Arkansas’ Football Notebook

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ coaches are on the road recruiting offering prospects for several future classes.

The goal for Arkansas is turn the fortunes of the program around after Sam PIttman’s Hogs missed a bowl game for the first time during his time as head coach. They didn’t go to a bowl game in his first season, but that was only because TCU canceled due to COVID. Arkansas is 2-0 in bowl games under Pittman having defeated Penn State and Kansas.

Last year’s 4-8 was a definite step back for the program. But Pittman has since hired Bobby Petrino to run the offense and that is considered a huge plus. Eric Mateos has been brought in to coach the offensive line and Ronnie Fouch will have the wide receivers. Mateos worked under Pittman when he was the offensive line coach for Bret Bielema. Fouch worked with Petrino at both Louisville and Missouri State so all the new coaches shouldn’t need the normal adjustment period that might usually be required.

Petrino is the best playcaller in college football in this reporter’s opinion. Last season the play calling was predictable particularly until a change was made following the 7-3 loss to Mississippi State. Kenny Guiton replaced the fired Dan Enos and did the best he could under the circumstances and the Razorbacks did go 2-2 in that stretch including a road win at Florida.

Odd Twist Regarding Schedule

When the 2024 schedule was released and no Alabama was on there it was celebrated as a big break for Arkansas. However, since then, Nick Saban has retired and Alabama may be in a transition season this fall.

Oh make no mistake the Tide will be good, very good, but they will be in a transition year with a new head coach and staff. The Hogs would have gotten them at home so this might have been a good year to play them.

Once again the Razorbacks won’t play an SEC home game until October. The Hogs will get Tennessee in Razorback Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 5. That will be after they go to Auburn (Sept. 21) and Texas A&M (Sept. 28) in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The home schedule for Arkansas is an attractive one for fans if the Hogs can return to being competitive in Razorback Stadium. That was one of last season’s biggest mysteries how bad Pittman’s team played at home. In addition to the Mississippi State loss, they were blown out by Auburn and Missouri. Texas A&M counted as a home game, but was played in Arlington.

This season, in addition to Tennessee, Arkansas gets LSU (Oct. 19), Ole Miss (Nov. 2) and Texas (Nov. 16) in Fayetteville. Arkansas will have a bye week before both LSU and Texas.

In addition to Auburn and Texas A&M, the Razorbacks will go to Mississippi State (Oct. 26) and Missouri (Nov. 30).

Outside The SEC

Just like last season, Arkansas will open the season in Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium. The Razorbacks will face UAPB on Saturday, Aug. 31, to open the season.

The next week will feature a big non-conference game for Arkansas as they head to Stillwater to take on Oklahoma State on Sept. 7. Arkansas will play its first home game on Sept. 14 when UAB rolls into Fayetteville. The final non-conference game will be Saturday, Nov. 23, when Louisiana Tech comes to Fayetteville.

Spring Ball Will Produce Interesting Battles

For the first time in awhile, Arkansas will have a new starting quarterback and running back in 2024. Spring ball could help provide some answers there.

At quarterback, Boise State transfer Taylen Green and true freshman KJ Jackson will join the battle after enrolling at midterm. They will compete with Jacolby Criswell and Malachi Singleton, two holdovers from last season. Criswell served as the backup to KJ Jefferson in 2023 after transferring in from North Carolina.

In Pittman’s first season it was a given that Feleipe Franks would be the starter and same with Jefferson the past two seasons. Jefferson transferred to UCF following the 2023 season.

The same situation exists at running back after Raheim “Rocket” Sanders transferred to South Carolina. In addition, AJ Green transferred to Oklahoma State. Arkansas brought in Ja’Quinden Jackson from Utah and true freshman Braylen Russell from Benton at midterm. The returning running backs are Rashod Dubinion, Dominique Johnson and Isaiah Augustave.

Jefferson and Green were the leading rushers for Arkansas in 2023. Dubinion leads the returning backs having rushed 82 times for 260 yards and one touchdown. Augustave got to see action later in season. He finished with 35 carries for 202 yards and a touchdown. Johnson rushed 31 times for 167 yards and one touchdown.

The good news for the quarterback is Arkansas’ eight reception’s leaders are all back. Andrew Armstrong topped the team with 56 catches for 764 yards and five touchdowns. He is followed by Isaac TeSlaa (34-351-2), Luke Hasz (16-253-3), Jaedon Wilson (15-199, 2), Ty Washington (11-170-2), Isaiah Sategna (15-129-2), Tyrone Broden (15-109-3) and Dubinion (14-85-1).

Petrino will use them all and put all the wide receivers, tight ends and running backs in a position to succeed. Texas A&M transfer Jordan Anthony has blazing speed as does Krosse Johnson. Bentonville’s CJ Brown was a very nice addition at wide receiver from Bentonville. Ashton Bethel-Roman is a four-star wide receiver from Missouri City (Texas) Ridge Point who will arrive in late May or early June and could have an immediate impact.

Tight end Andreas Paaske transferred in from Eastern Michigan and is considered a blocker much like Nathan Bax and Francis Sherman.

Biggest Needs Remaining From Transfer Portal

There’s no doubt the Hogs need to add a few more recruits from the transfer portal following spring ball. At this time, they have two obvious needs. One is linebacker and the other is defensive tackle.

Arkansas has added one portal linebacker and three from high school to the Class of 2024. Georgia transfer Xavien Sorey Jr. is expected to make a very big impact. At this time, Arkansas hasn’t added an interior defensive lineman to the class. So they will need at least one and maybe two in the next portal opening.

At defensive tackle, Taurean Carter has transferred to Colorado and Anthony “Tank” Booker headed to SMU. The Hogs lost four linebackers to the transfer portal. Chris “Pooh” Paul chose Ole Miss, Jaheim Thomas went to Wisconsin and Jordan Crook inked with Arizona State. Mani Powell also entered the transfer portal.