Sam Pittman sends clear message on goal in spring transfer window

Sam Pittman has a clear message about his goals for Arkansas in the spring transfer portal window and that’s not to lose anyone.

Of course, that’s easier said than done. Ptitman said himself he expects that he’d lose a few players rather than keeping everyone. It’s the nature of the beast.

But that doesn’t mean he’s shying away from his goals for the team.

“We don’t want to lose any of our players,” Pittman said of the upcoming spring portal. “And I had to talk with our team and I said, ‘Hey, we just don’t lose anybody that we have and don’t add anybody, we’re gonna have us a fine football team. So the number one thing is I don’t want to lose anybody. We’re going to. I mean, I hope not but we could. I don’t know why you’d want to leave this team. This is a good football team, but I understand the landscape of football.”

As far as what Arkansas could target, Pittman was honest about positions of needs. Could the Razorbacks get all of those guys at those positions in the portal?

It’s possible, but even Pittman knows it’s not a guarantee.

“Once that happens, if we don’t lose anybody, we have five scholarships available,” Pittman said. “We need to get some more help on the D-line. We need to get some more help on the offensive line. And we need to get, maybe, another wide receiver. 

“If we just had five instead of going to wideout, we would go to linebacker, we need an older linebacker. I’m answering your question because it’s a good fair question. I’m not saying we need that, because we don’t have players with those positions because I think we all believe that we do. It’s just a matter of age, depth, all those things that go into that.”

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.”

As Arkansas wraps up the spring, it’s safe to say the vibes are high and it could be a renewed program in 2024.