Football
‘Everybody’ including Sam Pittman wanting to know KJ’s status
Even though injured quarterback returned to practice Wednesday, nobody knows whether he’ll play Saturday on road against Mississippi State.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas coach Sam Pittman doesn’t know what his quarterback’s status is for Saturday.
KJ Jefferson was back at practice Wednesday, when they moved indoors. No one could see exactly what the quarterback could do or not do.
“We don’t have a clue whether he’s going to play or not,” Pittman said on his radio show Wednesday night. “We don’t know.”
Considering the recent raised awareness of head injuries after the drama surrounding Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa it will be surprising if Jefferson hits the field.
It’s the not knowing that is causing all of the speculation and drama.
“Everybody including me,” Pittman said. “Still got a few more days to figure that out.”
Actually, nobody may know until the Razorbacks get their first offensive series against Mississippi State on Saturday morning.
Overall, though, Pittman liked Wednesday’s practice.
“One of the best practices we had in awhile,” he said.
In addition to Jefferson, there are questions on other injuries. Especially in the secondary, that has been torched at times this season.
“In the secondary we’re beat-up a little bit,” Pittman said.
Now that is really not good news for the Hogs.
The Hogs will play Mississippi State on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. on the SEC Network and fuboTV. You can also hear the game online at HitThatLine.com and on the radio at ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
| Thu, Aug 29 |  | vs UAPB (Little Rock) | W, 70-0 |
| Sat, Sep 7 |  | @ Oklahoma State | L, 31-39 2OT |
| Sat, Sep 14 |  | vs UAB | W, 37-27 |
| Sat, Sep 21 |  | @ Auburn | W, 24-14 |
| Sat, Sep 28 |  | vs Texas A&M (Arl) | L, 21-17 |
| Sat, Oct 5 |  | vs Tennessee | W, 19-14 |
| Sat, Oct 19 |  | vs LSU | L, 34-10 |
| Sat, Oct 26 |  | @ Mississippi State | W, 58-25 |
| Sat, Nov 2 |  | vs Ole Miss | L, 63-31 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Texas | 11:00 AM |
| Sat, Nov 23 |  | vs Louisiana Tech | TBD ESPN+/SECN+ |
| Sat, Nov 30 |  | @ Missouri | TBD |
| Following is the Arkansas Sports Media High School Football Poll including the Overall Top 10, the top five in Classes 7A, 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A and 2A, plus the top three in the 8-man division, as voted by a panel of sports media from around the state for the week ending August 24. Ranking is given with first-place votes received, records, total points and ranking from last week's poll: | ||||
| OVERALL | Record | Pts | Prv | |
| 1. | Bryant (19) | 9-0 | 271 | 1 |
| 2. | Conway (7) | 9-0 | 252 | 2 |
| 3. | Greenwood (2) | 9-0 | 221 | 3 |
| 4. | Little Rock Parkview | 8-1 | 180 | 4 |
| 5. | Bentonville | 6-3 | 157 | 5 |
| 6. | Benton | 8-1 | 138 | 6 |
| 7. | Fayetteville | 7-2 | 105 | 7 |
| 8. | Pulaski Academy | 7-2 | 97 | 8 |
| 9. | Rogers | 6-3 | 38 | 9 |
| 10. | Mountain Home | 8-1 | 29 | — |
| Others receiving votes: Joe T Robinson 12, Elkins 7, LR Catholic 7, Shiloh Christian 7, Valley View 7, Cabot 6, Marion 4, LR Christian 1. | ||||
| CLASS 7A | ||||
| 1. | Bryant (21) | 9-0 | 133 | 1 |
| 2. | Conway (7) | 9-0 | 119 | 2 |
| 3. | Bentonville | 6-3 | 78 | 3 |
| 4. | Fayetteville | 7-2 | 50 | 4 |
| 5. | Pulaski Academy | 7-2 | 33 | 5 |
| Others receiving votes: Rogers 7. | ||||
| CLASS 6A | ||||
| 1. | Greenwood (28) | 9-0 | 140 | 1 |
| 2. | Benton | 8-1 | 112 | 2 |
| 3. | Mountain Home | 8-1 | 77 | 5 |
| 4. | Shiloh Christian | 6-3 | 35 | 3 |
| 5. | Little Rock Catholic | 8-1 | 28 | — |
| Others receiving votes: Marion 24. | ||||
| CLASS 5A | ||||
| 1. | Little Rock Parkview (27) | 8-1 | 139 | 1 |
| 2. | Joe T. Robinson | 8-1 | 102 | 2 |
| 3. | Valley View (1) | 9-0 | 94 | 3 |
| 4. | Farmington | 8-1 | 43 | 5 |
| 5. | Hot Springs Lakeside | 7-2 | 21 | 4 |
| Others receiving votes: Camden Fairview 8, Harding Academy 8, Morrilton 3, Vilonia 1. | ||||
| CLASS 4A | ||||
| 1. | Elkins (18) | 9-0 | 129 | 1 |
| 2. | Little Rock Mills (4) | 9-0 | 75 | 3 |
| 3. | Arkadelphia (3) | 7-2 | 71 | 2 |
| 4. | Warren | 7-2 | 59 | 4 |
| 5. | Malvern (3) | 9-0 | 48 | 5 |
| Others receiving votes: Dardanelle 18, Southside Batesville 13, Mena 6, Highland 1. | ||||
| CLASS 3A | ||||
| 1. | Bismarck (11) | 9-0 | 108 | 1 |
| Fordyce (11) | 9-0 | 108 | 2 | |
| 3. | Osceola (3) | 7-1 | 65 | 4 |
| 4. | Prescott (2) | 8-1 | 60 | 3 |
| 5. | Booneville (1) | 8-1 | 27 | 5 |
| Others receiving votes: Mansfield 20, Rivercrest 20, Charleston 4, Rison 9, Mayflower 3. | ||||
| CLASS 2A | ||||
| 1. | Carlisle (24) | 9-0 | 135 | 1 |
| 2. | Conway Christian (3) | 9-0 | 110 | 2 |
| 3. | Bigelow (1) | 7-2 | 72 | 4 |
| 4. | Murfreesboro | 7-2 | 53 | 5 |
| 5. | Des Arc | 7-2 | 28 | 3 |
| Others receiving votes: East Poinsett County 8, Marked Tree 4, Cross County 3, Poyen 3, Junction City 2, Mount Ida 2. | ||||
| 8-MAN SANCTIONED | ||||
| 1. | Strong-Huttig (27) | 5-0 | 83 | 1 |
| 2. | Midland (1) | 8-0 | 54 | 2 |
| 3. | Cedar Ridge | 8-1 | 27 | 3 |
| Others receiving votes: Woodlawn 4. | ||||