At SEC Media Days in Atlanta, what the analyst for the network is looking for in the entire league, Sam Pittman’s sixth season with Hogs.
Everything Arkansas QB Taylen Green said at SEC Media Days
Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green burst onto the scene last season and will be back with the Razorbacks in 2025. Green was one of three Arkansas players to appear at SEC Media Days. Here’s everything he said:
Q. What do you feel like you bring to the table from a tangibles and intangibles perspective heading into this season?
TAYLEN GREEN: I would say, of course, my versatility on the football field, whether I can run, I can pass the ball. But just to be able to move the chains no matter what the defense is, what the defense is looking or showing. But especially off the field, I feel like one of the most important things is just to be a leader and just be that glue guy, whether it’s the O line or whether that’s receivers, offense, defense, just being that glue guy to bond and build that chemistry with my teammates.
Q. Last year, you were new to the team, trying to win the job and win over the locker room. Does it feel more like your team? What’s different about this offseason, your second one, with Arkansas?
TAYLEN GREEN: I would say just like media days, just more comfortable knowing what to expect and knowing what I have to get better at. And now I have the film to look at from last year, not just looking at install tapes of — of course, Lamar Jackson and the past quarterbacks that’s been here, that’s ran Coach Petrino’s offense.
But I feel like knowing what to expect. But, of course, it’s a new year and there’s going to be new defenses and new players. But I have an idea of it, though.
Q. What lessons from last year do you think you are using to approach this season and kind of replicate or do better with your stats?
TAYLEN GREEN: I would say first take care of my body. My body is my business. I know I hear that a lot, but I had a firsthand experience of last year. I was a little banged up.
But I have a great strength staff with Coach Sowders and his strength staff and the great athletic training staff, shout out to them, Vince and Paulina, shout-out to you all. They have me stretching and rolling out, doing the things I have to do. That’s the most important thing is to take care of my body, whether it’s physically or mentally, be prepared, not just for practice but for the game.
Everybody knows that the SEC is physical, but I heard it all last year, but I actually got to experience it. It’s a beat-down. But it gets you ready for the league and that’s what the league is about.
Q. How is playing for Coach Petrino changed how you view the game or your position? Any lessons you can think of that you’ve taken from Coach?
TAYLEN GREEN: I’d say two biggest things, how he comes to work every single day, no matter what he’s going through, no matter if he got a little bit of sleep or a lot of sleep, he’s going to bring it every single day. Knowing how the game is — is the defense playing amazing? Is the defense not? Do I have to control the ball? Do I have to run it more? Knowing how the opposing defense is also playing.
Just being — I would say before Coach Petrino I would just play the game, get a first down, try to score. But knowing the intricate details of what specifically is the defensive coordinator’s game plan and how are you going to combat that.
Coach Petrino, you already know, Coach Petrino knows. But also at the same time I have to know that, too, because I’m the one playing. And we have to be on the same page with that.
Q. You had mentioned Lamar Jackson. What do you feel you take away from his game? And are there any other quarterbacks you model yourself after or would compare yourself to?
TAYLEN GREEN: I feel like everybody sees what he did at Louisville with his running ability and passing ability. But I’d say his feel of the game is what jumps off the page when I watch his tape. He’s not just robotic of one read, two read, three read. He’s going to read the whole defense.
It might not be in — we call it true or pure progression — if he’s open he’s going to throw it. So not just being robotic in his play.
That’s what Coach Petrino says a lot: Don’t be robotic; be fluid; trust your instincts.
That’s what I love about watching Lamar, but also a couple guys that I model my game after. I went to Allen, Texas, and been training with Kyler Murray’s dad for a long time. Kyler Murray growing up, what he did in high school was insane.
But also Josh Allen, his big frame and how he uses his body to — he’d be truckin’ dudes too. I gotta get that up.
Q. Coach Pittman talked about the importance of the rivalry versus Texas versus the rival versus Texas A&M. You’re a Texas native. What would a win over one of those two programs, potentially a top-15, top-10 program, mean for not only the program but for you personally?
TAYLEN GREEN: For me, personally, honestly, it’s good, but it’s not really about me. That Hog behind me is what I do it for, the pride that I have just wearing that hog on the side of my helmet or on the front of my chest, doing it for the state because I know what it means to them and just embracing that, embracing that culture that we have here.
Q. Your teammate, Cameron, was in here a little bit earlier. He had nice things to say about you. He talked about the energy that the team gets from Travis Williams. I know it’s the other side of the ball, but your interactions with Coach Travis and what he brings to the table?
TAYLEN GREEN: I would say, one, energy. His energy will trickle down to everybody on that defense, even offense. It could be all campus long. It could be practice 13, 14, and he’s still jumping around, running around, people be going like that and stuff.
But when we hear the defense making loud noise and jumping around and playing, as an offense, we’re, like, okay, we’ve got to come to play today. What I love about our practices is it’s competitive. There’s going to be a winner. There’s going to be a loser that day.
And offensively, speaking for the offense, we don’t want to be on the losing side. That’s what I love about the practices and this team is it’s real competitive.
