Arkansas guard Isaiah Joe talked with the media after Thursday’s practice about teammate Mason Jones and Khalil Garland’s role with the team as a studen coach.
Pittman selling Arkansas above everything and it paid off Wednesday
It was clear Wednesday afternoon that new Arkansas coach Sam Pittman hasn’t done a whole lot of the press conferences like he did after getting seven players for the 2020 class.
He looked a little surprised with nearly every single chair filled in the concrete bunker that serves double-duty as the media room in the football center and may be the best shelter in Northwest Arkansas in the event of a tornado or a random bomb headed in.
Pittman started off kinda figuring it out as he went, but what did become clear is he probably understands the job of being the Razorback coach better than anybody hired in a couple of decades.
It’s why he made it clear that in this recruiting period they aren’t looking at any ratings and really aren’t counting the number of available scholarships. He figures there will be plenty of room for transfers or junior college players.
“Right now it doesn’t seem to be too big of a problem, you know?” He said. “We will fix that when it comes.”
The Hogs never have been near the top in the recruiting rankings. They’ve finished in the top 10 once about 20-something years ago and one other time in the top 20.
History shows for whatever reason nobody is going to win signing day.
Pittman understands that, although he’s never going to say it publicly. He also has looked at the current roster he inherited and knows there’s opportunity he can sell to recruits ahead of the February signing date.
“This next go around, there may be some guys that we’re going, ‘Hey, this guy’s a little light but has got great feet,’” he said Monday. “Or we may go that way a little bit more, we might not, but we’re basically trying to recruit guys that we think can come in here and challenge for a position early in their career.”
Pittman deflected getting into specifics about any current players. Oh, he’s looked at the films but he’s not going to throw anybody under the bus, but he also saw some talent and the guess is he’d just as soon not tip his hand either way.
There are signs this coach can recruit. He managed to get Myles Slusher, a four-star safety out of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, who was committed since April to Oregon.
Pittman found out when Slusher called him at 11:45 Tuesday night.
“Actually, I was driving home,” he said. “He called me and usually if they call you at 11:45, it’s not to tell you they’re going to go someplace else. I’ve yet to ever get a player at his press conference that he didn’t tell me he was coming before the press conference.”
Think about that a minute. Pittman has the job for a week and sells a four-star safety committed to Oregon to flip to Arkansas. He’s not going to pull that off 20 times a year … or even 10, but it is a sign to watch this.
Right now, though, he has the overwhelming majority of his first recruiting class still on campus. He’s managed to hang on to the majority of the best recruiting class in the last few years (2019) and that includes 16 redshirt freshmen.
In addition there will be 13 sophomores and 11 juniors.
There is some talent on the roster. Probably not enough to make a run for an SEC West title, but the only people thinking the 4-20 record over the last two years was as simple as a complete lack of talent.
The opinion from this corner is a complete lack of development and motivation was more to blame for that. In other words, they’ve been the unwilling because they were led by the unknowing.
That will change.
“I want to get the best players in America because as ya’ll know, I truly believe that Arkansas is the best place in America,” he said Monday.
Those words haven’t been heard around Fayetteville by a head football coach in a long time.
Pittman has seen some bad teams. As a career assistant, he’s probably got a plan of how he would do things.
Now he’s just got to prove it’s a plan that will produce wins.
Pittman answering questions from media on Hogs’ first signing for 2020
Sam Pittman recapping Hogs’ recruits on first players can sign letters of intent at press conference after announcing signings. Due to UA technical issues, player breakdown audio failed for most of the recap on them.
Jones announces he’s leaving Razorbacks, but where is not known yet
Redshirt junior Jordan Jones became the fourth player to announce he’s leaving Arkansas with new coach Sam Pittman, who’s only been on the job a little over a week.
Jones didn’t announce where he’s headed.
