Pittman anticipates comebacks

During his media appearances this week, Coach Sam Pittman fielded more questions about his and the program’s future than about Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. game against Florida International, since the University of Arkansas football team lost to Auburn 48-10 last Saturday, knocking them out of bowl contention.

During his two media appearances on Wednesday, a 10-minute stint on the SEC coaches teleconference and his regular afternoon video conference with local reporters, Pittman was questioned about recruiting concerns, the transfer portal, and the possibility of keeping veterans who still have a COVID-19 year remaining.

Pittman expressed his belief that most athletes who have exceptional senior seasons left will accept them.

He said, “I really do.” “I predict that many of those guys will be here. They seem to have had some success, and they want to return and show that it is possible for us to have it once more. Thus, I believe that a sizable portion of those guys may return.”

The actual discussions on the portal and roster construction, according to Pittman, will start on Monday following the Razorbacks (3-7, 1-6 SEC) home game against No. 9 Missouri on November 24.

“You know, I always make fun of them when I pass by by asking, ‘What number would you like to switch to for next year?'” How’s your number doing? stated Pittman.

Among the players who could earn a bonus year are former walk-ons Hudson Clark, a senior safety, and Zach Williams, Nathan Bax, LaDarrius Bishop, and Cade Fortin, he mentioned explicitly.

There are a lot of players—probably eighteen—who have the potential to receive bonus years. They include quarterback KJ Jefferson, defensive backs like Dwight McGlothern and Clark, receivers Andrew Armstrong, Tyrone Broden, and Isaac TeSlaa, offensive linemen Brady Latham and Beaux Limmer, and defensive linemen Taurean Carter, Eric Gregory, and Keivie Rose.

Pittman added, “We haven’t spoken about that either with him.” in reference to Jefferson. “I believe that we believed this would be his final season coming into the season. However, I’m not sure of his current situation. As previously mentioned, the gateway won’t open until seven or eight days following our game or other event, so we’ll have plenty of time to meet down and discuss it.”

Pittman stated that he does not expect the kind of outflow that the Razorbacks went through the previous season.

“I knew there was going to be a lot … [but] I don’t see anything like a year ago,” he stated. If so, though, we’ll make the necessary adjustments. However, I don’t see anything comparable.

“The first thing we’re going to try to do is look at the plus-ones that obviously can help the team and things of that nature and talk to them and see if we can get that going.”

Zero requirements

Coach Sam Pittman described the present NIL money situation in college football as “wild” and said it needed to be fixed.

Pittman stated, “I’m not fine with it at all, the way it is now.” “If we’re going to be an NFL-type franchise, we probably ought to look at what the NFL is doing with their incoming [players] with caps.”

According to Pittman, NIL compensation is rising quickly based on his talks with others.

“It’s not Monopoly money, and so we’re in trouble — across the NCAA — because it’s not Monopoly,” he stated. “Real money is being distributed. Yes, I would support anyone imposing certain limitations on it.”

The Razorbacks could use more resources, according to Pittman, but they have none.

“It’s hard to know everybody’s budget,” he stated. “It’s difficult to say that because you really don’t know, but I don’t think our budget is as large as many of the SEC institutions. You never know where other children will go in order to enlist and what NIL can accomplish for them at other schools. And to be really honest with you, it’s much more than you could have imagined.”

KJ’s reason

The three-year team captain and quarterback KJ Jefferson has struggled to repeat his success from the previous two seasons. His statistics from 2021–22, including completion percentage, interceptions, touchdown passes, rushing touchdowns, and passing yards per game, are all below average.

“Well, I’m sure he’s been disappointed,” Sam Pittman, the coach, stated on Wednesday. “He feels good, if his leadership on the squad and his performance in practice are any indication. We haven’t been able to establish a steady rhythm this year, either when it comes to running the football or giving him enough time to throw the ball. I’m sure that has caused him a great deal of frustration. been, to be very honest, annoying for all of us.”

Defend Josh Braun claimed to have witnessed Jefferson’s excellent leadership.

“He has a lot of optimism,” Braun stated. “He arrives at work each day. In order to have the younger boys matured and prepared to perform whenever their number is called, he is attempting to guide them. I’m excited to see what he produces on Saturday.”

injury reports

According to Coach Sam Pittman’s comments, the Razorbacks’ few injured players—including right lineman Patrick Kutas and cornerback Jaylon Braxton, two starters—sound doubtful for Saturday’s game.

On November 4, Kutas sprained his high ankle versus Florida, and Braxton hurt his shoulder late in Saturday’s defeat to Auburn.

In addition, last week’s absences included cornerback Jaheim Singletary and defensive end Jashaud Stewart. Stewart has struggled with groin and hamstring strains throughout the season, and Singletary suffered an ankle twist during practice last week.

at-home conflict

In its last two home games, Arkansas has scored 13 points, with six of those points coming off turnovers that placed the offense in position for Cam Little to make a field goal.

“A lot of things” must happen, according to coach Sam Pittman, for the offense to settle into a rhythm.

“We’ve got to play better out on the edge,” he stated. “We need to improve our tackle game. We really have to. People must be made to miss us. Obviously, we need to improve our protection and take similar measures.

Something has to be changed. Naturally, during Florida, things changed, which was advantageous to us. On Saturday, we performed several comparable tasks with a few modifications. Florida had not have a week to prepare for it, therefore theirs was different.

We are not a club that can simply turn around and pass the ball at this point, like Auburn did to us, and expect to win. We are not there at this moment as we have been for the majority of the previous three years, particularly the last two.”

According to Pittman, the Razorbacks need to exploit gaps in the defense and force errors from opponents, like they did against Florida.

“We’ve got to continue to steal some yards and things of that nature, and get some what I might call ‘easy yards’ or ‘space yards,'” he stated. “Once we leave Earth, we must make someone miss us too, because we are being missed by others. To get some exciting plays, we need to take a somewhat different approach.”