Q. How does the experience that you have coming from Boise State and now going into your second year at Arkansas, how does that contribute on the field and playing into some of the most hostile environments in the SEC in your second year with another top-five hardest schedule in the country?
TAYLEN GREEN: That’s a good question. I would say I’m glad and I’m appreciative of my time at Boise because it has kind of a similar feel to Fayetteville. The SEC — not the SEC, but it’s the only team in town. When you walk around, they’re going to know your name. They’re going to take pictures, stuff like that.
But learning, applying what I learned there to here, just, you know, being the most prepared person on that field, whether it’s a new install, staying up late to studying and that’s why I’ve learned the biggest in Boise.
I knew my process. I knew how — some people flash cards. I’d write on the whiteboard, I’d write on the tablet and just do it. I’m just a repetitive learner. I’m a visual learner. I’ll do walk-throughs. I’d say my preparation from Boise to Arkansas has been the biggest thing.
Q. What do you feel like your best attribute is as a quarterback? And how would you describe the responsibilities at the line heading into the season?
TAYLEN GREEN: My best attributes, I would say similar, versatility, doing whatever it takes to move the ball. Like I said, Josh Allen, he’s going to try to truck somebody. I’m getting some weight up so I can do that.
But just doing whatever it takes to win. If that’s checking the ball down, throwing it deep, getting dirty, just doing whatever it takes.
Q. Your responsibilities at the line.
TAYLEN GREEN: Coach Petrino gives me full rein of checking the play or changing the protection and he gives me the keys to the car, as some would say. Grateful to have. He doesn’t put me in no box, and he doesn’t want me to be robotic.
It’s a lot of responsibility, but at the same time that’s what I signed up for. As he said, it’s occupational hazard.
Q. We didn’t get into this in the other room, but, of course, everybody is looking at you as a leader of the team as the returning quarterback. What’s different about you as a leader now than maybe this time last year? What are you taking on in leadership?
TAYLEN GREEN: I feel like last year, since I didn’t play, I was more a lead-by-example type of person. But at the same time, what I’ve learned from last year to this year, being more vocal, of course, lead by example but being more vocal in the huddle, especially on the sideline. When my team needs a spark of energy or spark of words, like, I need to be that fuel to the fire and just being real intentional and holding everybody accountable, whether that’s in practice or in the game.
Everything Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said at SEC Media Days
SAM PITTMAN: Welcome, everybody. Thank you. Thank you for what you do. It’s good to be back at the College Football Hall of Fame in Georgia. I spent four wonderful seasons here at the University of Georgia and have been treated awful well by the state of Georgia.
I want to start out by saying we’ll miss our friend Bob Holt. He would ask questions, and they were always good questions, but they always made me think. Where did he come up with that question? But we loved him and we all miss him.
I’m a better player on paper than I was out there physically. But I appreciate Commissioner Sankey for all he does. Talking backstage, I don’t know how he knows every answer to every question that’s thrown to him. He does. He’s that good. Have a lot of respect for him and thank him for being our commissioner.
I want to thank Kyle Parkinson, one of the best SIDs in the country. He always has me ready to go. I appreciate him. Hunter Yurachek across the board, we’ve been very competitive at the University of Arkansas. I think it’s our fifth year in a row that we finished in the top 20 of the Directors’ Cup. Bucky and his men’s track team won the SEC. Cal went to the Sweet 16. Dave Van Horn took his team to the College World Series. Shauna had a national championship golfer. We’re doing well at Arkansas.
As far as we’re concerned, we had a top five win in the country last year, finished 7-6. The Liberty Bowl makes us four invites in five years. I think we’re one of two teams that have won our first three bowl games at the University of Arkansas.
We return all three of our coordinators, which is huge. I want to start off with Bobby Petrino. Bobby is a good man, talented coach. As you go back, look statistically, when he’s in his second year somewhere, they go through the roof. The great thing about that is we have a quarterback Taylen Green coming back as well.
We finished in the top 10 in offense last year. I think we have a better offensive football team than we had a year ago.
Travis Williams, our defensive coordinator, returning. Wonderful man, great recruiter. Motivator. I think we’re doing a little bit of something different in the spring than what we’ve done in the past, which will help us get after the quarterback a little bit, take pressure off our secondary a little bit more.
Scott Fountain coming back, obviously in his sixth year. Some things people may not know about him, he’s one of the best recruiters on my staff. Loyal as the day is long. Has two starting NFL kickers, one in Detroit and one at Jacksonville Jags. We’ve got a great punter in Devon Bell and snapper in Christian Ngo [sic].
Our roster, we signed 19 high school kids, 31 transfers on scholarship and eight walk-ons.
I want to address that a little bit because as long as I’m the head coach at Arkansas, we will always have a true walk-on, a true one, not a partial scholarship. Just like Brandon Burlsworth was when he walked on at the University of Arkansas. We’re doing that out of respect for the trophy, for the family and for Brandon himself. 10 returning starters, four on offense with Taylen Green, (indiscernible), Carmona and Harris. Three of those four are offensive linemen.
