Hog Football Recruiting Update

The final weekend before signing day brought some disappointing news for Hog fans.

Courtney Gardner, 4 star WR from California visited Oklahoma over the weekend. He committed to the Hogs back in November, but seems to be re-thinking that decision. Rumor is that he is going to end up being a Sooner, but officially he is saying he'll announce his final decision on signing day.

Dorial Green-Beckham from Missouri, heralded at the most talented receiver in this years class, will make his announcement Wednesday during ESPN-U's signing day special. He took his final visit this past weekend to Mizzou and is considering Alabama, Arkansas, Texas and his home state Tigers. Coach Petrino had to cancel an in-home visit with Green-Beckham last week due to a situation where the two ran into each other in San Antonio before the Army High School All-Star game. Although, technically, no NCAA rules were broken the UA decided to play it safe and cancel the scheduled visit because NCAA rules state coaches can only have contact with recruits once per week. The UA issued the following statement about the issue.

""No violation occurred and we are taking proactive steps we feel necessary to avoid any risk of one.""

Vin Ascolese, a 220lb All-American Linebacker from New Jersey has committed to the Hogs. Acsolese recorded 134 tackles (57 for negative yardage), 11 sacks, 8 forced fumbles and 2 picks in 2011 for North Bergen High School.

Florida LB Jakarri Thomas has decommitted from Arkansas and has pledged to Vanderbilt, according to his coach Ronnie Cottrell. Most Razorback insiders say this is not that big of a loss.

Scratch one from Arkansas' 2013 class. North Little Rock running back standout Altee Tenpenny has committed to Alabama. Tenpenny is expected to be one of the nations top recruits this time next year.

According to Rivals, the Hogs currently rank #39 with 22 commitments. 11th in the SEC. I know Petrino has done a great job the past two seasons, but I can't see how the Hogs are going to STAY in the upper tier of the conference with such low ranked recruiting classes. Other than after Petrino's first season, the Hogs have consistently been in the lower half of the league in the recruiting each year since he's been here. He must be REALLY coaching them boys up.