Ask Mike: Russell is Back, Reigning in NIL Agents & SEC Hoops is on Fire

Q. Our first question is from SGILES who asks: What is going on with Braylen Russell? How many times are they going to let him go into the portal and come back out of the portal? Did Sam screw up by letting him come back again and again?

A. From everything I’ve been told Braylen Russell has always wanted to be at Arkansas but he’s been pulled in different directions by outside forces. He did get an offer from Ole Miss but decided he’d rather be at Arkansas. He and Sam Pittman sat down to clear the air and Russell issued the following statement afterward.

“The love I have for Coach Pitt and the University of Arkansas is beyond words. With everything happening in my life, I initially lost sight of what truly matters . But through conversations with coach Pitt, I’ve regained perspective Thank you so much. I love you.”

The reactions to that have been all over the map. Some are supportive. Others reject the statement and think Pittman screw up by letting Russell come back. The bottom line is this. Only one person was in position to make that decision. He’s the one who met with Russell face-to-face and the decision he made was his.

Russell may have been confused off the field but not one time did that ever affect his play in a game. Arkansas would have not beaten Tennessee without him. He had the longest run of any of the team’s running backs (75 yds), he led the team in yards per carry, (6.5) AND HE NEVER ONE TIME FUMBLED THE BALL.

If the decision were mine I would have welcomed him back and I while I would not start him in the Liberty Bowl I would play the fool out of him in that game.

Q. “The Hawk” Hawkins says: I’m getting tired of these keyboard experts ripping every new player coming to Arkansas via the portal. They don’t have a clue about the new class. I don’t either but at least I’m willing to admit it.

A. Most of those taking shots at these portal gets don’t know a thing about them other than where they played and maybe a few stats. For those coming from mid major teams the chief complaint seems to be that they can’t possibly replace the position players that left because they have zero SEC experience. This seems to ignore the success of two of Arkansas most consistent receivers over the last two seasons, Andrew Armstrong and Isaac Teslaa.

The complaint against transfers from power four schools has to do with stats and a lack of playing time by some.

There are online media services that rate the current status of Arkansas’ 2025 portal class. They’re all over the map too. The only way this class will be properly evaluated rated is next fall when the season starts.

Q. Armon Abbe wants to know: Who is Arkansas biggest portal get so far?

A. I’d say Braylon Russell. I think getting him back was huge. The experts point to Oregon transfer offensive tackle Jac’ Qawn Mc Roy. He is massive at 6-8 and 375 pounds. He was a 4-star out of high school but redshirted at Oregon and did not play. Georgia Tech’s Corey Robinson II, 6-5, 305 and UCF center Caden Kitler, 6-3, 295 are considered the key in replacing three OL players who transferred out.

Q. Hawgredneck asks: Is the portal now closed? Somebody told me that Sunday was the last day for visits. Is this it for Arkansas? Thirteen new players when they lost over 20?

A. We are now in dead period for visits but coaches can continue to make phone contacts with players in the portal. There is a four day window starting January 1st where players can visit. Also players who participate in their team’s bowl game can also make visits after that game is played. We could see visits going on in various forms until mid January and maybe beyond that.

Arkansas had 23 transfer out. They’ve added 14, the latest an offensive lineman from Ole Miss. Otis Kirk tells me that 7 or 8 more will probably be added.

Q. PHaT says: There seem to be some under the table deals by teams in the SEC before the portal was open. What can be done to stop teams from making deals with players prior to the opening of the portal?

A. They’re going to have to reign in the agents. Some believe this issue will be largely resolved when the anticipated revenue sharing switch takes place next spring. The specifics have still not been approved but supposedly congressional legislation will be involved.

Q. Marty Byrde’s proxy says: More and more coaches are insinuating that there has been large scale tempering by various (one in particular) programs. When everything evens out in a few years will that program and coach have a target on their backs?

A. I’m guessing that you’re referring to Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss. It remains to be seen how revenue sharing will affect Ole Miss portal successes. All I will say about that is, Kiffin spent $20 million on last year’s portal class. Ole Miss bragged for months that it was gonna be in the SEC championship game make the playoffs. It didn’t happen. Kiffin spent all that money to get to the Gator Bowl.

Q. Lanny wants to know: Is the 12 team playoff a mistake? It’s not off to a good start. The round one games were all blowouts. Did the committee get the teams wrong?

A. That seems to be the consensus. I don’t agree. I think playing those games on the home field of the top seeds produced something we’ve never seen before. A huge home field advantage. If this continue to be the format I see the first round becoming a ho hum affair. Too many lopsided games with a declining interest from neutral fans.

Eventually one of two things will happen. Either the number of teams will be reduced to say eight with all games played at neutral sites or expand to 16 teams, get rid of first round byes and lay all games at neutral sites like we see in the NCAA basketball tournament,

Q. EddyLynn says: Vegas continues to favor Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl. They must not know much about freshman Will Hammond. A lot of Tech fans think he’s their best QB.

A. Tech’s starting QB is out for the bowl game after surgery. Will Hammonds is his true freshman backup. Here’s what Hog fans need to know. Against TCU Hammonds took over at QB out of the halftime dressing room. Tech was up 17-14 at the time. He took them on back-to-back scoring drives, throwing for one TD and running for the other. Tech lead 31-14. But TCU came back to take a 35-34 lead in the 4th quarter. Hammonds took Tech to the TCU 25 with 1:30 to go. They were in good shape to kick a field goal and maybe win the game but Hammonds fumbled. So he does have that hanging over him going into this bowl game.

Q. To basketball where TL Slaten says. I guess Nelly Davis is now hurt? Seems like our basketball team is jinxed. One guy comes back. Another goes out.

A. Much like the ankle injury to Jonas Adoo, Davis’ wrist seems to be a very slow recovery. Cal correctly assumed he could do without Davis in the NC A&T game so he will have almost two weeks to rest the wrist before the final tune up against Oakland before SEC play starts on January 4th at Tennessee.

Q. KyHog says: It was a good weekend for me. Big Blue Nation has shut up after Ohio State beat Kentucky by 20.

A. Arkansas fans are loving it here too. Number 4 Kentucky drops to 10th in the polls after losing big to an unranked team. But don’t get too excited. The Cats have a couple key players sitting out right now. They will be back business as usual when those players return.

Q. WVHogfan asks: Do you think SEC Basketball will be similar to football? That it will be so competitive that some great teams might not have enough conference wins to be invited to the big dance?

A. I don’t know about great teams but definitely some good teams will get left out. Right now there are 3 undefeated teams in the SEC. There are 5 with just one loss and 7 with two losses. That’s 15 of 16 SEC teams that are 10-2 or better. South Carolina is at the bottom and they’re 9-3. Right now the SEC is 169-22. That’s an 88% winning percentage.

In the latest ESPN poll 5 SEC teams are in the top 10 and 9 are ranked including Arkansas at number 23. Joe Lunardi says 13 SEC teams will make the tournament. If he’s right 3 good SEC teams will get left out. That’s just crazy.