Defense Cam Ball, Sorey, Dix, and Larry Worth. One D-lineman, two linebackers and a safety.
Our special teams, obviously I’m high on Devon Bell and Christian Ngo [sic].
That is our returning starters.
Excited about our non-conference opponent schedule. It never is easy. I don’t think you could have an easy schedule in the SEC. I just don’t think it would happen. You could have easier, but the word ‘easy’ and nothing left on the back end of it never happens in the SEC (smiling). We open up with Alabama A&M. It will be nice. It will be nice for the Arkansas fans because we haven’t played at home our home opener since ’22. That will be great to have that game.
Then we play Arkansas State in Little Rock. We’ve never played Arkansas State. That should be exciting for both Arkansas State and the University of Arkansas. Butch Jones came up with an 8-5 season. He’s doing a wonderful job over there. I believe that we should have that rivalry.
Memphis, a top 25 team. Ryan Silverfield, they were 11-2 last year. We go to Memphis. They have an incredible football team. I really like their coach, really good coach, done wonders over there at Memphis.
Of course, we have a home game with Notre Dame, national runner-up. Marcus Freeman, obviously one of the finest coaches in the country. Has a wonderful football team.
Our home schedule is A&M. The thing I want to talk about Texas A&M is that the last time we played ’em at home, Johnny Manziel was running wild on us out there. I remember because he came over to the sideline laughing at us. Probably could, they were ahead. That was in 2013, if I remember right. If I am wrong, misquote me. I think it’s 2013.
Since then we went down to Dallas and we didn’t have a lot of luck down in Dallas. It’s going to be a good home and home with Texas A&M. I think it’s going to be great for the fans as well.
We play Auburn at home, Mississippi State and Missouri. On the road we play four top 15, top 10, top five, wherever you look at them, teams on the road: at Ole Miss, Tennessee, LSU and Texas.
Six or eight, depending on what polls you look at, ranked in the top 25. Nine of them went to post season, three of them went to the College Playoffs. Could it be easier? I just said that. I don’t think so. I think it’s an outstanding schedule. With that, everybody, that gives the University of Arkansas one hell of an opportunity. That’s what it does. We got a good football team, too. They have to play Arkansas, too, now. We know who we’re playing, they know who they’re playing, too. We’re proud of our football team.
This is talking season. But this has nothing to do with what I’m saying. Y’all know me. I think we’ve got a good football team. I think we’ve got a really good football team. We have our starting quarterback coming back. We’re a big team. If you look at us, we’re not small in any area. We’re a fast team. We have wonderful leadership.
I do want to go back here just for a second and I want to talk to you about the three guys that we brought with us.
Brought Taylen Green. We’ve talked about Taylen and how competitive he is, how much of a leader he is, all those things. He went to the Manning Passing Camp. I think he did wonderful down there. He finished 40 yards from the all-time total offensive record for the University of Arkansas last year. 40 yards away from that. And he was hurt the last eight games of the season. We brought Xanian Sorey, graduated out of IMG from Florida. He led our team in tackles last year. Wonderful guy. You’ll enjoy talking to him, as well.
Then we brought Cam Ball. Cam Ball is from right here. Cam lost his father this summer, a bout with cancer. I’ll say this. It was one of the most gratifying, joyous ceremonies that you ever could be a part of. It was unbelievable. His dad Charles was a fine man. He’s wearing pendant or a necklace in recognition of his father. Cam has great faith. It helped him get through it. In closing here, guys, I appreciate you, number one.
Number two, we’ve got a fine football team. We do. I’m excited to start this season. As of right now, we only have one young man that won’t be able to start with the season starts, that’s Ismael Cisse. He had a wrist surgery, tore some ligaments and a bone in there. He’ll probably be out for the season. Other than that, we’ll are ready to roll on August 1st.
I would be honored to take questions from you.
Q. You’ve accepted four bowl invitations in your five years, you won three. It would be safe to say there’s somewhat of a hill to climb at Arkansas. You have the lowest paid support staff, the least amount of NFL draft picks per capita in that state. How do y’all go about building that roster?
SAM PITTMAN: Man… We have to go outside of our state. In-state recruiting has changed over the last three or four years because of NIL. So you have to think about the talent, who it is, versus what the pay is expected. So that’s been a little bit more difficult in our state.
We like to stay within an eight-hour radius if we can. We’ve expanded that just a little bit, where our kids can come see us several different times.
Financially with revenue sharing, I think now we’re back on even keel with everybody, which we weren’t. You just read that off.
When we were even, we went 4-20 to top 20 in two years. I think the program has a chance to get back up to around those nine-plus wins than where we were before just simply because we have the finances to back that.
We’ve got a good football team. We’ve got a good staff. We’ve got great facilities. We got a great state of fans at the University of Arkansas, the state of Arkansas. There’s no reason we can’t do it.
If I was going to make an excuse, it would be financially is why we haven’t done quite as well as where we were projected my first two years. But I think now with it being even, I look out that the Razorbacks are coming on.
Q. Your 2023 recruiting class is mostly gone now. Is that because of those financial reasons or is there something else you attribute that roster turnover to?
