Sam Pittman looking for help on defense from transfer portal

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas has added help from the transfer portal with those recruits currently going through spring drills.

But the need for more help is there and Sam Pittman specified specific areas this past Thursday the Hogs will be seeking help when the transfer portal reopens April 15.

“I think when you look at it, I think it’s defensively,” Pittman said. “I’m talking about depth. We’re over offensively. We’re over our number, so most of our help would be…. I thought earlier, we might need some inside help, but we’ll see where (David) Oke’s at. Obviously, we have Cam Ball. I’m very happy with Ian (Geffrard) and Danny (Saili) defensive end-wise. And then secondary. We’ve got to do something there as well. That would be where we would go in a portal if we have scholarships available, which I’m anticipating we probably will.”

Pittman was asked if hunting for help in the secondary was for cornerbacks or safeties?

“Both,” Pittman said. “We originally when we had our first meeting, I was talking about six. I was talking about one or two up front and the rest of them at the back end. So, I don’t know that that’s changed because of what you said. Our numbers…   and some of us, because four of them are out. Our numbers are low back there. We’ve got to do that. I’ve learned this in the portal, if a guy leaves and say he’s not a starter…  Well, let’s do it the other way. How valuable was Hudson Clark for four years for us? He got a lot of hell because of this or that or the other, but he wouldn’t have been out there if he wasn’t our best option. and it was corner. It was Hog and safety.

“So, I have learned that the depth is very, very important. You don’t obviously go in the portal for depth. You go in for a starter, but you need depth and you’ll get it from the guy who’s starting now or you’ll get it from, you know, the guy coming in from the portal. The one thing I, I’ll say this is I think our competition at most every spot right now is pretty good. And I think that’s why I feel like that’s why we’re having really good practices so far.”

At midterm, the Hogs brought in Oke from Abilene Christian for defensive tackle. They signed Ken Talley from Michigan State and Justus Boone from Florida at defensive end.

In the secondary, Arkansas brought in Jordan Young from Cincinnati, Quentavius Scandrett from Eastern Michigan, Keshawn Davila from junior college, Caleb Wooden from Auburn and Kani Walker from Oklahoma.

One portal target has already visited the Razorbacks. North Alabama defensive back Ashaad Williams, 6-2, 178, is a graduate transfer so he can enter the portal now and take official visits. In 2024, Williams had 26 tackles, 22 solo, two for loss, one sack, two interceptions and a quarterback hurry. But he chose to commit to Wake Forest.