FAYETTEVILLE - If a coach is going to win at Arkansas he has to evaluate well in recruiting and then maximize the production of players including even the higher-rated ones.

Trey Quinn " srcset="https://s3media.247sports.com/Uploads/Assets/678/906/6_7906678.jpg" data-src="https://s3media.247sports.com/Uploads/Assets/678/906/6_7906678.jpg" /> Trey Quinn went on to have career he expected at SMU after beginning at SEC school.

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And that is something Chad Morris and his staff did to perfection at SMU to go to 8-4 in the third year. Morris showed he could take lower-rated 3-star players, even 2-star recruits, and develop them as well as know how to utilize a 4-star standout.

Trey Quinn, like many in Louisiana, dreamed of playing for LSU. The wide receiver signed with the Tigers out of Lake Charles Barbe. He was a 4-star recruit with a grade of 96 with the 247Composite. He was the No. 11 wide receiver in the nation and No. 8 prospect in Louisiana as a senior in the Class of 2014.

In two seasons at LSU, Quinn caught 22 passes for 276 yards and no touchdowns. This season at SMU, Quinn caught 114 passes for 1,236 yards and 13 touchdowns. He showed why he was a 4-star recruit in high school.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Morris and his staff took a 3-star safety from Brenham (Texas) with a grade of 83 and developed him into one of the best wide receivers in the nation. This season, Courtland Sutton caught 68 passes for 1,085 yards and 12 touchdowns. Justin Stepp coaches wide receivers and provided the Mustangs with two of the better players at that position on one team in the nation at any level.

At SMU, Sutton caught 195 passes for 3,220 yards and 31 touchdowns. At least one NFL scout reportedly thinks that Sutton could be the first wide receiver taken in the 2018 NFL Draft. That is a sign of developing a player going from a low 3-star recruit to possibly the first player taken at his position in the NFL Draft.

It's not just wide receivers though. Running back Xavier Jones was a 3-star recruit with a grade of 80 coming out of Spring (Texas). This season Jones led the Mustangs with 1,075 yards rushing on 182 carries and scoring nine touchdowns. He also caught 14 passes for 84 yards. Jeff Traylor developed him into one of the most respected running backs in the nation.

Quarterback Ben Hicks was a 3-star with a grade of 85 from Waco (Texas) Midway. He had six reported offers in high school and chose SMU. This season the pro-style quarterback completed 276 of 472 passes for 3,569 yards and 33 touchdowns while also rushing for one. He only had 12 interceptions. Joe Craddock helped develop him into a very efficient quarterback.

At safety, Mikial Onu was a 3-star from Richmond (Texas) George Ranch who had a grade of 81. He finished the season with 105 tackles, two interceptions, one forced fumble and seven pass breakups.

Another defender was defensive end Justin Lawler who came out of Pottsboro (Texas) High School with a grade of 78 and a 2-star recruit. He was second on the team with 74 tackles along with 15.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles.

A skeptic might say but that wasn't in the SEC. It doesn't matter, developing players equates at any level. The SMU players were playing teams with the same level playing field they were facing in recruiting. These players and many others on the SMU team developed into some of the top prospects in their conference at their positions.

Developing players and good evaluation skills in recruiting are a must at Arkansas and it appears that is something Morris can excel.

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