FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman wrapped up his team’s training camp Wednesday evening, then made the short trip to the Catfish Hole for the season premiere of his weekly radio show.
It is clear the Razorbacks’ third-year coach likes the look of his team that is ranked 19th in the preseason Associated Press poll. Arkansas begins game preparation Thursday for its Sept. 3 season opener against No. 23 Cincinnati.
“There's not really what I call a weakness out there,” Pittman said of his team. “Some teams do and they have to hide them. We really don't have to hide right now.”
Not only do the Razorbacks have talent, they have want-to. Pittman indicated he has been happy with the effort shown in practice since preseason drills began Aug. 5.
“When we came to Arkansas, we wanted the folks, the fans to be able to go to the games…and leave feeling good about the Hogs,” Pittman said. “We're getting there. We're not there yet, but we're certainly headed in the right direction.”
As he has throughout the offseason, Pittman credited his team’s level of practice in large part to the return of Arkansas’ coordinators — Kendal Briles on offense, Barry Odom on defense and Scott Fountain on special teams — and strength and conditioning coach Jamil Walker. At least three of those men were approached about other jobs following the 2021 season, but all were given pay raises and elected to stay in Fayetteville.
Pittman said that by having the coordinators return, the Razorbacks did not have to work on new terminology in out-of-season practices. That allowed the team to practice better quicker in the spring and in the preseason.
“I think it's very, very important that you keep the people who talk to the most players,” Pittman said, “and if you look at your offensive coordinator, he talks the entire offense, defensive coordinator talks to the entire defense, special teams coordinator talks to everybody on the team, strength coach talks to everybody on the team. If you like them and you feel like they're elite in the country, it's very, very important to keep them.”
Pittman said it is also important for a team to believe in its quarterback. Arkansas has that kind of belief in second-year starter KJ Jefferson.
“He's our guy and they know he's going to be the difference in some games,” Pittman said. “So there’s a lot of respect. Now, you just don't walk out there…and he’s a starting quarterback and the whole entire team respects you. You have to earn that, and he certainly has by the way he works, by the way he acts.
“Whatever we're doing in the weight room, he's in the forefront and he's doing it and I think that's how you earn respect to your teammates. And then if you're a good player, it becomes easier at that point.”
Pittman praised his team’s leadership.
“They know what we expect,” Pittman said, “and to be honest with you, they expect it. That’s probably more powerful than it coming from us. They police their own team.”
Pittman reiterated that although his offensive line has been “beat up” in recent weeks, he expects those linemen who have missed practice or been limited to be back in the fold by the season opener.
“By Monday, I think we'll be in pretty good shape,” he said. “We've got a few injuries there but nothing that'll keep them out of the Cincinnati game.”
Arkansas returns four starting linemen — center Ricky Stromberg, guards Brady Latham and Beaux Limmer, and right tackle Dalton Wagner — from last year’s team that paved the way for a strong rushing attack. The Razorbacks averaged 227.8 yards per game, which ranked seventh nationally and was most among teams in a Power 5 conference.
“I think you have to start the mentality of your football program by the physicality of running the football,” Pittman said, “and that's with all 11 guys on the field.”
In the backfield, Pittman likes the versatility of his running back personnel that is likely to include sophomores Raheim “Rocket” Sanders and AJ Green, and freshman Rashod Dubinion against Cincinnati. Sophomore Dominique Johnson, who led the team with seven rushing touchdowns last season, returned to practice this week from off-season knee rehab and isn’t likely to play in the first two games, Pittman has said previously.
“They all have a little bit different game to them,” Pittman said of the running backs. “With Rocket, it's more of a speed guy, power guy. Dubinion can try to make you miss in a phone booth and he's got that kind of ability to him. And to be honest with you, AJ is a guy that's more of a speed guy.”
Pittman sounds excited about the contribution tight end Trey Knox will make to the run game. Knox has always been a willing blocker, Pittman said, but had to learn how to block after a position change from wide receiver early last season. That background should help him with the other elements of tight end play.
“I think his biggest development was that he believes now that he's a tight end and he can help our football team, but also he can have a future playing football after college,” Pittman said. “From what I'm seeing, he's bought into that position.”
Knox and safety Simeon Blair joined Pittman at the Catfish Hole. Blair described practicing against Knox.
“He’s always been a great blocker, but now he's 245 pounds of a blocker,” Blair said. “So that makes it even tougher, especially when he’s got those long arms. But he just doesn't block. He's a great receiver and he still has great hands. It's hard to stop him because it's a big-body frame that you have to go up against.”
Pittman continued his weeks-long praise of the wide receivers position, which was a concern heading into camp but has turned into a potential strength for the team. Transfers Jadon Haselwood (Oklahoma) and Matt Landers (Toledo) have added talent to the group, and Pittman said returners Warren Thompson and Ketron Jackson have improved since last season. Pittman is also excited about the freshman trio of Isaiah Sategna, Sam Mbake and Quincey McAdoo at the position.
“I really like that group,” Pittman said.
Defensively, Pittman is happy with the development of his linemen. He said the Razorbacks will enter the season with at least four interior linemen and four defensive ends.
He indicated defensive tackle Cam Ball has shown recent improvement and said defensive end Dorian Gerald is performing well. Gerald missed most of last season with a broken leg and did not practice in the spring.
“He splashes,” Pittman said of Gerald. “He makes plays out there.”
At linebacker, Pittman said the return of Bumper Pool has been important to the team. Pool led the Razorbacks with 125 tackles last season.
“He really has the team’s ear,” Pittman said. “I think he's a really good leader in there.”
Pittman didn’t waste words when describing the play of linebacker Drew Sanders, a transfer from Alabama.
“He’s really good,” Pittman said.
Among defensive backs, Pittman highlighted the practice of nickelback Myles Slusher and cornerbacks Hudson Clark, LaDarrius Bishop, Malik Chavis and LSU transfer Dwight McGlothern. He said the Razorbacks are deeper at cornerback than in past years.
“I do like our corners a lot better,” Pittman said. “I think we're able to do some more.”
Knox said he has been impressed by the defense’s ability to “diagnose a play before we even run it.”
“And it’s kind of annoying,” Knox said, “when this guy is saying, ‘Watch this route. Oh, he’s coming back over here. Oh, he’s motioning, coming back.’ And I’m like, ‘All right, you know the play. We get it.’
“But those guys are so cerebral and at times that helps a lot. Those guys run to the ball, and that’s a big thing that we focus on is getting to the ball. They are aggressive and they play the right way and they play football how it’s supposed to be played.”
The “right way,” Pittman said, is for every defender to run to the ball carrier.
“The expectation is that we need to see all 11 in the film and we run to the football,” Pittman said. “We play the game the right way and we'll see what happens, but I've really been impressed with with our defense.”
In a recent team meeting, Pittman said different players’ value to the team was discussed. He said he saw the most heads nod in agreement when kicker Cam Little was mentioned. Little was a Freshman All-American last season when he made 20 of 24 field goals.
“We are better in two-minute (offense) because of Cam Little, because the guys know if they get that ball around the 35, he’s going to make it,” Pittman said. “The team believes in him so much that he really impacts — he's got a lot of value for our team.”
Pittman indicated he has also been happy with his punters, returning starter Reid Bauer and Max Fletcher, a freshman from Australia.
“Max Fletcher is punting that ball almost back to Australia,” Pittman said. “He’s punting the heck out of it.”