SAM PITTMAN: Well, man, you’d have to ask each one of those kids. Here’s what it’s not because of: the way they’re treated, because of the way they’re developed, because of the way they’re taught. That’s not the reason. It could be playing time. It could be finances. Probably the majority of it is finances. But you’d have to ask those guys.
I do believe that whom we got in the replacement, they want to be there, they’re happy with what their deal is they have, that they’ll represent the university well.
Q. Talk about the development of KJ Jefferson and how Taylen has been a great example for him.
SAM PITTMAN: I love KJ. We were just talking on the plane coming over here about his development. I think he’s ready. Where we’ve been is we haven’t been in those games a lot to where we can get that number two guy developed.
Let’s go back to last year. We opened up with Pine Bluff. We were able to get Malachi in the game. We were able to get KJ in the game. When we needed Malachi against Tennessee, Malachi was able to do it. Some other teams are able to play their twos a little bit more. We’re hoping to be one of those teams to get KJ in the game.
I believe in his wholeheartedly. I believe he’s the quarterback for us in the future. I do. We’re not going out and looking for somebody else when Taylen Green leaves. We got him. He’s on campus and we believe in him.
Q. You played Texas twice in the last few years.
SAM PITTMAN: Yeah.
Q. Does the fan base still consider Texas a rivalry? What have you learned about them in those two games? What do you expect going down to Austin?
SAM PITTMAN: I feel like they do. I feel like it was a very passionate, very loud football game. Obviously we lost 20-10 this year. But I believe it is reviving the Texas-Arkansas rivalry. We’re 1-1 in that going down to Texas. Tough place to play. Great football team. But we’ll be looking forward to going down there. I’m sure they’ll be looking forward to getting us down there. We have not played down there in those two games. We played at home. I believe if you ask our fan base and from the feel of the stadium when we play the University of Texas, I believe that it’s one of our rivals, if not number one.
Q. You mentioned the A State game. You guys are playing them this year. You need that rivalry. Butch Jones has been pretty adamant about playing it every year. Would you like to see it added to the schedule on an annual basis? If so, that is best played in Little Rock —
SAM PITTMAN: No.
Q. One home and home?
SAM PITTMAN: No, no, I want to play them in Fayetteville. That’s what I want to do. You asked me what I want. If we’re going to play Arkansas State, I want to play ’em at home. Right now, under contract, we’re in our last year at Little Rock. Whatever the Governor decides, that’s what she decides. But right now we’re in our last year at Little Rock. It would have to either be there or here. I’m not real interested in going over there and playing.
Q. It seems like every year your job’s under discussion. Is Sam going to be back? Does that make your job more difficult? Does it not matter anymore? What are the ramifications of the constant discussion over your job or any other coach’s job situation?
SAM PITTMAN: Well, when they discuss other coaches, it doesn’t affect me, so I’m good there. I’m going to say this. The only ramifications of someone constantly having you on this list or this list, whatever other list, is recruiting. That’s the only thing. It seems to affect us a little bit more in the state of Arkansas because they’re up on the Razorbacks, they see more.
Now, how can we stop that? We win more games. That’s what we can do. Look, most everything a guy brings on him, he brings on himself. Most things that come out, you earn it. Now, you may disagree with some of it, all that.
But I’ve earned it, I have. To get off that, we’ve got to win more games. I’ll say this. To consider that you’re going to go coach somewhere for 10 years in the SEC, you’re a fool. Got to be smart. Kirby Smart, Stoops, that’s it in this league. I think you got to look at it as year to year, how you doing. I’m not worried about it ’cause I got a good staff and a good team. So I’m not worried about it at all. But I do appreciate the question.
Q. Congrats on the new hip.
SAM PITTMAN: Thank you.
Q. Just wanted to ask you, with all the talk about having to re-recruit your players almost on a daily basis everywhere, is that going to, in your opinion, affect the longevity of coaching lives, just to get fed up with it?
SAM PITTMAN: You know, it’s a little bit hypothetical. I will say this. I believe that some of our quality head coaches that are gray head coaches, it may drive them into the NFL. I do believe that. But I do think we can make changes in what we’re doing right now and keep ’em in college football. I believe that.
The answer is a little bit yes and no. I think if we cut down the portal and made it to one, I think that would keep a lot of guys interested. You have assistants going to the NFL and all that, too. I think that would keep them more into college ball.
To me, opening the portal after you have spring ball is the craziest thing in the world. Why would you have spring ball, know your team, then five, six of ’em leave after spring ball? That makes no sense to me whatsoever.
If you give a guy an opportunity to leave, I think that’s great. Go ahead. But it’s got to be somewhere, in my opinion, in early January or it shouldn’t happen at all.
Q. Tell us a little bit about your tight ends and receivers. There was almost a complete turnover of personnel in those two position groups since last season. Who do you expect Taylen Green’s main targets to be?
