Arkansas Football: Top 10 Recruiting Targets for the Razorbacks in 2011

As the college football season comes to a close, the recruiting process begins.

College football teams all over the country scramble to grab the best talent available with verbal commitments to improve their chances of winning a national championship.

The Arkansas Razorbacks are in the mix for some of the best high school players in the country as they attempt to fill positions vacated by departing players. Quarterback Ryan Mallett has declared for the NFL draft, so depending on the recruiting class, this could be a much different Razorback team that takes the field in 2011.

Here is a look at the top recruiting targets for the Razorbacks in 2011.

CB Tevin Mitchel

Mansfield (Texas) Legacy cornerback Tevin Mitchel (6'0", 175 pounds) is exactly what the Hogs need on defense.

Mitchel posted a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash and is a tenacious defender. He is listed as a 4-star recruit and considered to be one of the top prospects in the state. He is ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 6 defensive back recruit in the nation and would be a welcome addition to an improving Razorback defense.

He switched his verbal commitment from Nebraska to Arkansas after a December visit to Fayetteville, and it helps that his mother is a longtime Arkansas fan, currently residing in Little Rock.

OL Brey Cook

Springdale Har-Ber sensation offensive lineman Brey Cook will be an excellent coup for the Arkansas Razorbacks. He is a mid-term graduate, which will allow him to attend the 2011 spring practices with the Hogs and give him a leg up on the start to the season.

Cook is a 5-star recruit and ranked as the fourth best player in his position. He has the size to play the line along with surprising quickness and flexibility. Cook has the potential to be one of many talented linemen that could be playing Arkansas in 2011.

WR Quinta Funderburk

Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar Smith's Quinta Funderburk is a thrilling wide receiver that will fit in well on a quick strike, offensive-minded team.

Funderburk is a man among boys at 6'5" and 200 pounds and is considered a jump ball specialist.

He chose the Razorbacks over Michigan, Florida and West Virginia and will get a chance to contribute right away. He runs crisp routes and amazes with acrobatic catches. He can break tackles and outrun the field. He led his team in receptions with 46 for 982 yards and nine touchdowns.

QB Brandon Allen

With Ryan Mallett headed to the NFL, the Hogs have to start stocking up on quarterbacks. Three-star recruit Fayetteville quarterback Brandon Allen is a good place to start.

Allen is 6'2", 214 pounds and an excellent signal caller that rarely turns the ball over. Allen has completed 146 of 223 passes for 2,026 yards and 26 touchdowns during his senior season.

He is considered the No. 10 pro-style quarterback in the nation and No. 4 player in Arkansas, giving the hometown edge to the Hogs.

He is tough to sack and can unleash a accurate deep ball. Allen has the capability to learn and successfully execute the Hogs offense.

S Kelvin Fisher

Kelvin Fisher is a flexible and versatile athlete that would be a welcome addition to the Hogs. His primary position in high school has been safety, but he easily could fit into other skill positions or serve as a returner. Don't be surprised if the Hogs try him out as a running back or wide receiver as well.

Rated as a 4-star recruit, the only thing that he is lacking is size, which will come with his time in the weight room. Fisher is a “smart” football player that is on the wish list for the Hogs.

DT Mickey Johnson

Mickey Johnson is a terror on the defensive front. This defensive tackle is quick off the ball and a whiz at using his strength and leverage to attack the ball carrier. The Louisiana native will be hard to pull away from the LSU Tigers, but the Hogs are still in the running.

If Bobby Petrino can sway him away from the Bayou Bengals, he would be a good fit on the Arkansas defense.

TE Chris Barnett

The Hogs may have stolen away one of the best players in the state of Texas in tight end Chris Barnett.

At one point Barnett looked as though he was headed to Oklahoma, but he cancelled that decision with his sights set on Arkansas. Barnett has the potential to be one of the best tight ends in college football with the proper development.

At 6'6", 249 pounds, he has all of the right tools to chip in on offense with his blocking ability. He also runs great routes and will be a solid pass-catching option in Petrino’s offense.

DE Barron Dixon

Barron Dixon is a quick-footed defensive end out of Georgia who is clearly on the Arkansas radar. He has narrowed his choices down to Arkansas or Mississippi State, and the Hogs hope he makes the call to get on board.

He is tremendously quick and can stop the run and pressure the quarterback. At 6'4", 251 pounds, he can move well laterally and uses his hands properly to disengage from would-be blockers. He has the ability to play more than one spot on the line and would be a great find for the Hogs' improving defense.

DL Lonnie Gosha

Lonnie Gosha is a 4-star recruit out of Florida that comes in at 6'3", 245 pounds. He quickly committed to Florida State early in the spring only to revoke it, opening the door for Arkansas.

He is very knowledgeable of the game and not afraid of hard work, which will go over well with coaches. He is very strong and possesses tremendous lower body strength that allows him to clog lanes against opposing runners.

If the Hogs can pry him out of the state of Florida, it would be worth the hard work.

RB Kody Walker

Kody Walker is a 6'1", 225-pound running back who committed to Arkansas, shrugging off the Missouri Tigers. Walker is the No. 69-rated recruit in all of college football and will be a wonderful addition to the stable of quality running backs in Arkansas.

The No. 5 senior recruit in the state and the 29th-best running back in the nation piled up 2,281 yards and 26 touchdowns in his career.

The Hogs' recruiting class looks like it will be a success if they can land some of their highly coveted targets.

Matt Regaw is a B/R Featured Columnist and the founder of BookieBlitz.com, your one-stop shop for sports articles, previews and predictions. Feel free to contact Matt at [e-mail].