Born and raised a Hog and that will never change ❤️???? pic.twitter.com/6Ul3GghhXg
— Jones_10 (@jordan10jones) December 18, 2019
Jones, from Smackover, was a three-star under Bret Bielema and didn’t record a single stat this past season, hampered by a high ankle sprain all year. That may let him have an additional sixth year but that will be for somebody else to deal with.
The other players who have left are defensive back Britto Tutt, quarterback Nick Starkel and defensive end Collin Clay.
Of all four players maybe the only one that really got anybody’s attention was Clay.
Signing Day capsules of seven new Razorbacks for 2020 class
• Myles Slusher
DB – 6-0 – 181 – Broken Arrow, Okla. (Broken Arrow HS)
Four-star prospect by Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN … Rated as the No. 5 safety in the country by 247Sports … Ranked second in the state of Oklahoma by 247Sports and ESPN … Slotted in ESPN’s Top 300 at 204 … Four-year varsity letterwinner at Broken Arrow High School in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma … Recorded 26 tackles, two for loss, with one sack, an interception and four pass breakups as a senior in 2019 … Helped the Tigers to a 9-3 overall record with a semifinal appearance in the Class 6A-I Oklahoma playoffs … Tallied 68 total stops, three TFLs, with two interceptions and a recovered fumble during his junior campaign … Guided Broken Arrow HS to a spotless 13-0 record and the Oklahoma Class 6A-I state championship after a 28-20 victory over Jenks … Racked up 41 total tackles, 37 solo, with four interceptions in 2017 … CHOSE ARKANSAS OVER: Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss, Missouri, Texas A&M, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oregon and others.
Myles Slusher … Born March 1, 2002 … Son of Blanca and PJ Slusher … Has five siblings: Phillip, Jessica, Austin, Anthony and Reality.
• Ray Curry
OL – 6-6 – 315 – Memphis, Tenn. (White Station HS)
Three-star prospect by Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN … Rated as the No. 10 player in the state of Tennessee by ESPN … Four-year varsity letterwinner at White Station High School in Memphis, Tennessee … Helped the Spartans to a 7-5 overall record as a senior and a second round berth in the Class 6A-I Tennessee state playoffs … Was a member of three state playoff teams, including the 2017 squad that made it to the third round of the postseason tournament … CHOSE ARKANSAS OVER: Auburn, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Louisville, Michigan, Nebraska and others.
Ray Curry … Born April 9, 2002 … Son of Alicia and Ray Curry … Brother of Arayvia.
• Catrell Wallace
LB – 6-5 – 210 – Bryant, Ark. (Bryant HS)
Three-star prospect by Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN … Rated as the No. 40 outside linebacker in the country by 247Sports … Ranked fifth overall in the state of Arkansas by Rivals … Three-year varsity letterwinner at Bryant High School in Bryant, Arkansas … Also lettered in basketball every year of his high school career … Recorded 37 total tackles as of Nov. 8, with four tackles for loss and two sacks to go with three quarterback hurries, four pass breakups and two blocked punts … Helped the Hornets to a perfect 13-0 season, including the 2019 7A Arkansas state championship, defeating North Little Rock in the title game, 21-7 … It was the second-straight year Bryant defeated North Little Rock in the title game, winning 27-7 in 2018, holding the top ranking in the state of Arkansas in both seasons … CHOSE ARKANSAS OVER: Ole Miss, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma State and others.
Catrell (Kuh-TRELL) Wallace … Born Dec. 12, 2001 … Nephew of Lynn Wallace … Grandson of Jackie Wallace.
• Jashaud Stewart
LB – 6-2 – 223 – Jonesboro, Ark. (Jonesboro HS)
Three-star prospect by Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN … Rated as the 20th overall outside linebacker in the country and No. 2 player in the state of Arkansas by 247Sports … Three-year varsity letterwinner at Jonesboro High School in Jonesboro, Arkansas … Racked up 114 total tackles, including 85 solo, in 12 games for the Hurricane in 2019 … Totaled 23.0 tackles for loss, with 17 sacks, as well as 14 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as a senior … Helped Jonesboro HS to an 8-4 record and a second round berth in the Arkansas 6A state playoffs … Racked up 89 total stops as a junior in 2018, with 65 solo and 24.0 for loss, including six sacks … He recovered four fumbles, forced three and picked off one pass … Dropped a heartbreaker in the second round of the 2018 6A state tournament by a score of 38-37 … Earned All-State accolades in both 2018 and 2019 for his performance on the field … CHOSE ARKANSAS OVER: Houston, Kansas, Memphis, SMU and others.
