Bret Bielema likes the SEC. And apparently, prospects like having him there.

Bielema told reporters this week he’s landed the best two recruiting classes of his career at Arkansas. That’s quite the admission considering his Wisconsin teams won three straight Big Ten titles. The Razorbacks landed JUCO commit Jeremiah Ledbetter on Wednesday, a solid addition to a deep defensive line.

At 6-6, the Hogs’s second-year head coach said the 2014 campaign isn’t to be considered a “giant success,” urging Arkansas fans not to be satisfied with mediocrity. Bielema clearly is not, and he’s on pace to bring another strong class to Fayetteville.

OFFENSE: A- (11 total commits)

Offensive commitments include three four-star tight ends — Will Gragg, Jamario Bell and C.J. O’Grady — along with four-star wide receiver K.J. Hill and four-star quarterback Ty Storey. All five prospects are in-state, a huge step for Bielema’s recruiting plan at Arkansas. Hill and the trio of tight ends add talent to the skill positions, an area in which the Razorbacks were thin in 2014. Gragg, Bell, O’Grady, Hill and Storey all are solid with Arkansas, and could have an immediate impact in Fayetteville.

DEFENSE: C (5 total commits)

The diamonds of the defensive verbal commits are four-star defensive tackle Hjalte Froholdt and the aforementioned Ledbetter. Both massive players, Froholdt and Ledbetter are set to join a defensive line that loses leader Trey Flowers, but returns standout pass rushers Darius Philon, JaMichael Winston and Taiwan Johnson. Arkansas needs help in the secondary, however. A combination of youth and inexperience caused issues in the defensive backfield in 2014. Arkansas only has one secondary prospect thus far, a hometown kid, Dre Greenlaw.

RECRUITING NEEDS

Entering the dead period this week, Arkansas sits in great shape on the offensive side of the ball, with several key pickups that could have an impact early in spring ball. Bielema and defensive coordinator Robb Smith need pieces still on the defensive side of the football, and are counting on a big January to bring in some pieces on defense.

The Hogs will be a more mature team next season, but there are spots in which some of these prospects could have an immediate impact.