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Sam Pittman describes his feeling of having Jalen Catalon back on the field

Barkley-Truaxby: Barkley Truax09/03/22BarkleyTruax
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Arkansas safety Jalen Catalon has been labeled one of the nation’s top safeties heading into the 2022 college football season. Finally rested and healed from his shoulder injury, the Razorback star is ready to prove he’s still an elite playmaker on the gridiron. Head coach Sam Pittman discussed the return of his standout defensive back and what that means for Catalon and the Razorback defense.

“I’m excited for him, I’m excited for the team, but it’s hard on the guy who’s played a lot of ball,” Pittman said. “And he’s sitting out, and we’re having one of our better, well, our best year since he’s been here. He wasn’t an on the field participant in seven of the games, I’m sure that’s that’s very, very hard for him.

“So, I think anytime you lose something, it even becomes more special when you get it back, or you have a chance to earn it back, or whatever may be the case. I think he’s really excited to play, he’s played extremely well and we’ll see what happens.”

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The shoulder injury caused him to return to Arkansas instead of heading straight to the NFL, but the 5-foot-10, 200-pound safety had only allowed 7 catches from 14 targets for 59 yards in the six games he played last season. 100 percent healthy, and Catalon can be that guy with the way he flies around the football field.

Over the past two years, Catalon has been one of the most productive defensive backs on the Razorbacks roster. Totaling 145 total tackles, eight pass deflections and five interceptions (one pick-six in 2020), Catalon’s numbers are only expected to improve heading into his junior year.

Regarded as one of the top safeties in all of college football this season, a complete, healthy redshirt junior campaign by Catalon will do wonders for his draft stock in what is likely his final season in a Razorbacks uniform.

Catalon’s return begins with the No. 19 Razorbacks’ season-opening matchup against No. 23 Cincinnati. The game will kick off live from Fayetteville at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.