Ok...as I promised...I went back through Rivals (back to 2002) and compiled 2 lists.
1. In-state players that were Rivals 4* or higher (considered elite by Rivals)
2. In-state players that ended up having "elite" careers (some in college...some on NFL). I considered anyone "elite" if they were all-conference in a major conference, drafted in the top 4 rounds of the NFL...or had a good NFL career. (Yes...some of this is subjective).
I'm sure I missed some...especially some Arkansas kids who played for another team other than Arkansas...but this should be somewhat close.
As for what Rivals considers "elite"...here's where Arkansas stacks up:
10 RB
9 WR
7 QB
6 DT
5 TE
5 OL
3 DB
2 DE
2 LB
Notice the numbers on DBs and LBs...two areas where we normally seem to be lacking in elite talent. Matter of fact...I don't think we've had a single "elite" LB from Arkansas who actually stuck at the LB position in the past 13 years.
Now...here's the actual "elite" numbers post career:
5 WR
4 RB
3 TE
3 OL
2 DT
2 QB
2 DE
1 LB
1DB
1 K
Notice...no elite in-state DB's that attended Arkansas...and 1 elite LB (Spaight). Says a lot. Also...the OL elite numbers aren't good. Thank goodness for Pittman and his out-of-state elite OL recruiting.
1. Rivals Elites (4* or higher)
2016
McTelvin Agim - DE (4*)
Damarea Crockett - RB (4*)
2015
CJ O’Grady – TE
Ty Storey – QB
Will Gragg – TE
Jamario Bell – DE
KJ Hill – WR
2014
Josh Frazier – DT
Bijhon Jackson – DT
2013
Hunter Henry – TE
Altee Tenpenny – RB
2012
Zac Brooks – RB
Jalen Cobb – WR
2011
Brandon Allen – QB
Kiehl Frazier – QB
Brey Cook – OL
2010
Michael Dyer – RB
Anterio Sloan – DB
Byran Jones – DT
2009
Darius Winston – DB
Colby Berna – OL
Derek Johnson – DT
2008
De’Anthony Curtis – RB
Tyler Wilson – QB
Joe Adams – WR
Matt Hall – OL
Jarius Wright – WR
2007
Lee Ziemba – OL
Kodi Burns – QB
DJ Williams – TE
Broderick Green – RB
Grant Freeman – TE
2006
Mitch Mustain – QB
Ryan Mallett - QB (Texas...but lived in Arkansas)
Damian Williams – WR
Van Stumon – LB / FB
Jim Hart – OL
2005
Darren McFadden – ATH / RB
Kevin Thornton – DB
Slick Shelley – WR
2004
Peyton Hillis – RB
Matt Stoltz – LB
Fred Bledsoe – DT
Cedric Logan – WR
2003
Farod Jackson – RB
Bret Smith – WR
2002
Chris Baker – WR
De’Angelo Williams – RB
Greg Jones – DT
2. Actually Had Elite Career
2013
Hunter Henry – TE (4*)
Martrell Spaight - LB (JUCO)
(Brooks Ellis – LB 3* has a chance...but not counting him yet)
2012
Kenneth Dixon – RB (3*) (Doak Walker and Maxell Award list…listed as a possible top 10 RB this year and draft pick) this is a maybe...not counting him yet.
2011
Brandon Allen – QB (4*) would have to have an unbelievable year...not counting him yet.
2010
Michael Dyer – RB (5*)
Zach Hocker – K (2*)
2009
None
2008
Tyler Wilson – QB (4*)
Joe Adams – WR (4*)
Jarius Wright – WR (4*)
Greg Childs – WR (3*)
Chris Gragg – TE (2*)
2007
Lee Ziemba – OL (4*)
DJ Williams – TE (4*)
Jake Bequette – DE (3*)
2006
Damian Williams – WR (4*)
Ryan Mallett - QB (5*) (Texas...but lived in Arkansas)
2005
Darren McFadden – RB (5*)
Mitch Petrus – OL (unrated)
2004
Peyton Hillis – RB (4*)
Marcus Monk – WR (3*) (almost…injury probably stopped him)
Jamaal Anderson – DE (2*)
Jonathan Luigs – OL (unrated)
2003
Marcus Harrison – DT (3*)
Keith Jackson Jr. – DT (3*) (borderline)
Tyrell Johnson – DB (2*)
2002
De’Angelo Williams – RB (4*)
1. In-state players that were Rivals 4* or higher (considered elite by Rivals)
2. In-state players that ended up having "elite" careers (some in college...some on NFL). I considered anyone "elite" if they were all-conference in a major conference, drafted in the top 4 rounds of the NFL...or had a good NFL career. (Yes...some of this is subjective).
