Out of Razorbacks baseball, football and basketball teams, which one wins the NCAA championship first? - Mickey
I'll say baseball because I think that program is the most competitive on an annual basis and because its coach, Dave Van Horn, is considered to be one of the best in the country by his peers. Arkansas has made it to the national semifinals twice since 2009 in baseball, while football and basketball haven't come close to that kind of success in decades.
I think any major program can win a title if it makes it into the postseason bracket, but it would take an unprecedented run for Arkansas to make it into the College Football Playoff. It's much easier for the basketball and baseball teams to make it into championship contention because of the size of their NCAA Tournament fields and the greater margin for error during their regular seasons.
Do you know if there will be any changes/updates made to the Arkansas uniforms for the 2017/18 football season? Also, are you aware of any throwback or special uniforms to be worn this season? - Matt
There might be some tweaks, but I wouldn't expect anything drastic to what you see most games. Bret Bielema has said to expect some sort of specialty uniform every year. The specifics of that are guarded.
Will our safeties finally be able to tackle spread quarterbacks this year? They missed a lot of tackles last year, but the ones missed when QBs ran for TDs (particularly the Mississippi State QB) really gripe me. - hogmodo
Clay Henry had a good article on this subject this week. I agree with him that it comes down to putting players in a good position, but there also is some instinct involved. The safety position probably is the most experienced of any at Arkansas, so they should be coachable. Can they be coached to take better angles on runners? That will be as much a key to their success as a better scheme. And, of course, better play in the front seven can take some pressure off the safeties.
Why is Bielema allowed to feed the media fluff and it just gets regurgitated to us like we're idiots? - JT
More context is needed to be able to fully answer your question. Generally speaking, I consider a lot of what every coach says to be fluff - it's called coach speak for a reason - but that's part of their job to accentuate their program's positives, and this time of year is talking season for football coaches as they try to build their team's confidence, sell season tickets and fundraise.
Sports are different than politics or other general news reporting where you often hear one side and another party has a chance for rebuttal. There isn't a lot of dissent about what a coach says in a news conference setting. You definitely aren't going to hear assistants or players disagree with a head coach's point of view, and those are the ones with the best perspectives.
As is the case with any leader, you are going to hear what a head coach has to say on a number of topics because of his or her position within a given program. It's their right to have that platform, just like it's your right to choose whether or not to believe it.
It's a reporter's job to differentiate between what is coach speak and what is newsworthy. I think our reporters on this site do a good job of having a critical eye and providing analysis based on their own observations rather than just a coach's word.
What, if any, were the current players' reaction to Brooks Ellis' interview on Bo Mattingly's show about the defense and collapses in the final two games last year? - Tucker
I don't know of any of the players making public comments about what Brooks said, but privately I've heard similar comments about a lack of buy-in to the defensive scheme last year. That's not surprising given how ineffective it was. Players are bound to question when something isn't working.
Is Arkansas recruiting the 7'4" Connor Vanover from Little Rock? I haven't heard much about him recently with all the talent in the state. - Mickey
Based on everything I've been told Arkansas is remaining in contact with him, but probably won't offer a scholarship.
Razorback Softball has won 29 games overall with 6 SEC wins. Is there an SEC Tournament and NCAA berth in the future? - Kevin
The SEC Tournament includes the top 10 teams, so three teams (Vanderbilt doesn't play softball) are excluded. There is thought that the league is so strong this season that some teams might make the NCAA field even if they are left out of the SEC Tournament.
Ultimately, NCAA Tournament berths are given to teams who are hot at the end of the season, and Arkansas has only 10 wins in its last 27 games. The series win over Tennessee was big, but being swept three times and a 2-5 SEC series record hurts.
The Razorbacks play Notre Dame out of conference this weekend, then host last-place Georgia in the regular season finale next weekend. I think those series are crucial for Arkansas to stock up some wins and potentially make the SEC Tournament. The Razorbacks would be the first team out of that field if the season ended today.
Is Aaliyah Wilson transferring from the women's basketball team? - Kevin
I've been told she won't be back.
Consistently hear Fayetteville is a hard place to recruit to. Beautiful area, great facilities, Fortune 500 companies - why the negative stigma? - Brendon
The biggest challenge in recruiting is that most of Arkansas' programs are not SEC heavyweights. The beauty and Fortune 500 companies are great for the chambers of commerce to tout, but I don't think a lot of 5-stars are making their decisions based on access to a hiking trail or a summer internship.
I hear travel listed as a reason some players don't visit Arkansas but that sounds like an excuse. There is a regional airport 20 minutes away from Fayetteville and an international airport less than two hours away in Tulsa.
Bottom line: win and recruits will find a way to you.
Will the kicking game be more consistent this year, particularly with field goals? - SoArkHog
It's hard to say because Cole Hedlund has always performed pretty well in practice but never has been as consistent in game action. I think the place-kicking duties are his to lose.
An early guess on next year's pitching staff? Are you familiar with any of the incoming class of pitchers? I assume Knight and Stephan will go pro. - JBuck
I think both probably will go pro. Knight is more likely to return because he has another year of leverage with pro teams, but there is belief that he could be a high-round pick and that kind of money is hard to turn down.
There was thought that Isaiah Campbell would be the Friday starter ahead of Knight if he had not been injured in the preseason. Campbell's injury didn't require Tommy John surgery, so barring another injury he should be ready for the start of next season.
Past that, I think it is a toss-up. Kacey Murphy and Jake Reindl probably would be starter candidates based on the way they have pitched this year.
Among the newcomers, 6-foot-8 right-hander Jackson Rutledge is a big draft prospect and the chances of him making it to campus don't look real strong. Daniel Tillo is a top JUCO prospect whose experience might put him in contention for early time on the mound.
Hunter Milligan and Dakota Bennett will be a couple of freshman left-handers to watch, granted neither goes pro first.
As an add on to Buck's question, please comment on Lucas Krull's prospects for the future. He definitely looks like a hoss. - Southpaw
Krull is 6-foot-7, left-handed and has a fastball in the low to mid 90s, but his lack of command caused him to redshirt. There is a lot of upside there once he can consistently put the ball over the plate. He'll draw MLB scouts to the ballpark.
Have a question for next week's mailbag? Email Matt Jones at mojones@nwadg.com.