Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema was the first coach to address the media during the Southeastern Conference’s 2017 spring meetings in Destin, Fla. No surprise among the first questions asked of the Razorback coach was the NCAA’s new signing day period and the SEC’s rules on graduate transfers.

One interesting nugget Bielema shared as his press conference began, he believes 70-90 percent of Arkansas’ recruiting class will sign during early signing day period.

“Let’s get married,” Bielema joked. “It lets you know where you stand with that kid (if they want to sign early).”

Bielema on any negatives of early signing day?

“Timing of it for certain states. Florida playing late in the calendar, Texas, too.”

Bielema’s thoughts on if new signing period will put pressure on recruits to make a decision:

“I say three things to recruits, this is the one time in your life it’s okay to be selfish. I also say the only pressure comes from within. No coach should be allowed to put pressure on a kid. Kids feel pressure, they make a decision they may regret.”

Bielema’s thoughts on graduate transfer rule:

“I witnessed it first-hand, obviously had a guy by the name of Russell Wilson (at Wisconsin) who changed our season. Was a very special player, in a very special situation… We needed help with depth; I didn’t know he was going to walk through the door and do what he did. So, I’ve seen that element of it.”

Bielema also said he believes the early signing period may force teams to be more cautious about offering prospects.

“I throw scholarships around like manhole covers, some people throw them like nickels,” Bielema joked.

Bielema on Frank Ragnow and why he prefers to recruit Northern offensive linemen:

“Not only is he one of the best centers in college football, he may be the best offensive lineman I’ve ever recruited, and he’s out of Minnesota. I saw a stat, the highest paid right tackle, right guard, and center in the NFL were three guys I’ve coached. They are the highest paid at their position. There’s one common denominator, they are all from the North. That’s the reason I go to Chicago, I go to Detriot, it’s to target offensive lineman just because I think they fit better into what we do.”