Arkansas is off to a rough start in the Chad Morris era after falling to 1-2 with a 44-17 loss to North Texas last Saturday. The Razorbacks appear headed for one of their worst seasons in program history. There’s really not much to look forward to over the final eight games outside of how the young players develop.

Right now, Arkansas obviously doesn’t have enough talent to compete in the SEC. Things are made worse by the fact the coaching staff and most of the roster aren’t a fit meant for each other. (Even with these issues, the Hogs should be able to beat Colorado State and North Texas, but that’s a different story altogether).

There’s only one clear way to remedy these problems: recruiting. The good news for Arkansas fans is Morris and his staff have been far more effective in that effort than winning games.

The Razorbacks’ 19 commitments in the 2019 recruiting class have the group at No. 23 nationally, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. If they can maintain that ranking through the signing periods in December in February, the Hogs will match their second-best class within the past eight years. That would be an impressive feat with the on-field product being what it is. And, now that Arkansas’ staff is fully aware of what they have on campus, it’s more imperative than ever to push toward hitting that mark even as the losses pile up.

That won’t be easy, though. Plenty of programs will use — and probably already are using — the Hogs’ 2018 failures against them on the recruiting trail. That is going to put Arkansas’ relationship-based recruiting strategy to the test.

Led by Morris’ efforts, the staff has preached the importance of building relationships in recruiting from Day 1 in Fayetteville. That approach helps tremendously in situations such as the one Arkansas finds itself in now. Recruits aren’t as bothered by losses or as easily influenced by suddenly-interested programs if they have a close personal relationship with your program.

The losses may not be all bad for recruiting, either. Arkansas should be able to sell playing time with increased legitimacy as each week passes. Maybe that’s one reason 4 of the state’s top 9 recruits have committed to the Hogs. Hudson Henry, Hunter’s brother, is the top-rated tight end in the country and the top prospect in the state. He, too, has an offer from the Hogs.

That sales pitch can also help keep the current commits on board, a point the staff seems to be using already. Several of Arkansas’ commitments posted on Twitter a personalized graphic they received from the Hogs’ recruiting staff. The graphic featured a picture of Morris leading the Razorbacks unto the field with the statement: “Your time is coming.”

Here’s the way I read that message: “Please stick with us because after three games on the job we’re willing to say you can play very soon here.” I think it’s a wise move to get that message out quickly after such a loss. It would’ve been easy to sulk on an embarrassing 27-point defeat to a Conference USA opponent on your home field. Instead, the Hogs were sending out positive messages to recruits less than 24 hours after the defeat.

The push to keep things together in recruiting may very well be the only impressive thing we see from the Hogs this fall. But at least it’s something. And, more than anything else, that’s what will help them avoid a repeat of the wretchedness that is the 2018 season.