FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman added two more first rounders to his resume Thursday.
Georgia offensive linemen Andrew Thomas (fourth overall, New York Giants) and Isaiah Wilson (29th overall, Tennessee Titans) were drafted during the first round of the NFL Draft. Pittman was the position coach for Thomas and Wilson the past three seasons at Georgia.
Thomas won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the SEC’s best offensive lineman in 2019.
Pittman has coached seven first-round linemen for at least one season, including six since 2013. Pittman has had 14 former linemen drafted during that time.
Other first rounders who were coached by Pittman include Arkansas’ Frank Ragnow and Georgia’s Isaiah Wynn in 2018; Tennessee’s Ju’Wuan James in 2014; North Carolina’s Jonathan Cooper in 2013; and Oklahoma’s Stockar McDougle in 2000.
Thomas, Wilson, Ragnow, Cooper and McDougle were recruited by Pittman, but prior to Thursday he had never coached a first-round lineman for his entire college career.
Pittman coached Ragnow, Wynn and Cooper for two seasons, and McDougle and James for one season.