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11.26.2021 SEASON SUCCESSES HELP FUTURE RECRUITING FOR HOGS In all honesty, Arkansas' 2022 football recruiting class was mostly taken care of during the summer and basically built on hope for the future and belief in Razorback head coach Sam Pittman and his staff. But a 7-4 mark, bowl eligibility and a chance to go 3-for-3 in trophy games headed into Friday's regular season finale with Missouri (6-5) has the Razorbacks looking good with some top 2023 prospects. "I think so," Pittman said. "Certainly, we're in the conversation with more kids that you might call higher stars, or whatever you evaluate. So, it has helped us tremendously. I think nationally, we've been on TV a bunch, national TV, but I think it's really helped in the state of Texas and the bordering states. "We had a good visit down in Louisiana with our coaches when we went there. We had a good visit in Alabama, I know they're not bordering. When we went out on the road, that Hog is pretty strong out there right now." Several top 2023 recruiting targets will be on hand for Friday's 2:30 game and then the Razorbacks will head into hosting some official visitors the following two weekends. "I think we're going to be fine there," Pittman said. "We have several guys coming in. We don't have any officials this weekend. But we'll have a big weekend the week after this and the week after that. "But I think we'll have, just as the crowd is going to be that we are anticipating a bunch, a big number. I think we'll have a big number of kids. Obviously some cases they're still playing and then some cases Thanksgiving and not be able to come. But I think the numbers we have projected to come are pretty high." The Razorbacks have a trio of 2023 pledges in four-star tights ends Shamar Easter (6- 5, 225) of Ashdown and Jaden Hamm (6-6, 225) of Eudora, Kan., along with Bentonville offensive lineman Joey S'ua. Arkansas appears to be in great shape with a pair of Texas junior standouts in Fort Worth Nolan Catholic defensive end Kaleb James (6-5, 250) and Temple, Texas defensive back Naeten Mitchell (5-11, 175). Both attended a pair of Arkansas games this season with James announcing a top six of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Baylor and SMU earlier this week. James recorded 95 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 33 quarterback hurries, 4 recovered fumbles and 2 forced fumbles this season. Some of the top juniors expected to be on hand for Friday's game include Garland (Texas) Naaman Forest offensive lineman Markis Deal (6-4, 290), Coppell, Texas cornerback Braxton Myers (6-1, 185), Rock Island (Ill.) Alleman offensive lineman Charles Jaguash (6-6, 308) and Platte City (Mo.) defensive end Chandavian Bradley (6-5, 210). Pine Bluff sophomore defensive end/tight end Charleston Collins (6-5, 260) is an in-state prospect who is planning to be at the game. Arkansas will face a couple of former Fayetteville High standouts in wide receiver Barrett Bannister and defensive lineman Akial Byers. They were recruited before Pittman took over, but he made it clear earlier this week that he wants to keep the best in-state talent in Arkansas. "They are good players, but I cannot really speak on what happened with recruiting when I wasn't here," Pittman said. "We don't want to let our good ones leave the state and go play for somebody else, especially a team we would consider a rival game for us." There will be little rest for Arkansas coaches after Friday's game as a contact recruiting period opens Sunday and runs through Dec. 13 that will allow them to see pledges and other recruiting targets for home visits. The Razorbacks will also be available to host official visitors on the weekends of Dec. 3-5 and Dec. 10-12 with the number brought in likely to increase if any current players enter the transfer portal. Arkansas is scheduled to have at least one official visitor that first weekend in Kennesaw (Ga.) North Cobb wide receiver Sam Mbake (6-3, 205), who plans to make his college choice public at the All-American Bowl on Jan. 8. M'bake, also looking at Georgia, Florida, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Arizona State, Colorado and others, is looked upon as as a big, physical receiver in the mold of current Razorback star Treylon Burks. A quartet of Razorback pledges are also playing in the game with Fayetteville wide receiver Isaiah Sategna (5-11, 170), Maumelle offensive lineman Andrew Chamblee (6-6, 284), Belleville, Mich., defensive back Myles Rowser (6-1, 185) and long snapper Eli Stein (6-3, 215) of Cambridge, Wisc., all earning invites. The early signing period runs from Dec. 15-17 with most of Arkansas' 20 commitments set to ink their national letters of intent during that time. Some 15 of those pledges are expected to be early enrollees and on campus on Jan. 17 and able to go through off-season conditioning and spring practice. COMMENTARY DUDLEY E. DAWSON HOW WE SEE IT MISSOURI VS. ARKANSAS Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Justin Cunningham Running back Darien Bennett, who sat out this season after transferring from Jacksonville, is one of the state's top 2023 prospects. https://subscribe.wehco.com/nwadg/hawgs/ CLAY HENRY HAWGS ILLUSTRATED The Arkansas linebackers — as coached by Mizzou grad Michael Scherer — will be the difference. The Tigers don't stop the run as well as the Razorbacks. Arkansas, 34-17. DUDLEY E. DAWSON HAWGS ILLUSTRATED Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman and his staff have literally brought the Razorback football program back to life. The Hogs check another box in the regular season finale, which still should be dubbed ArMogeddon. Arkansas, 31-17. MATT JONES WHOLE HOG SPORTS Missouri has one of the SEC's worst defenses and its offense centers around the run game — an Arkansas strength. If the Razorbacks show the same focus they did at Alabama, they will end the regular season as an eight-win team. Arkansas is as motivated to end the Mizzou losing streak as it was its other trophy games. Arkansas 38-21. BART POHLMAN SPORT & STORY Arkansas has a chance to hit the eight-win mark in the regular seasons for the first time since 2011. The Hogs will get the win, and get some long- awaited revenge on Mizzou. This one might be a mismatch. Arkansas, 38-13. TOMMY CRAFT ESPN ARKANSAS Missouri is playing its best football, but Arkansas is clearly the better team. The Hogs can run the football and that will keep it from becoming a shootout. Arkansas, 38-21. TYE RICHARDSON ESPN ARKANSAS Sam Pittman continues to give fans hope. The Hogs don't wilt under pressure anymore. KJ Jefferson helps the Hogs flip the script against the Tigers. Arkansas, 45-24. SCOTTIE BORDELON WHOLE HOG SPORTS It would be silly to think Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz won't have a few tricks up his sleeve for this game. It's in his nature, and he wants his program to be a thorn in the side of Arkansas. I expect the Tigers to give the Razorbacks more of a game than most. Missouri blitzes a lot, so Arkansas will have to be prepared for that. The Razorbacks, though, should be able to find nice balance on offense and limit explosive plays defensively. Arkansas, 38-28. The Best Gutters You Will Ever Have. Period. 479-221-9599 | 888-419-4906 www.leafguardandmore.com Fall = Clogged Gutters Football LeafGuard brand by Englert is the original and only one- piece gutter system, with a built-in hood that covers the gutter bottom and deflects leaves and other debris. 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