Sam Pittman raves about transfers, believes Arkansas can have 'special year'

Arkansas‘ 2024 spring game got off to a hot start with a couple of touchdown throws, and after the first quarter, head coach Sam Pittman joined the ESPN+ crew to discuss the game and his early impressions of the Razorback football team.

For starters, Pittman was asked about the strong early play from transfer QB Taylen Green from Boise State, who threw a particularly beautiful back shoulder pass for his second TD of the day. Pittman raved about he and the wide receivers thus far.

“Great command, throwing the ball very well. He’s getting protected up there nice,” said Pittman of Green. “Wide receivers have played nice all spring, as you can tell they’re making some contested catches and that’s what we need. We’ve got length at wideout, we’ve got a quarterback that can get it close to them, you know, and they can go make the play.”

A nice blend with the offensive line

Vibes are high within the OL room as Pittman has returned to chip in with every day practices for the offensive line while he notes that a couple transfer additions have really rounded out the position group.

“Coach (Eric) Mataos has done a great job with the offensive line, getting those transfers in. They’ve not only made us a better offensive line but made us a better offensive line room. These guys are great kids, they’ve really developed in there.

“Obviously, we’re running the ball hard, (Ja’Quinden Jackson) has made some good runs, but they’re running downhill and they’re running physical, and that’s who we are and that’s what we’re getting back to.”

Next, the Arkansas head coach was asked about his own role helping coach the offensive line.

“I gotta be the oldest GA in America,” Pittman joked. “But I’ll tel you this, I’m enjoying the heck out of it. The kids enjoy it. I’m so gracious Eric thinks I can help the O-line. I think I can, I think I have, but he gets all the credit. But I’m having so much fun coaching them in individuals, I’m having a great time.”

He isn’t the only coach on the offensive side enjoying a change this season.

Pittman praises Bobby Petrino

When asked about the headline-grabbing move at offensive coordinator this offseason, Sam Pittman said the transition under Bobby Petrino has been smooth sailing.

“It’s everything. I mean, he’s done a wonderful job. He’s a good man, been good to me, been good to our players. Very knowledgable. Genius gets thrown around. Let’s say this: he’s damn good at calling plays and he’s also a good man. He’s a good mentor and helping me with some things off the field as well.”

ESPN play-by-play man Justin Kutcher noted that “Taylen Green calls him the Mad Scientist.” To which Pittman responded “He is that!” with a big chuckle. “I love the things we’re doing.”

Pittman loves Arkansas’ chemistry

After joking about Petrino’s nicknames, Kutcher told Pittman he noticed a bond and connection between the Razorback players this time around, and Pittman agreed, pointing to great leadership from some veteran transfers.

“Well, I think it goes along with the quarterback. The quarterback is the guy who makes us go, I think he’s been the ultimate team guy,” Pittman said of Green.

“We’ve brought in a couple older offensive linemen and jelled them in. We had the nucleus of the guys on defense. We’ve got a mature football team,” he added.

“What we’re trying to get through is: it doesn’t matter who gets the credit, we all do when we win. So that’s kind of the feel of it. You can feel it on a football team. I really like where we’re at right now.”

With that team mentality throughout the roster, Pittman believes big things could be in store for this Arkansas team.

“You got a big time chance to have a special year. To be honest with you, without it, you have no chance,” he explained. “So we’ve worked a lot on that, but you have to give the credit to all of the players and the maturity they have.”