SAM PITTMAN: Well, when you started talking, I knew you were from the great state of Arkansas. Go Hogs. All right. Tight end-wise. Rohan Jones, very talented guy. Fast. Very talented. Andreas Paaske. He’s coming back. He can do both. I’m not saying Rohan can’t do both, but we’re going to send him deep. He can run. Andreas, good player. Can do both, can catch and can block. Can do both.
Now, Jaden Platt. Platt is a guy that can do both. We got him from A&M. You got to add Maddox Lassiter in there, as well.
Go to wide receiver. For me to sit here and tell you I know everything about the wide receiver group, I’d be lying to you. Again, I told you about coach speak. I’m not going to do it. I’m going to tell you what I believe. Whatever you believe, you believe.
At wide receiver I think we’ve got about eight, maybe nine, that can play in in league. Whom they are, who will run out there with the first group and all that, we’re going to run somebody out there August 1 with the first group. Is that going to be the first group? I don’t know.
We have Jalen and C.J. Brown. I love our slots. Raylen Sharpe and (indiscernible). I really like those two guys. I think we’ve significantly upgraded with both of those guys. I really like that.
Then on the other side at wideouts we have O’Mega Blake, Monte Harrison, we have Andy Jean, and we have whom I think is a supreme talent in Antonio Jordan. I know he’s a freshman, but we’ve seen enough out of him this summer in his off-season workout in the weight room and his running ability that we think he can help us, too. You can add Courtney Crutch into that group, too.
I believe we have a really good wide receiver core. We’re big, have length. Now we finally have two tight ends that you can throw 12 package out there and you can throw the ball to either one of them and run the ball.
Q. I wanted to ask you about your addition of Remy Cofield, how his position has allowed you to get back to coaching.
SAM PITTMAN: Man, he’s helped me. The thing Remy has done is he’s a good communicator. All this negotiation through agents, through parents, through whatever it is, he’s handling that, I’m not. Man, you talk about taking a lot off a man’s plate.
The other thing, too, it affects you. Somebody asked me that question a while ago about the portal. It affects that.
In other words, if somebody comes in to me and they say, I need 16 kazillion thousand dollars, and I think he’s worth a dollar, then I’m sitting here going, man, you’re going to lose our relationship here. When we do, gone, right?
I don’t have to deal with that anymore. I don’t want to. I don’t want to lose the way I feel about a young man. I don’t want him to lose the way he feels about me.
Remy has took all that off of my plate. I can’t tell you how much smoother the April portal was than the January portal. He’s helped in that.
I think eventually he’ll be more into the talent evaluation once he knows what our team is. I don’t want to speak for the man, but I don’t believe he knows exactly what we have on our team right now. He’ll know where we need to upgrade, the finances in each category to do that. He’s been a wonderful, tremendous help to me.
Q. Thanks for the kind words about Bob.
SAM PITTMAN: Love him.
Q. In honor of him, I got a three-part question.
SAM PITTMAN: Great. When you know me, I’ll ask what question two and three is here in a minute.
Q. It’s really just a one-part. You referenced in your opening about doing different defensive stuff to get to the quarterback. Can you elaborate on that a little bit more. Is it a product of the evolving game or what your team looks like this year?
SAM PITTMAN: Number one, if you like your linebackers, I like our linebacker group a lot, if you like your linebackers, you can do more. Not just one. If you have one, now, they can figure it out. If you have three, which we do. I like Dix and I like Sorey a lot.
But anyway, I think that allows us to do some more. We’re big at corner. We can run at corner. I don’t know exactly who we can run at corner. I think we have five of them in there for a battle. All of them except DeVille, they’re extremely fast, are big. You are not out there going, Okay we can’t get into cover two where they got to tackle. We can’t get into cover one because we can’t cover, you know?
I think between the linebacker group and inexperience at defensive end is where we’re at right now. We got guys we like, Justus Boone, Quincy Rhodes, we got Phillip Lee coming in. We like Charlie Collins. We like those guys. They’re inexperienced. I think to get them started, we’re going to have to do some different things with some veteran people. We tested that in the spring. I think it worked for us.
Q. You talked about the defensive ends. Tell us more about the depth at defensive tackle that you’ve built. Maybe tell us a little bit about how you plan to bring a little bit more pressure, considering you only had 26 sacks last season.
SAM PITTMAN: All right. Interior-wise, obviously we brought Cam Ball, so we think he’s one of the top D-linemen in the SEC. Ian Geffrard would be another guy we believe in heavily. Oaks is another guy that we believe in. He came in and was hurt a little bit in the spring but has a lot of talent.
Then the other one that probably is the most improved is Danny Saili. Probably the most improved defensive lineman that we have. Cam didn’t play in spring ball, so it gave Ian a great chance to get more reps. He’s lost a lot of weight. He’s going to be a force. I real like him.
What was the second part of that question?
Q. Bringing more defensive pressure.
SAM PITTMAN: Again, I believe that our linebackers are good. They’re fast. I believe we ought to bring ’em. I think because of all three of ’em, I believe that we can put more pressure by doing that.
I think we’ll continue to turn Travis loose, loose, loose to go to total zero more often, but we have to continue to be more aggressive on defense and get them in second and long instead find second and six or shorter.
