Sam Pittman did not anticipate a mass withdrawal through the transfer

The Arkansas football team has had a difficult and disappointing season, but head coach Sam Pittman does not foresee a widespread departure from the roster through the transfer portal.

Despite the fact that Arkansas football’s season has fared below expectations, head coach Sam Pittman does not anticipate a major exodus from the team when the transfer portal window begins on December 4. Increasing NIL funding would undoubtedly support Arkansas’s endeavors as well.

More than two dozen Razorbacks entered the portal last season in quest of better opportunities, and as a result, Arkansas was severely short-handed in depth for its Liberty Bowl triumph over Kansas.

While Pittman was ready for some roster turnover at the time, he was not prepared for the volume when he instructed the media to “buckle up.” Although it is impossible to predict what will happen between now and January, the head hog appears to be optimistic for a less frantic portal season in terms of players leaving with the knowledge that some surprises will always occur.

“Man, even when I was buckling you up, I wasn’t ready for that express train,” Pittman said. “I anticipated a significant amount. I’m not sure. Although it’s not what I see, if it is, we’ll make the necessary adjustments. However, I don’t see anything comparable. First, we’re going to attempt to identify the team members that are clearly a plus and talk to them to see if we can start something along those lines.

There are always that one or two folks that make you think, ‘Man, I didn’t see that coming.’ You know it. Other than that, though, I think we know pretty basically. This early in the season, you can kind of tell who might enter the gateway and who might not by looking at things like mannerisms. Like every squad, I’m sure there will be a surprise.

As previously said, Pittman is hopeful that a sizable portion of the 18 possible super seniors who have an additional year of COVID eligibility may ultimately return. The first task will be to assess their status.

Pittman remarked, “I think we’ll have a high number of those guys.” “Obviously, everyone is dissatisfied with the way the season has gone, but it’s still not over. We have two crucial games coming up. However, based on how the squad has operated so far, I believe that the kids want to be here and don’t want to miss out. They wish to return and show that we can achieve it once more because they have experienced some success. Thus, I believe that a sizable portion of those guys may return.”

Despite giving some of the upperclassmen indications during practice, Pittman hasn’t advanced the schedule for those talks now that Arkansas has been formally disqualified from bowl consideration. It sounds like there will be a lot going on on Monday after Arkansas’s season finale versus Missouri.

Pittman remarked, “I mess with them when I walk by them.” What number would you like to switch to the following year, you know? How’s your number doing? I constantly make fun of Hudson Clark, for example, by asking him if he prefers Gatorade or water during practice. Merely toying with him. No, not really, though. All those things are still likely to happen on Monday following the Missouri game, in my opinion.

I’m guessing a lot will happen that day. As far as you know, we want to know who will enter the portal, who will stay, and all sorts of information. Usually, Monday is when that begins to happen. We also acknowledge that some children will access the portal, as will children from each team. We’ll wait till then, but we’ll see what transpires on that day.”