Pittman: Latham among Hogs' top 5 linemen

Arkansas offensive lineman Brady Latham is shown during an August 2020 workout in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE — Not long ago, Brady Latham was thought of as perhaps the third option at right tackle, the backup to both Noah Gatlin and Dalton Wagner.

But over the course of a long preseason, things can change and players can make somewhat unexpected and significant jumps. That seems to be the case with Latham, a redshirt freshman, through nearly four weeks of fall camp.

As offensive line coach Brad Davis and head coach Sam Pittman continue searching for their top five up front with the 2020 season opener just two weeks away, Latham has entered the conversation in recent workouts. And he may have some staying power at left guard.

“We do believe that he’s one of our top five players and we’re trying to find a place to insert him into our line,” Pittman said Thursday following Arkansas’ night-time practice in Razorback Stadium. “We are trying to find a place for him because he’s physical, he’s mean, he’s athletic.

“He has feet and he has want-to. Those will take you a long way playing offensive line.”

Pittman added that Latham, who stands 6-5 and weighs 296 pounds, according to Arkansas’ roster, is not quite the size he would like for him to be at this point, but he is making up for it with fight and toughness.

In fact, the first-year head coach noted on his radio show Wednesday that the former Jenks, Okla., standout likely leads all players in fights started in team practices. Pittman is a fan of his aggressiveness.

“We don’t have a lot of fights and we’re not supposed to fight,” Pittman said. “But he’s a guy you’ve got to watch because he’s got a lot of strain to him.”

Latham saw the field in only three games as a true freshman — against Colorado State, Alabama and Mississippi State — and played seven snaps on the offensive line. Pittman guessed one of the reasons Latham did not play much in 2019 was his size, but he is “much bigger” this preseason, he added.

Latham’s leverage and football IQ has stood out to Pittman through 14 practices. He has not been repped at center, but could probably slide in there as well if need be.

“He can play. He's just a very good athlete,” Pittman said. “He is a little bit like Ricky Stromberg. Ricky can play several positions, and because they're smart."

Wagner, who started all 12 games at right tackle last season following Gatlin’s preseason ACL injury, believes Latham has made a fairly seamless transition from tackle to guard and has a firm grasp of the playbook.

“He's athletic, he's strong, he's quick,” Wagner said. “He's an unbelievable blocker. When he's in there in the inside, he's able to really get some guys moving. I think it's a good transition for him.

“He’ll make good headway this fall."

The Razorbacks’ preparations for No. 4 Georgia will begin next Friday, eight days from kickoff. Pittman is hoping to settle on his first-team offensive line after Wednesday’s practice, and Latham is very much in the mix.

Ty Clary, who has starting experience at both guard spots, and Luke Jones have worked at left guard this preseason as well.

“Right now,” Pittman said Thursday, “Latham is probably ahead of the other fellas, if we were to go today.”