Jashaud (juh-SHOD) Stewart … Born May 29, 2001 … Son of Toria and Jerry Stewart … Brother to Mirikil.
• Blayne Toll
DL – 6-5 – 244 – Hazen, Ark. (Hazen HS)
Four-star prospect by ESPN … Rated as the No. 20 strongside defensive end in the country and third overall player in the state of Arkansas by ESPN … Lands in ESPN’s Top 300 ranking at 268 … Four-year varsity letterwinner at Hazen High School in Hazen, Arkansas … Also lettered in baseball every year since freshman season … Played on both sides of the ball for the Hornets, also lining up at receiver … Recorded 45 total tackles as of Nov. 8, with 26 tackles for loss and 10 sacks … Hauled in 14 passes for 170 yards, scoring twice through the air, while also rushing the ball six times for 67 yards & a score and passing once, connecting on a 51-yard touchdown pass … Helped the Hornets to a 10-2 overall record and a quarterfinal appearance in the 2019 Arkansas state 2A playoffs on Nov. 29 … Propelled the Hornets to the state championship game in 2018, falling just short of the 2A crown … Tallied 42 total stops, 24 TFLs, nine sacks and three forced fumbles in 2017, running for 465 yards & six TDs and throwing for 715 yards & eight scores … CHOSE ARKANSAS OVER: Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Memphis, TCU and others.
Blayne Toll … Born Dec. 11, 2002 … Son of Tabatha and George Toll.
• Kelin Burrie
LB – 6-0 – 205 – Harvey, La. (Helen Cox HS)
Three-star prospect by Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN … Rated as the No. 22 player in the state of Louisiana by Rivals … Four-year varsity letterwinner at Helen Cox High School in Harvey, Louisiana … Played linebacker for the Cougars, making the playoffs in two of the last three years of his high school career … Helped Helen Cox HS to its first playoff victory in over a decade in 2018 … CHOSE ARKANSAS OVER: Kentucky, LSU, Tennessee, Texas A&M, West Virginia and others.
Kelin Burrle (BURR-lay) … Son of Lashanona Burrle.
???? Halftime Pod presented by Jeff’s Clubhouse — Nikki Chavanelle updates the recruiting class
Phil & Tye on the 2020 signing class, Nikki gives her take, and more recruiting talk!
???? Halftime Pod presented by Jeff’s Clubhouse — Clay Henry on duck hunting and OC hunting
Phil & Tye on the next OC, Clay Henry joins the pod, plus why character isn’t the biggest factor!
Ignoring signing day Wednesday may be best, but don’t blame Pittman
While not being one that particularly watches these national recruiting rankings a whole lot, my best advice for Arkansas fans is to not even look when the early signing day kicks off Wednesday morning.
The Razorbacks have never been a winner on the day everyone breathlessly waits for when 17 and 18-year-old kids put pen to paper to decide where they want to spend the next few years of their lives.
In the day and age of the transfer portal, though, I’m not sure it really matters. Everybody has somebody that hits the thing and it’s made a mess of college athletics, but it’s an issue other folks can worry about.
Don’t blame Sam Pittman for this mess. After being hired to clean up the disaster that is Razorback football, he’s only had a few days before things went silent Sunday night.
Pittman should get a pass on this first signing day. The first Wednesday in February, though, the guess here is he’ll bring in some players … hopefully some that actually make sense.
There’s been some head-scratching things done with personnel for more than a decade.