Go Hogs. No matter what you write, you’re writing about it. Appreciate you.
Everything Arkansas linebacker Xavian Sorey said at SEC Media Days
XAVIAN SOREY JR: Xavian Sorey, and I’m happy to be here. Let’s get it going.
Q. I know downstairs we talked about your time at Georgia. Obviously you said the biggest thing you learned was winning. From a player’s perspective, you played on some talented defenses. What teammate left the biggest impact on you as a player?
XAVIAN SOREY JR: For both schools I’ve been at? I would say Landon Jackson. Landon and just seeing what he was able to do last year, last season, and the type of player he is, the type of person he is, it definitely left a big impact on me.
Q. We’ve had a couple of your teammates in here already. They had nice things to say about Coach Travis Williams. They cited the energy that he brings every single day. What’s it like playing for him?
XAVIAN SOREY JR: It’s fun. It’s very fun. A lot of energy. A lot of energy. He’s just one of those guys where his switch is always on, no matter what. Coach T-Will is always going to be Coach T-Will, and he is going to have his players ready to play, no matter what.
Q. Obviously with him being the returning starting quarterback, there’s a lot of pressure on Taylen to be the leader for the team. From your perspective, what has he been doing well as a leader?
XAVIAN SOREY JR: Just taking it day by day and putting one foot in front of the other and not looking too far ahead. I think that’s one of the biggest things with Taylen, is that he’s a humble guy, real humble. Like, I know he’s not going to look too far ahead and he’s going to do all the right things he has to do to become the player he wants to become and to help the program out.
Q. Within the locker room, what does a good leader look like?
XAVIAN SOREY JR: In the locker room, just being a good teammate. Being helpful to the younger players in the locker room and things like that. I just say being very helpful. You don’t always have to be vocal or anything. As long as you’re doing the right thing, I think you’re a good teammate if you’re doing the right thing.
Q. One of your teammates that was already in here was Cameron Ball. What can you say about playing with him and what he brings to the table.
XAVIAN SOREY JR: Cam, that’s my guy. I’ve got a lot of respect for Cam. You all know Cam been part of Arkansas for five years. Never transferred. He committed to Arkansas out of high school. He’s still committed to this day. I have a lot of respect.
I’m very excited for Cam and what he’s going to do this season. I can’t wait. I’m itching to get out there on the field with Cam and start having fun again, just playing football.
Q. Can you talk us through what it’s like to play for Coach Pittman? Obviously a guy that has ties to the former school like you do as well. What’s it like to have played for him so far?
XAVIAN SOREY JR: It’s been good to play for Coach Pitt. Coach Pitt got a lot of energy too. I don’t know if you know that, but Coach Pitt, he has a lot of energy and he knows how to get his players up and going. I’ve got a lot of respect for Coach Pitt as well. I’m excited for him. As far as the team, we want to play for Coach Pitt. We are happy with our coach, and we want to fight for our coach. That’s one of the biggest things, going out there, fighting for our coach. We feel like if anybody disrespects Coach Pitt, they’re disrespecting us. Ultimately, they is. That’s our coach.
Q. What was your moment when you were little or coming into like end of your high school career where you realized this is what I want to do when I go to college, I want to play at the highest level? Did you have that breakthrough moment?
XAVIAN SOREY JR: Since middle school I always knew I wanted to play in the SEC. I used to like schools like Florida, I’m a Florida boy, so schools like Florida, that’s the only SEC school in the state of Florida. Of course I went for them very hard. I always dreamed of playing there. All my family went for Florida, either Florida State, things like that.
Football is big in my family. Football season comes on, whether it’s the Super Bowl or national championship or whatever, we all are somewhere. Somebody in our family is cooking, grilling, got TVs everywhere. We’re enjoying ourselves watching the game. It’s definitely a big deal for me to play at the highest level of football.
Q. Going back to high school, can you talk about the nickname the Barber? Where did it come from? I haven’t heard it used in a little bit. Hopefully it’s still being used. Can you take us through the story of that?
XAVIAN SOREY JR: I used to cut hair in high school. I was just telling the last interview that I did, it was, like, are you a barber? I was, like, I know how to cut hair, but I do not like cutting hair. That’s not my thing. I don’t like cutting. I kind of got that name, I played basketball. Before the basketball games I used to cut all my teammates’ and the players in there before the game, get them fresh. That’s where I got the Barber name from.
Q. If teammates come to you, they want a free haircut, you’re not going to give it to them?
XAVIAN SOREY JR: I’m going to think about it. I’m going to think long and hard about it.
Q. You’ve got another nickname, Slide. I don’t know where that comes from.
XAVIAN SOREY JR: Man, that came from like pee wee, pee wee football, when I was like 6 or 7. A couple of my teammates — I honestly don’t know where they got it from. After pee wee, middle school, they kept calling me Slide, and all throughout high school they called me Slide. I kind of took it, too. I actually like it.
And I ran track as well. I won state in track. So that was one of the biggest things that — I think that’s where that name started, actually. I take that back. From track. From track and field.