I'm sure I missed some...especially some Arkansas kids who played for another team other than Arkansas...but this should be somewhat close.
As for what Rivals considers "elite"...here's where Arkansas stacks up:
10 RB
9 WR
7 QB
6 DT
5 TE
5 OL
3 DB
2 DE
2 LB
Notice the numbers on DBs and LBs...two areas where we normally seem to be lacking in elite talent. Matter of fact...I don't think we've had a single "elite" LB from Arkansas who actually stuck at the LB position in the past 13 years.
Now...here's the actual "elite" numbers post career:
5 WR
4 RB
3 TE
3 OL
2 DT
2 QB
2 DE
1 LB
1DB
1 K
Notice...no elite in-state DB's that attended Arkansas...and 1 elite LB (Spaight). Says a lot. Also...the OL elite numbers aren't good. Thank goodness for Pittman and his out-of-state elite OL recruiting.
1. Rivals Elites (4* or higher)
2016
McTelvin Agim - DE (4*)
Damarea Crockett - RB (4*)
2015
CJ O’Grady – TE
Ty Storey – QB
Will Gragg – TE
Jamario Bell – DE
KJ Hill – WR
2014
Josh Frazier – DT
Bijhon Jackson – DT
2013
Hunter Henry – TE
Altee Tenpenny – RB
2012
Zac Brooks – RB
Jalen Cobb – WR
2011
Brandon Allen – QB
Kiehl Frazier – QB
Brey Cook – OL
2010
Michael Dyer – RB
Anterio Sloan – DB
Byran Jones – DT
2009
Darius Winston – DB
Colby Berna – OL
Derek Johnson – DT
2008
De’Anthony Curtis – RB
Tyler Wilson – QB
Joe Adams – WR
Matt Hall – OL
Jarius Wright – WR
2007
Lee Ziemba – OL
Kodi Burns – QB
DJ Williams – TE
Broderick Green – RB
Grant Freeman – TE
2006
Mitch Mustain – QB
Ryan Mallett - QB (Texas...but lived in Arkansas)
Damian Williams – WR
Van Stumon – LB / FB
Jim Hart – OL
2005
Darren McFadden – ATH / RB
Kevin Thornton – DB
Slick Shelley – WR
2004
Peyton Hillis – RB
Matt Stoltz – LB
Fred Bledsoe – DT
Cedric Logan – WR
2003
Farod Jackson – RB
Bret Smith – WR
2002
Chris Baker – WR
De’Angelo Williams – RB
Greg Jones – DT
2. Actually Had Elite Career
2013
Hunter Henry – TE (4*)
Martrell Spaight - LB (JUCO)
(Brooks Ellis – LB 3* has a chance...but not counting him yet)
2012
Kenneth Dixon – RB (3*) (Doak Walker and Maxell Award list…listed as a possible top 10 RB this year and draft pick) this is a maybe...not counting him yet.
2011
Brandon Allen – QB (4*) would have to have an unbelievable year...not counting him yet.
2010
Michael Dyer – RB (5*)
Zach Hocker – K (2*)
2009
None
2008
Tyler Wilson – QB (4*)
Joe Adams – WR (4*)
Jarius Wright – WR (4*)
Greg Childs – WR (3*)
Chris Gragg – TE (2*)
2007
Lee Ziemba – OL (4*)
DJ Williams – TE (4*)
Jake Bequette – DE (3*)
2006
Damian Williams – WR (4*)
Ryan Mallett - QB (5*) (Texas...but lived in Arkansas)
2005
Darren McFadden – RB (5*)
Mitch Petrus – OL (unrated)
2004
Peyton Hillis – RB (4*)
Marcus Monk – WR (3*) (almost…injury probably stopped him)
Jamaal Anderson – DE (2*)
Jonathan Luigs – OL (unrated)
2003
Marcus Harrison – DT (3*)
Keith Jackson Jr. – DT (3*) (borderline)
Tyrell Johnson – DB (2*)
2002
De’Angelo Williams – RB (4*)
