month.

Petrino said some will help immediately, especially along the offensive line and at linebacker. Others will need time to develop before helping the Hogs.

But Arkansas believes each one will provide valuable contributions to the program during their careers.

“This class will be defined, like all of them are, two or three years down the road,” Horton said.

“But I think we’ll look back and say, ‘Boy, that was a really good class.’”

Ranking the Class
Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino believes Arkansas pulled in its most complete class during his tenure Wednesday. It could be ranked as his highest, too. Here’s a look at where Arkansas’ 30-member class ranked Wednesday night and how it compares to Petrino’s other three classes with the Razorbacks:
Rivals    Scout    ESPN
2011    24th    16th    18th
2010    49th    35th    NR
2009    16th    20th    20th
2008    36th    24th    18th