The NCAA is working on rules for recruiting under new recruiting restrictions and will take a vote this week on how to address them.
Arkansas coach Bret Bielema was asked on Wednesday whether the school is moving forward with the class that went in the top 10 for the 2019 class.
He said, “I don’t know if that’s the case.”
If you want to see where the NCAA is moving, you can check out our Top 25 recruiting classes for 2019.
The NCAA will vote on the new rules Thursday, and the committee will meet again on Friday to make any final decisions.
It is not yet clear how the new rule will affect Arkansas, which has been recruiting for two years now and has a class that could land in the Top 25 in the 2019 recruiting rankings.
The committee voted to allow it to do so, but the new criteria will have to be approved by the NCAA Board of Directors before the rule is adopted.
The new rules include an increase in the maximum recruiting scholarship for Division I athletes, as well as a new minimum of $20,000 in scholarship.
They also would allow for additional scholarships and incentives for players who sign with programs outside the top 25, which includes Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Missouri.
The maximum of $40,000 would also be allowed for scholarships for players from the Big 12, which also includes Oklahoma and Texas.
Arkansans could use the new system to attract more top-tier players, and Bielemema acknowledged that the system would help.
“It’s great for our football program,” he said.
“It’s good for our academics.
I think it’s going to be beneficial to the university.”
Bielema said the new requirements could have a negative effect on Arkansas’ football recruiting efforts.
“If the new recruiting rules were to be adopted, it’s not going to help us.
The coaches have to have some flexibility,” Bieleman said.”
They’re not going the traditional way of recruiting,” he added.
“If we’re going to take a different route, it would probably not have an impact on the recruiting.”
If Arkansas is moving toward recruiting for 2019, Bielemas will have more time to focus on the 2018 class.
The 2019 class is the most experienced Arkansas team since it went 10-3 in 2019.
The Razorbacks had an outstanding year with two first-team All-America selections and a second-team all-conference selection.
They also had two first round picks, two second rounders and a seventh-round pick.
Bielman said the 2017 class was “a huge year” for the program, with all-state quarterback Devante Palko, all-Pac-12 first-teamer Justin Thomas, three-time All-American and All-Pac 12 defensive back Malik Hooker and all-Big 12 second-year defensive end Jalen Reeves-Maybin among the recruits.
The 2018 class was led by five-star quarterback Malik McDowell, who was a first-round selection by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2018 NFL Draft.
McDowell was also a third-team selection by Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll.
Arkhams recruiting class was ranked in the nation in 2019, with eight first- and second-round selections and five first-year players.
The most experienced Razorbacks’ class of 2019 was led in 2019 by three-star wide receiver Jalen Roberts, who committed to Arkansas.
Roberts chose the Razorbacks over offers from Michigan, Texas, Ohio State and UCLA.
The team also had four-star linebacker Jalen Tabor, who chose the program over offers by Arizona, Oregon, USC, UCLA and Utah.
