Sam Pittman explains value of Josh Street on offensive line, granting scholarship
This past week, Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman gave offensive lineman Josh Street a scholarship. On Saturday, Pittman discussed his decision.
“Street’s valuable because he can play center, he can play guard,” Pittman told the press. “He starts on special teams. Just a really valuable guy.”
The scholarship spot opened up last week after AJ Brathwaite Jr. left the program. Braithwaite transferred to Arkansas this offseason from Western Kentucky. The reason behind Braithwaite’s departure is unclear as the sixth-year senior was approaching his final season of eligibility.
Nonetheless, Street won’t question the decision. Raised in Bentonville, Ark., Street grew up as a Razorbacks fan. Although Street redshirted his freshman season, he appeared in all 13 games games last year on special teams. He logged 75 combined snaps on punt and field goal units.
The limited moments on the field are a dream come true for Street.
“I look back on it. Every Halloween he wanted to be a football player. You know, he always had a football in his hand and just playing catch with everybody or whatever. And so it’s kind of been just one of those things where it’s been athletics has been instilled in him,” Street’s mother told Pig Trail Nation.
Standing at 6-foot-6, 310-pounds, Street isn’t your average walk-on. Pittman emphasized his decision isn’t purely out of kindness, but also logic.
“He earned that,” Pittman said. “I don’t announce it because there’s other kids on our team that would like to have one too, and I really don’t need any more videos of me giving out a scholarship to a kid so I can get some likes and retweets. I just called him in and gave him a scholarship.”
A new leader for Josh Street
If Street manages to find his way on the field this season, he’ll take orders from a new face. Arkansas hired offensive coordinator Dan Enos this offseason after former OC Kendal Briles took his talents to TCU. Pittman seemingly has no regrets about adding Enos.
“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 at SEC Media Days. “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.”
Street, Enos and their fellow Razorbacks will kick off the 2023 campaign on Sept. 2 against Western Carolina.