Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

National signing day at Arkansas was filled with the usual trumpeting of the players coaches hoped could come in and contribute right away.

In that regard it was no different than what any other coaching staff on any other college campus was doing that day.

Recruiting class recaps are all about reveling in potential, imagining what a player might one day do for a program.

Razorback coaches, offensive staff members in particular, were also celebrating something else that day in February. They were excited about three players who already had a history of contributing at the college level.

Keeping quarterback Tyler Wilson, running back Knile Davis and wide receiver Cobi Hamilton in Fayetteville provided the base of what figures to be an explosive offense this fall. All three are viewed among the top five players at their position this year, and they figure to be given strong consideration for preseason All-SEC teams.

“That’s a pretty good foundation,” offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said when asked about building the offense around Wilson, Davis and Hamilton. “They give you options as an offense. We’ve always been about feeding the studs.”

Davis, Wilson and Hamilton certainly qualify. They’re the most high profile names on an offense that seems to have no shortage of highly regarded players.

All three were good enough to receive varying levels of feedback from the NFL Draft advisory committee following last season. Wilson and Davis were seen as possible second-round picks. Hamilton’s projections weren’t quite that high, but he too was left with a decision to make.

Ultimately, the trio decided to return for another crack at winning the SEC West. By doing that, they figured, Arkansas would be in the hunt for a BCS National Title.

Hamilton, Davis and Wilson had their own individual reasons for returning, but the feeling that turning pro would leave them with unfinished business at Arkansas was the primary pull to return.

Wilson was speaking for himself, but summed up the sentiments of all three when asked why he stayed.

“There’s a lot left here to achieve,” he said. “We have the possibility to win a national championship. I have personal goals of records. I want to finish my degree. I want to get better as a football player. ... I felt this was something solid, something I know. I wanted to keep being a part of this.