Sam Pittman calls Dan Enos the best play-caller he has worked with
After two straight seasons of having one of the most effective offenses in the SEC, Arkansas offensive coordinator Kendal Briles took his talents to TCU to become the Horned Frogs play-caller. In the last two seasons, Briles’ offenses for Arkansas averaged over 30 points per game and ranked within the top two in the SEC in rushing, but also led the conference in explosive play rate according to On3’s SEC StatCat.
Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman added Dan Enos to his staff this offseason to replace Briles, whose offenses haven’t been as potent as of late. And at SEC Media Days, StatCat himself asked Pittman if he was trading in potency for consistency in the hiring of Enos.
“Well, I hired Dan Enos because I think he’s a hell of a football coach, and I get what you’re talking about. Pittman said. “But Dan wasn’t dealt the same players that we have on our team, either. That’s yet to be seen.”
Enos returns to Arkansas after spending three seasons with the Razorbacks between 2015 to 2017 under head coach Bret Bielema as offensive coordinator, serving as the first Power Five offensive coordinating job of his career. Since then he’s made offensive coordinator and assistant head coaching stops at Alabama, Cincinnati, Miami, and most recently Maryland.
His Maryland offenses have been solid in his two seasons as the Terps’ play-caller, consistently ranking within the top four of the Big Ten in points and yards per game the last two years alongside Ohio State and Michigan.
But Pittman took things a step further, making a bold statement about Enos’ abilities before calling a single play in a game for the Razorbacks under him.
“I hired Dan Enos because I thought he was the best play-caller I’ve ever worked with, and I felt like that’s what we need,” Pittman said. “But you’re right. Explosive plays score points, and so would that be a concern? Not necessarily a concern, but we are certainly thinking about that all the time.”
It’s clear that Enos has already made a strong impression on Pittman in his short time with the team, as Enos does inherit one of the most exciting offensive duos in the SEC.
Quarterback KJ Jefferson and running back Raheim Sanders are two of the best offensive weapons the SEC has to offer, as Jefferson’s size and skill at the position are hard to find, and Sanders is fresh off of a season where he piled up 1,714 yards of total offense.
The Razorbacks may look different on offense this season, but Pittman’s faith in Enos plus the playmakers he’s inherited has all the makings for another season of offensive success in Fayetteville.