Sam Pittman provides latest on running back Dominique Johnson

Arkansas is continuing to work on returning running back Dominique Johnson to the field this week ahead of Game 4 versus Texas A&M. Head coach Sam Pittman opened up about the running back’s status at his press conference on Saturday.

Although Johnson was in uniform and ready to play on Saturday versus Missouri State, the Razorbacks had planned on working him in slowly, only after playing the starter and two backups.

“He’s fine, I mean, going into the game, we said that he was ready and we could play him,” Pittman said. “I actually don’t know how much R-Dub played tonight. We were going to go down that order, Rocket (Sanders), AJ (Green), R-Dub (Rashod Dubinion) and then Dominique.

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“He’ll be fine… I think that he was wishy-washy on whether he was ready or not but I do believe he’ll play next week.”

Johnson led the 2021 Hogs in rushing touchdowns with seven. He was also one of four Razorbacks that rushed for more than 500 yards. He missed the first three games of the season but looks ready to contribute as Arkansas dives into SEC play.

Last year versus the Aggies, Johnson had six carries for 19 yards. The Razorbacks broke Texas A&M’s winning streak with the 20-10 victory. Kickoff for the game at AT&T Stadium is at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Pittman reveals what Rocket Sanders means to him, team

Running back Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders had a fumble on the Missouri State one-yard line in the first quarter of Saturday’s game but made up for it in leaps and bounds in the come-from-behind victory.

After the game, Sam Pittman praised him for his commitment to perfection on and off the field.

“The thing about Rocket is, and it’s true, he’s the first guy, he’s early to the study table,” Pittman said. “All his teachers, we’ve had a few academic staff captains, if he’s in a class they love him. That’s how he is, things bother him, he’s a perfectionist, that’s probably what makes him good.”

Sanders may have been hard on himself after the game for his costly turnover, but he played like he had a short memory during the game. he ended the game as the Razorback’s leading rusher with 22 carries for 167 yards and a touchdown. He also had 2 catches for 75 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Pittman applauded him again for his intangibles and short memory during the game.

“He’s very talented, but his ‘want to’ is higher than his talent if that makes sense,” Pittman said. “Just a really, really fine kid and he takes things personally, I’m glad it didn’t take him too long, I mean we fumbled a ball then came back and continued to have a really good game. He had a good game before that and then had a really good game after that as well.”

On3’s Kaiden Smith contributed to this report.