FAYETTEVILLE — When asked for his thoughts on the four offensive linemen Arkansas signed on the first day of the early signing period Wednesday, Sam Pittman heaped praise on assistant coach Cody Kennedy.
In his first year leading the Razorbacks’ offensive line after Brad Davis’ departure for LSU, Kennedy was tasked during the regular season with navigating injuries to key players in center Ricky Stromberg and right tackle Dalton Wagner. Always armed with a plan for success, according to Pittman, he took great pride in identifying the correct fits and combinations to maximize the potential of his group each game.
It spearheaded a rushing attack that has averaged 217.3 yards per game, which is tied for 12th nationally.
Simultaneously, Kennedy, who was initially hired to coach tight ends, had an eye on the future. This week he helped the Razorbacks secure an offensive line class that includes a pair of 4-star talents and multiple players who could see snaps early in their career.
“I thought Coach Kennedy did an outstanding job of coaching this year, and then recruiting,” Pittman said. “That's part of your job description. You can't be a great coach and a terrible recruiter, and you can't be a good recruiter and a terrible coach. You have to be both, and that's what Coach Kennedy is.
“He proved it on the field and proved it in this signing class."
According to 247 Sports, three of Arkansas’ top six high school signees are offensive linemen, highlighted by 4-stars Andrew Chamblee of Maumelle and E’Marion Harris of Joe T. Robinson in Little Rock. Patrick Kutas, from Christian Brothers in Memphis, is the highest-rated 3-star lineman.
Duncan (S.C.) Byrnes offensive lineman Eli Henderson rounds out the class.
The second-year head coach spoke glowingly about Chamblee, the No. 2 prospect in Arkansas and nation’s No. 17 offensive tackle, according to 247 Sports. An ESPN 300 recruit, he has the potential to be a great player, Pittman noted.
During his senior season at Maumelle, Chamblee (6-6, 285) graded out at 91.9% and tallied 22.5 pancake blocks and 27.5 knockdowns.
“He has everything. Size, feet, all those things,” Pittman said. “We started with Chamblee and (there is) certainly a lot of talent there. He looks like what you're supposed to – a lot of length and he's athletic like you're supposed to be.”
Harris, the heftiest of the bunch at 6-7, 370 pounds, also graded well (86%) on the offensive line this fall during a Class 4A state championship run with the Senators. Joe T. Robinson defeated Shiloh Christian and linebacker signee Kaden Henley 42-14 on Dec. 11 in Little Rock.
Defensively, he had 61 tackles, including 28 for lost yardage, and forced 2 fumbles.
The son of former Arkansas defensive lineman Elliott Harris, he was rated the No. 3 player in the state and chose the Razorbacks over Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and other top programs.
“(Harris) moves very well,” Pittman said. “He had a really good state championship game for a huge person.”
Kutas (6-6, 303) was rated the nation’s No. 54 offensive tackle by Rivals and, like Harris, played on the defensive line, as well, finishing with 25 tackles and 2 sacks this season.
Pittman anticipates Kutas, who turned down Oregon and Texas A&M among other programs, to show well once arriving on campus as a result of playing for Christian Brothers head coach Thomas McDaniel.
“He’s got a really good high school coach,” Pittman said. “I think he's going to be ready. I think he'll play. (He’s) got the potential to play early in his career.”
Henderson (6-4, 290) brings versatility to the Razorbacks’ offensive line having played each position up front since joining his school's varsity team as a freshman. Pittman, however, has a plan in mind for Henderson, who committed to the program in August 2020.
He was rated the No. 6 center in the country, according to ESPN, and chose Arkansas over nearby Georgia and South Carolina.
“We got him because we think he's a center/guard,” said Pittman, who offered Henderson in his time with the Bulldogs.
“There's not one kid that we've got right now that I wouldn't have offered when I was the line coach at Georgia."