Q. What did you win state in?
XAVIAN SOREY JR: Triple jump. It was triple jump.
Q. So you’ve been at two different schools, of course. What’s been like things — if you were explaining to somebody this is what makes Arkansas different. Just based on your experiences, what is it?
XAVIAN SOREY JR: I don’t really like to compare any schools. But Arkansas is just — once you go to Arkansas, you see for yourself, you’ve just got to go see for yourself. It’s not a place you can look up or try to Google pictures of to see if you will like it. You’ve got to actually go to the state of Arkansas, go see it for yourself.
The people there are unbelievable. Nice people, and the fan base is a strong, strong fan base. And it’s a great place.
Q. You’re up there representing the linebacker group. What can you say about what else Arkansas will have at the position this season? And is there anyone in particular who’s really impressed you with the work they put in this offseason?
XAVIAN SOREY JR: Really the whole room is working, the whole room is working.
Q. Tell us about the rest of the room and if there’s someone in particular who has impressed you.
XAVIAN SOREY JR: We’ve got guys like Tavion Wallace, Trent, Drew. Trent and Drew both just got with us after spring, but those guys — Trent is like, he’s a good football player. Very, very smart, and played a lot of football. Drew, he’s a smart player, too. Very athletic. Definitely going to be able to help us. And players like Tavion and — I’m trying to think of some more — Wyatt Simmons, players like that, they’re working.
How do I say it? They’re giving themselves the opportunity to play. And Coach T-Will will preach in our room, we do not have starters; we have standards. When Trent and all those guys came, Drew, he went in front of the room said, straight up, don’t come here and look at the guys that played last year, started and think that you can’t play over them. Go take their spot.
So that’s kind of our mentality in the linebacker room; we’re working. It’s competition. It’s definitely competition.
Q. I think every coach who has been through here has been asked about the revenue sharing and NIL. I want your perspective on that, the portal. What would you say are some like misconceptions in terms of the negative connotations that come with that? And if you have any personal stories about how it’s positively affected you, could you please share that as well?
XAVIAN SOREY JR: When I first arose in college, NIL wasn’t a thing. I kind of seen it before. Now, of course, now NIL is a thing. Some days I love it. Some days I hate it. Honestly, some days I love it. Some days I hate it.
Q. You talked about playing other sports, like basketball and track. How did that shape your athletic journey, and do you still play other sports with your teammates in the free time you have?
XAVIAN SOREY JR: Just being able to be versatile and do things like blitz and things like that. Sometimes I may use a basketball move on a guard or give him a little head fake, a little jab, a little crossover or something like that. It definitely helped me be versatile playing multiple sports.
Q. What do you do in your free time with your friends? Do you go play pick-up basketball just for fun?
XAVIAN SOREY JR: If anything, we’ll shoot around, maybe 3-point shootouts. I haven’t played actual basketball or a game in some years. It’s been some years since I’ve actually played a game of basketball.
Everything Arkansas defensive tackle Cam Ball said at SEC Media Days
Q. How does it feel to be back home representing Arkansas?
CAM BALL: I’m blessed. First, I want to give all the glory to God. And rest in peace to my father, the one and only Iceman. He passed away about a month ago. He told me how he doesn’t care how he gets here, whether he be pushed in a wheelchair or drug here, he just wants to be here.
I know God called him home. He’s not here in the flesh anymore, but I have him right here on my chest, so whenever anybody talks to me, they’ll see him.
Q. What are your favorite memories of your father?
CAM BALL: Just him being my coach in general. All the life lessons he taught me. My father was more so like my best friend. I didn’t really look at it like a father/son relationship.
Just out in the backyard, barbecues, shooting basketball, playing horse with him, pick-up games and all the life lessons. I was blessed to have 22 years of a great father figure in my life.
Q. What can you say about playing for Coach Pittman? And it seems like, as a guy on the line of scrimmage, you might be his kind of guy.
CAM BALL: Coach Pittman, he’s a great guy. Before coach — I’ve known Coach Pittman since eighth grade. He was recruiting me at Georgia, and when he got to Arkansas, I said, Coach, I can see myself playing there because I didn’t want to stay here. I wanted to go out experience life on my own.
Coach Pittman, he blessed me with the opportunity to be a Razorback. I’m forever grateful for him. He’s a hard-nosed coach. He’s going to love on you the same amount he gets on you. He’s a great guy.
Q. Going into your fourth season at Arkansas, how do you prepare for games in the tunnel before you take the field?
CAM BALL: My main thing is, first of all, give all the glory and honor to Jesus Christ, make sure I talk to him, pray. Just remember my notes, my plays and just take it one play at a time, one game at a time. I just prepare for every single game as if it was the game for last week. It really doesn’t matter who the opponent is or anything, just take it one play at a time.
Q. What can you say about the way Taylen won over the team in the locker room last year, and what’s different now that he’s in his second year with the team?
CAM BALL: Taylen, he’s just a great God-fearing man, even better person rather than player. We follow Taylen however he wants to lead. We believe whatever Taylen says. He’s more of a doer than a talker.
