Sam Pittman says Zach Williams, LaDarrius Bishop, Nathan Bax still working out with team

In the ever-changing world of the college football transfer portal, the NFL Draft, bowl opt-outs and the like, sometimes silence can be the most confusing thing. And for an Arkansas trio, that silence led to some signing-day amusement.

In fact, the question of what silence meant for an Arkansas trio of veterans was put to Sam Pittman on National Signing Day at a press conference.

Defensive lineman Zach Williams, tight end Nathan Bax and defensive back LaDarrius Bishop had not announced anything formal as to their future plans, but all were listed as seniors in 2022. All could, in theory, use the COVID-19 year of free eligibility still.

And it appears they intend to, at least if Pittman’s laughing response to the question was any indication.

“They’re working out really hard if they’re not,” Pittman said, chuckling. “I don’t know if they had a big banquet set for (an announcement), I don’t know, but they seem to be working out every day pretty hard. Maybe they’re getting ready for the draft, I don’t know.

“I’ll let you ask them, I don’t know.”

While Pittman’s answer fell short of an outright confirmation, it certainly sounds like the trio will be suiting up for the Hogs for the 2023 campaign.

What a key Arkansas trio provides

On top of some additional veteran leadership in the locker room, the Arkansas trio also provides some extra production.

Williams was the most productive of the three in 2022, as injuries limited Bishop to just two contests early in the season. Williams finished the year with 34 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks.

Bishop, over the course of five seasons now, has tallied 56 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for a loss and six passes defended.

Bax was the most lightly used of the trio, having recorded just two catches for five yards in three seasons so far at Arkansas.

Regardless, it sounds like Arkansas will have all three back barring a spring or summer transfer.