Arkansas coach Sam Pittman
• Very excited to be here. We're excited about the season getting started. We're going to miss one guy for the first couple of practices for a family reason. Other than that we'll be full go. We actually have one kid who is injured and won't start the season with us. We're ready to get rolling.
• Heading into Year 2 compared to last year: We're in much better shape. Had a much better offseason because we had more time. The continuity with our coordinators being back is going to benefit us. We know the kids better, and they know us better.
• Offseason gains for players: This is the biggest offseason gain I've been around. You'll see the difference in Treylon Burks and Jalen Catalon. There was a significant gain in strength and weights where we needed them.
• Marco Avant has had some surgery and his foot is not ready. He's the player who won't be ready to start the season.
• KJ Jefferson is No. 1 at QB heading into camp, and Malik Hornsby is No. 2. John Stephen Jones, we have to make sure we know who No. 3 is before we can decide who will push for the No. 2 spot. We need a solid No. 3.
• Wide receivers: De'Vion Warren is a guy who is healthy and has looked good. We're going to watch his rep count because of his injury. I've liked JD White and Jaquayln Crawford. We'd like to have nine guys. We feel like we need about that many to win SEC games.
• On the defensive line: We've added three guys from the portal who we feel are going to compete. I think the line in a nutshell has improved tremendously with their size. Zach Williams is 260 now after being at 225-230 last year. That room has to get better. They know that. They have to be consistent in their work ethic. They need a leader in that group who is going to lead by example.
• On playing old SWC teams early this fall: Those rivalries mean a lot for people who have followed this program for a while. Excited to get Rice in our stadium, and I'm sure they're excited about it, too. They're very physical on both sides of the ball and they'll do a lot of movement and things that will be difficult for us. With Texas, we have a lot of respect for that program and everybody is excited to get them in our stadium, including us. The Texas game won't be as significant if we don't beat Rice first.
• Position changes: We've moved Zach Zimos, but we did that in the spring. I can't think of any other changes. Even tackle- or center-wise, I can't think of any. Ty Clary will get some looks at center. He is starting Day 1 at right guard. Finding that backup center will be a big deal. I can't remember any moves we've made.
• Improving the run game in camp: We have to do a better job coaching the offensive line and tight ends, and certainly our running backs have to break more tackles. We're going to have a bigger emphasis on third-and-short and being able to run the ball. We're going to have a mindset that we're going to run the football and the defense knows we're going to run the ball and we'll see what we can get accomplished.
• Ty'kieast Crawford: Right now he's No. 3 at right tackle. Marcus Henderson is ahead of him. We expect him to battle for that position. He has the tools, but he wasn't in good enough shape in the spring. We're expecting him to compete for playing time.
• Jalen Catalon is a leader on the defense, and Simeon Blair works hard and is a leader, too. I think there's going to be some battles at corner. LaDarrius Bishop has a big-time opportunity to start. Him and Hudson Clark will have a battle there. We have to figure out who our best is. Barry Odom and Sam Carter have done a good job of mixing and matching back there. Malik Chavis and Myles Slusher have a chance, too. We're trying to find our two best corners - that's the first thing.
• Things you're looking for in Week 1: Team leadership. I want to see the guys push each other. The more the team can control the tempo, the strain of a practice, the better football team you're going to have. The expectations should be owned by the players. Coming out of the spring and going into the summer, we felt like the players were taking ownership of the team themselves.
We have to get the other team's offense behind the chains, too. On offense, we're going to make a big deal about running the ball on third-and-short and protecting the football. And we can't give up the number of sacks we allowed last year. They're negative plays, and we have to get rid of those.
• More on the defensive line: Eric Gregory, Isaiah Nichols, Zach Williams, Jashaud Stewart would probably be the starting line right now. We hope we can get into more four-down defense. The way we practice, we have two fields going basically all the time, so I think we'll find out who we have fairly fast. We're not going to start a player from the portal from Day 1, but if he's good then he might start on Day 2.
• Tight ends: We've got to have some guys come up behind Blake Kern and Hudson Henry. We have to find another tight end at least. I think we will, but that's concerning there because we're not a whole lot deeper than last year when we finished.
• Vaccination rate: I'm proud of our team. We're 90% on our football team and we're over 93% in our building. Last year, our team tweeted out, 'We want to play.' We didn't have the chance to get the vaccine. We just had to mask. I'm proud of the guys. They weren't forced to do it. It was their choice. I hope there's a day soon where we don't have to talk about the vaccine and we found a way to figure it out.
• Punt return: We've paired it down to who we think can do it. We have some new guys who have done it in high school and had success and have the moxie that you want back there. It may be a few weeks before we settle on who that guy is. You can block it up all you want, but if you can't make anybody miss, you're not going to scare anybody. We know what we need to do back there.
