Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Arkansas lost to Ohio State 31-26 on Tuesday night in the Sugar Bowl and, once again, an opposing quarterback had a great game against the Razorbacks.

The Buckeyes had 338 yards of total offense and led 28-10 at intermission. Admittedly the quarterback on the opposing side, Terrelle Pryor, wasn't just any average quarterback. Pryor was a 5-star recruit coming out of high school and many considered him the best in the nation regardless of position that year. Arkansas entered the game knowing it had to contain Pryor's running and if he beat them with his arm then so be it. However, Pryor rushed for 115 yards on 15 carries and also passed for 221 yards and 2 touchdowns.

When Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino arrived at Arkansas on Dec. 12, 2007, he inherited a team thin on defense and thus has had to make that a priority each year in recruiting. While defensive coordinator Willy Robinson has been criticized by many, the truth is he didn't exactly inherit a full cupboard and the defense has gotten better each year he has been at Arkansas. The Razorbacks did hold Ohio State to a field goal in the second half and also contributed a safety.

However, no one disagrees that while Arkansas' offense will be very good in the future, the defense has to continue to improve. Many have felt that, while Arkansas' recruiting has improved tremendously under Petrino, most of the blue chippers were on the offensive side of the ball. That isn't true since the defensive line class last year was rated among the best in the nation, just as the secondary group that included 5-star cornerback Darius Winston was considered among the best the previous year.

The defensive headliner thus far in the Class of 2011 is Mansfield (Texas) Legacy cornerback Tevin Mitchel (6-foot, 175 pounds, 4.4 in the 40-yard dash). Rivals.com rates Mitchel a 4-star recruit and he chose the Razorbacks over Nebraska. Mitchel is the son of former Pine Bluff quarterback Eric Mitchel, who played his college football at Oklahoma. Mitchel's mother lives in Little Rock and is an avid Arkansas fan.

"There was no pressure on me to go to Arkansas," Mitchel said. "My parents just wanted me to go where I was the most comfortable. While my mother didn't put any pressure on me, I knew if I went to Arkansas it would make her very happy. My dad didn't care where I went as long as it wasn't OU."

Arkansas finished the season 10-3 and made it to the first BCS bowl game in school history. The outstanding season didn't go unnoticed by Mitchel.

"I think they did really good," Mitchel said. "They had a real good season."

Mitchel isn't the only new secondary addition to this class either. Green Cove Springs (Fla.) Clay cornerback Jared Singletary (5-10, 175, 4.5) is also slated to sign with Arkansas. Mitchel visited Arkansas on Dec. 10 weekend and Singletary is slated to be in Fayetteville on Jan. 14 for what is expected to be a really big weekend for the Razorbacks. In addition, Gilbert (Ariz.) Higley athlete Kelvin Fisher (5-11, 173, 4.5) can play in the secondary if that is where the coaches choose to play him. Fisher can play cornerback or safety, but also can play wide receiver or running back.

In addition, Bainbridge (Ga.) athlete Rohan Gaines (5-11, 178, 4.5) is committed and slated to play either safety or outside linebacker.

"I like how the coaches interacted with the players," Gaines said of Arkansas.

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