Sam Pittman shares players who impressed during offseason

As Sam Pittman prepares to enter his fourth season as the coach at Arkansas, he sees a lot he likes about his 2023 roster. The Razorbacks had plenty of turnover this offseason, losing 27 players to the transfer portal, but Pittman is confident in what they brought in.

Offensively, Arkansas at least returns last season’s starting quarterback KJ Jefferson and leading rusher Raheim Sanders. But the Razorbacks lose their top four receivers from last season, and Pittman sees them needing more from their tight ends in 2023. They also brought in a three transfer receivers, including Andrew Armstrong, who posted 62 catches for 1,020 yards and 13 touchdowns at FCS school Texas A&M-Commerce in 2022, and 6-foot-7 wideout Tyrone Broden.

“If you look at the tight end position, I talked about Tyrus (Washington) and (Nathan) Bax and Luke (Hasz),” Pittman said. “That group, we’re gonna play more of ’em, so we need more of ’em. On the O-line, you have your vets. Then (Patrick) Kutas looks really good. He’s gotten big, strong. E’Marion (Harris) and (Andrew) Chamblee both have looked really good and our transfer, (Josh) Braun has looked good. Quarterback, they’ve all done a really good job. Obviously, KJ will stick out there a little bit. (Jacolby) Criswell can run. He’s got an arm, but he can run. Excited about that.

“Running back-wise, they’ve all three played. They all three are doing exceptional. The wideout position, that’s a little bit different story. Obviously, we haven’t been throwing and catching and all that kind of stuff, but if you look at Jaedon Wilson, Bryce Stephens. Those guys. (Sam) Mbake. (Isaiah) Sategna. The guys that you think would be there, they are. Then I think we hit the jackpot with the three transfers we got. Again, they haven’t caught balls. I’m talking about work ethic and ability with (Isaac) TeSlaa, (Tyrone) Broden and (Andrew) Armstrong. I think all three of them are gonna help us.”

Defensively, Pittman mentioned defensive lineman Landon Jackson as a player who has taken a big leap forward this offseason. He recorded 23 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble last season after transferring from LSU and should maintain a starting role in 2023.

The secondary was a huge issue for the Razorbacks last season, as they dealt with injuries and ranked last in the SEC with 294.7 passing yards allowed per game. They also have to replace leading linebackers Drew Sanders and Bumper Pool, the top two tacklers from last season.

However, Pittman is high on several newcomers, including freshman safety TJ Metcalf, the cousin of Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf, and South Florida transfer linebacker Antonio Grier.

“Landon Jackson’s really looked good,” Pittman said. “He would be the first one. Nico (Davillier)‘s getting bigger and looking good. At linebacker, (Antonio) Grier’s come in looking good. (Christopher) Paul, (Jordan) Crook. I love the freshman group with (Brad) Spence and (Carson) Dean. Dean’s really looked good too. In the secondary, the young kids (Jaylon) Braxton and (TJ) Metcalf, RJ Johnson. Those three guys I think are hits. Dallas Young is doing a good job as well. Jaylen Lewis is a guy that shows out in drills.

After a 9-4 finish in 2021, Arkansas finished just 7-6 in Sam Pittman’s third season. As they hope for better results in 2023, Pittman is confident in the recruiting class he signed, which ranks 23rd in the country according to On3 Consensus, his highest ever with the Razorbacks..

“Just a lot of guys,” he said. “I’ve said too many as it is. They’re buying into what we’re selling and they’re straining and doing a really good job. I love the 12 freshmen that we have on campus from this class. They’re never in trouble. They work hard. They’re good citizens. Good students. I think that class, as long as we can keep them together, is going to be a really special class for us.”