Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Arkansas’ best recruiting classes for Bobby Petrino came right out of the gate. His first class in February 2008 coincided with a big upswing in Arkansas’s prep talent in the skill positions. Consider:

Jarius Wright.

Joe Adams.

Greg Childs.

Chris Gragg.

Tyler Wilson.

Seriously, it’s a big year when Arkansas produces ONE big-time college-ready receiver and the state produced four, plus a quarterback with height, mobility and a good arm.

And, these players all were exiting high school when Arkansas’ run-oriented head coach, Houston Nutt, was on the way out of Fayetteville, to be replaced by Petrino and his wide-open attack.

Talk about great timing.

Plus, another quarterback with deep ties to Arkansas and playing his high school football just across the border in Texarkana was ready to return home from a year at Michigan. Ryan Mallett was yet another part of that 2008 class.

We can toss in record-setting kick returner and part-time runner Dennis Johnson, too.

So, while many of Arkansas fans would like to believe that Bobby Petrino could wave a wand and coach anyone with two legs to wins galore in the Southeastern Conference, let’s also agree that the talent in Arkansas in 2007-08 was fortuitous for a pass-happy coach.