Every time I think Arkansas' football coaching staff is set for this year, someone else leaves.
Clay Jennings has been Arkansas' secondary coach for two seasons, and according now to several reports, that will be it for him as he's chosen to leave town to join Charlie Strong's staff at Texas.
Arkansas' secondary showed marked improvement in Jennings' first season in 2014, which coincided with defensive coordinator Robb Smith's first season. Tevin Mitchel even became a surprise NFL draft pick. However, the secondary fell back in 2015, although I attribute that as much to a lesser pass rush and struggles at linebacker as to lesser production from the secondary. Regardless, teams who could throw on Arkansas, did.
Jennings has also been one of the lead recruiters in Texas for the Hogs. He's credited with landing prospects such as Nate Dalton, Willie Sykes, Micahh Smith, and as one of the several recruiters who went in on Devwah Whaley.
Since Arkansas also lost Jemal Singleton to the NFL, the Hogs will have two new representatives recruiting the Lone Star State this year. Obviously, whoever Bret Bielema can find to replace Jennings will go a long way to knowing how much of an impact the turnover among Texas recruiters will have.
Jennings is the third Arkansas assistant to leave the program this offseason. Offensive line coach Sam Pittman left for Georgia while running backs coach Singleton left for the Indianapolis Colts. Wide receivers coach Michael Smith was in talks with LSU and defensive line coach Rory Segrest with the Philadelphia Eagles, but both decided to stay in Fayetteville.