• I love this team and its mentally. We're tough and proud, and we love the state. That's not for recruiting, that's the truth. It's a confident group. You have to have success in whatever way that may be. I thought going into half against Georgia last year built some confidence in our program. I like the new guys we brought in and I'm very proud of the coaches we've brought in.
• On possible surprises: We have to find a No. 2 running back. Whoever that is, I think we'll talk a lot about him.
• This year going in, the unknowns of covid wears on you somewhat. Not a whole lot is super stressful right now. Our staff is very well prepared. I love what we're doing in our 25 days. I'm not too concerned about a whole lot of things, we just have to make sure we find guys at certain positions, like returners.
• Conditioning: We don't condition players when we're mad at them. Back (in the day) when we ran, it was like we ran a zillion yards and it was because we had a bad practice. We believe the way we practice is the way we transition. That's a lot of sprints. If our transitions are good, I feel like we're going to be in prime shape to compete. Part of your team's shape is its depth, too.
Treylon Burks
• I can say we'll be better just by how close we've gotten. We've started to link arms and we see each other as brothers.
• Conditioning: We put our trust in the nutritionists and it shows a bunch. We came in during the offseason and went hard. All of our numbers went up in the weight room.
• On De'Vion Warren: He came in and worked hard, and he wants it more with it being his last year. He looks bigger, stronger and faster.
• I'm at about 225-227 pounds.
• I just want the team to play its heart out for each other and not for themselves. With the other receivers, we have depth. It's incredible, and the freshmen are picking up new plays. It'll be a pretty good year just to watch them ball.
• Darin Turner, Bryce Stephens and Ketron Jackson: It takes time. If they keep their heads on straight, it'll happen for them. We just need them to keep working.
• On KJ Jefferson: I'm 100% confident in KJ. That's my guy, basically my blood. For him to come in in the Missouri game, it showed the defense and offense he can lead this team.
• On people saying he's the best WR in the SEC: It's good to hear, but I've still got a season ahead of me. It's assumptions people are making on me to go out and win. I hear it, but I don't let it get to me.
• On Jalen Catalon: When I run routes against the defense, I'm always looking out for him because I don't want to end up on one of his highlight tapes. I try to mimic what he does on defense but on the offensive side.
• On NIL: Once we got our deals, it was like, 'OK, we got that, but we've still got our team here.' From my standpoint, nobody has put the NIL thing before the team. Nobody is worried about who got what money.
• Growing as a leader: My last two years, I didn't talk much, but I've started to speak louder and address people who aren't giving us enough. I can say I'm starting to lead more by speaking.
Jalen Catalon
• This offseason we became close as a team and did activities with each other to build chemistry.
• The strength staff pushed us a lot this year. Everybody was attentive and ready to go. Our nutritionist made sure we were on top of things. We weren't afraid to ask questions and we took this seriously. All of that was good this year.
• On Warren: Hearing about his work, he's been a leader and hasn't let the injury stop him. I think he's going to be just as good as he was.
• I'm about 5-6 pounds heavier than I was last year and pushing the 200-pound mark.
• On Jefferson: The way he came in last year, he didn't get down when Feleipe Franks won the job. He soaked up all he could from Feleipe, and he showed everyone a glimpse of what he can be. I think the quarterback room is going to be real good this year.
• I think Treylon is the best WR in the league. All DBs want to go against him because he's going to be a guy to make us better. The whole receivers room is going to be good. There are a lot of guys who can step up this year.
• I'm not too worried about standings and what people are saying we're going to do. I know we've got a coach who's damn proud to be our coach, and we're ready to show it.
• I want to do what I can to lead my team and do my part. It has to be 11 guys doing one thing, not one guy doing 11 things.
• On NIL: It's great to have the chance to make some money off our name. We all have one goal, and that's to win this season. I don't see it being an issue in the locker room. I'm making sure I'm going to be where my feet are.
• I like to lead by example. I don't really like to speak up and say things, but Coach sat me down and he told me the team would respond to me in a different way. I took that challenge to be more vocal for the guys. I made that a focal point, to be out there talking. As much as you might want to get on somebody, you have to build them up just as much.
• On Grant Morgan: He's a leader and he was born to be a leader. Every time there's something that needs to be said, he knows what to say. What he did last year, he's not only a great leader but a great player. We have some key guys back, and we're super happy to have him back. He's always there to help us out.
• Jayden Johnson and Myles Slusher: Slush played a little bit last year. He has a bright future. He's flexible. He can play safety and corner. Jayden, he's big and physical and I can tell this spring he started coming along and was making plays. I'm excited to see what he's going to do in camp. Both guys will be key to our team this year.