Isaac TeSlaa coming off big game against Aggies

FAYETTEVILLE — Isaac TeSlaa had a big game against Texas A&M catching five passes for 120 yards and a touchdown.

TeSlaa scored on the third play from scrimmage with a 75-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Taylen Green. TeSlaa’s game possibly gave confidence to Green he has someone to go with Andrew Armstrong and Isaiah Sategna as a target.

“Yeah, I mean, I think I’ve always kind of been that guy for Taylen,” TeSlaa said. “Obviously it hasn’t really showed up much until last game. So I don’t think I would say much has changed. It’s just it just happened to be that way during the game. Obviously I think it was a confidence booster for me and him but moving forward we’re just going to try to figure out the game plan and go from there.”

On Saturday, Arkansas will play the first night in Razorback Stadium this season. They will kickoff at 6:30 p.m. on ABC against No. 4 Tennessee.

“I think it’s going to be a lot of fun,” TeSlaa said. “Coach told us that this is the first stripe out we’ve done since, I think it was 2019, maybe 20— last time we played Texas, and we beat about 20. So hopefully that’s the trend, that we do stripe out and then we win big. So it should be a good atmosphere.”

TeSlaa and the Hogs are 3-2 and 1-1 in the SEC. Vols are 4-0 and 1-0 in conference play. TeSlaa respects Tennessee, but also feels his team is pretty good as well.

“They’re a very talented football team and they’re a well-coached football team,” TeSlaa said. “Obviously if you’re going to have a top defense in the SEC and in the entire NCAA it’s going to come down to talent and coaching. We just have to make sure we’re well prepared and executing the game plan.”

Tennessee plays a fast-paced offense, but that isn’t something TeSlaa is concerned about.

“I don’t think it’ll affect us too much, to be honest with you, I think we’re just going to go out there and put into motion what we’ve been practicing all week,” TeSlaa said.

TeSlaa feels Green is doing his job at quarterback and giving the Hogs a chance to win the games.

“I think he’s just relying on what he’s been trained to do, and that’s just run this offense,” TeSlaa said. “I think he’s been doing a great job since he came in, doing that, just being a leader and a great player. Obviously, regardless of how things go in the game, he’s still going to be a great leader and a great player, and we’ve all seen that on tape. I think he’s just going to rely on his athleticism and his ability to make plays.”

TeSlaa has caught nine passes for 205 yards and one touchdown on the season. TeSlaa talked about his mindset on the field.

“I’d say at the end of the regardless of statistics or how I played a game I know my ability and I believe in myself,” TeSlaa said. “Obviously I have a big game, I have no catches, regardless of what the outcome is, I don’t let the outcome determine how I feel about myself. I feel about myself because I know that I put the work in basically throughout my entire life to get to this point so I just rely on that.”

TeSlaa feels that Sam Pittman and the coaches are preparing the team to face the undefeated Vols.

“I mean, the bells and whistles or whatever we’re here to play football,” TeSlaa said. “Like coach Pitt was talking about in meetings today ‘just because they’re number four and they wear the orange, they got the T on the side of their helmet doesn’t mean they have an advantage over us.’ We’re just ready to roll that ball out there and try to play.”

Pittman was asked on Monday if it’s time to start TeSlaa?

“Well, I think the whole thing about that would be, we’ve got to use him more,” Pittman said. “And so whether he runs out there as a starter or not, I think he’s earned the right to get out on the field and throw the ball to him. So whether he starts or not, I think we’ll have to wait and see at the end of the week. But he certainly has earned that right if he has a good week of practice.”