Bobby Petrino took what he inherited from Houston Nutt, got some talented playmakers and spent a season getting them to adapt, then won 29 games over three years. That wasn’t going to continue because he didn’t bother recruiting players to keep it going.
It was going to veer off the rails whether The Great Playcaller ran into the ditch or not.
After a season of giggles with John L. Smith the roster was suddenly suddenly depleted and Bret Bielema was shocked by the lack of receivers on the roster. He really wasn’t expecting that as it was a position pretty critical to Petrino’s offense.
During his first three years, the roster was built back up with offensive linemen that garnered national headlines. Bielema’s “thing” was supposed to be a builder of the interior lines of scrimmage on both sides.
By the time Chad Morris came in that was gone. He inherited basically nothing on the lines and that’s the one place that if you’re decent you can at least win some games.
Morris’ “thing” was quarterbacks. He recruited Deshaun Watson at Clemson, after all. Nobody paid much attention to the fact he had gone to SMU before Watson developed into a championship-caliber quarterback.
At Arkansas, the quarterback-savvy reputation pretty much went into the tank. Morris and offensive coordinator Joe Craddock couldn’t even decide on one, much less develop them.
Over two years there were eight starters … and Pittman inherits a roster with just three left and one of them started as a walk-on.
Pittman inherits a roster with some young talent at receiver and in the secondary, but not a lot of linemen. If he’s shown anything over his long career coaching that area it’s that he’ll get that fixed, maybe with a bunch of junior college guys.
This roster is maybe as thin as anything seen in the SEC. It’s the result of over a decade of poor evaluation, lack of development and a lack of interest in recruiting.
But don’t waste a lot of time talking about people that aren’t here. Fans spent way too much time doing that. If they aren’t here they really don’t matter, in my opinion.
And, yes, I’m very aware I just wasted a lot of words doing it for some context. It’s all a part of why things are in the shape they are in now, which is the bottom of the SEC barrel in football, but it didn’t get there because of the guy in charge now.
Pittman is the first new head coach of the Hogs that REALLY wanted to be here in over two decades. He’s shown he can recruit … he recruited Hunter Yurachek to hire him.
It will take a little longer for Pittman to get the players, but don’t be surprised if he puts it together sooner rather than later.
Kjerstad, Martin named to Collegiate Baseball All-American team
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ Heston Kjerstad and Casey Martin have been named preseason All-Americans by Collegiate Baseball on Tuesday.
Kjerstad picked up first team accolades, while Martin garnered second team honors. It marks back-to-back years Martin has been recognized by the outlet, securing third team recognition heading into the 2019 campaign.
Arkansas has had at least one preseason All-American from Collegiate Baseball in each of the last three years.
A junior from Amarillo, Texas, Kjerstad put together a .327 batting average last year over 65 starts, leading the team in hits (87) and home runs (17). It was the second consecutive season he’s tallied 87 knocks, as he drove in 51 RBIs and scored 53 runs in 2019.
Martin, a junior from Lonoke, finished his sophomore season with a .286/.548/.364 line at the plate, starting all 66 games. He tallied 81 hits, 40 for extra bases with 21 doubles, four triples and 15 homers. Martin also recorded 57 RBIs and scored 67 runs, both figures ranking second on the squad last season.
The duo’s All-America nods come on the heels of a No. 9 preseason ranking from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, the first poll revealed for the upcoming 2020 season.
It marks the second time in three years the Razorbacks have received a top-10 ranking from the outlet, beginning the 2018 season in third. Last year, Collegiate Baseball put Arkansas at No. 25 in its first poll.
The Razorbacks are coming off a 46-20 season that produced an SEC West division title and the program’s 10th trip to the College World Series in 2019.
Coach Dave Van Horn, entering his 18th season at the helm of the baseball team, has more appearances in the CWS than any active coach in the nation with eight.
The 2020 slate kicks off with Eastern Illinois for the second-straight season, beginning on Friday, Feb. 14, at 3 p.m. at Baum-Walker Stadium.