Taylen has become more vocal than he was last year. His play just really talks for itself. I’m excited to see what he can do year two under Bobby Petrino.
Q. Last season you started all 13 games and registered career high 47 tackles. What have you done during the offseason to almost replicate or have that success that you had?
CAM BALL: Last season, I mainly did all that with a bum little arm, had an arm injury. I’m coming off surgery. I’m healthy and cleared. I’m ready, eager, hungry to go. Really, I’m just preparing as if I did last year. I know this is my last year. I’ve got to give it my all. And it’s a little more motivation now with my father. There’s really not much to be said other than I’m doing this for him. I’m excited. I’m ready. Getting goosebumps talking to you about it now.
Q. You mentioned Coach Pittman being a hard-nosed guy. Would you describe Taylen the same way? What does it mean as a line-of-scrimmage player to see your quarterback mix it up, make physical hits himself?
CAM BALL: Taylen is an outgoing guy. Taylen, he has his spurts of where he can get on guys and get on his offensive line and get on players. But more so, Taylen be chillin’ to be honest. He stays to himself and he’s just a cool, calm, collected guy.
If you get on his bad side that’s one thing else now, but Taylen is a great player, great person.
Q. Arkansas is projected to have the fourth hardest schedule in the entire country. How are your fellow teammates, coaches, how are they preparing for what was a difficult schedule last year and now having many of those games flipped to road games, how are you all preparing for that?
CAM BALL: This is my fifth year. I can’t say throughout all my time with being at Arkansas we had to be top five of having the toughest schedules.
To be honest, it’s a little motivation, too, at the same time, but we just practiced and practiced and practiced. We try to make our practices hard so the game can be easy. And we just take every game at a time, whether we’re playing the number one team or a non-ranked team, it doesn’t matter. We’re just going to take it and use it how we do.
Q. You’re up there representing the front seven. What can you say about the rest of the guys in that unit and anybody that maybe could break through with the work they’ve put in?
CAM BALL: I’m excited about our defensive line room this year. We lost key guys last year. Landon Jackson off to do big things, Eric Gregory, Keivie Rose, Anton Juncaj — but we got a lot of guys out of the portal I’m really pumped about, whether it be Justus Boone, David Oke, Ken Talley, Phillip Lee.
And we also have a bunch of hungry guys that’s ready waited their turn. I’m excited.
We have a great coach, Coach Deke Adams. He’s very good at developing guys, and he developed me. And we also have a great addition now of Coach Wilson. And also have Coach Hop as well.
It’s going to be a great year, man. I know we have a lot of naysayers and haters and stuff of that nature, but we’re just going to take one practice at a time, one play at a time.
Q. Going back to this year’s schedule, is there a specific SEC team or rivalry that you are most looking forward to?
CAM BALL: I treat every game like it’s the same. I don’t really have a personal vendetta with anybody. I’m just excited to just lace my cleats up every week for 12 weeks straight and play in front of whoever steps in front of us.
Q. What can you say about Travis’s energy, Coach Jackson — Travis Williams. He’s a former Auburn player. First of all, his energy and how that plays with the rest of the defense. And is the Auburn game more significant because you know he had a great career there?
CAM BALL: Whenever we do play Auburn — this is Coach’s third year — he’s telling it to us: Y’all don’t take any different approach than what we do for the last week’s game. This is just another game as well. We don’t more so look at it as — of course us as players, being it’s Travis Williams’ home team, we want to have a little more edge to it.
But he tells us constantly, this is just another game we’re going to prepare for like any other person. Playing behind Coach Travis Williams, I love it, man, it’s amazing. He’s a family man.
Our whole defensive staff are just family guys. The way we approach every game just behind Coach Travis Williams, it’s just with passion.
With him, his pregame speeches, they have you ready to run through a brick wall. And at the same time he can be serious and come back with a nice cool little rap. Travis Williams, he’s one-of-a-kind guy and I love him. And I’m glad he’s my defensive coordinator.
Q. You obviously had teammates growing up. You said you want to leave the state go see somewhere else. Did you have many teammates like that as kids that wanted to do the same thing or were you different?
CAM BALL: Most likely not. All my teammates, they wanted to go to UGA or stay in the city. I’ve been here all my life. I wanted to go out and experience things on my own and meet different people and be in different situations, be in uncomfortable situations because that’s going to help me achieve my goals in life after football and better become a man.
So that was my whole purpose and my main focus of going 10 hours away from my home city. That’s what I feel like I did. God has a plan for everything. I feel like that was his plan for me, to go 10 hours away.
Q. If you were drafted by an NFL team way away from here, you’d have no problem with that either?
CAM BALL: It’s going to be an adjustment at first, just like anything. But I’m pretty sure once I get my feet under me, we’re just going to keep our head down, keep working wherever it’s at, God willing, if I do make it to the NFL.
Q. Any particular rival stadium you’d like to play in?
CAM BALL: Stadiums I like playing in, so LSU. I know we played in Baton Rouge this season. I’m excited. Their fans are always, wow, man, it’s always loud there. I’m excited to play there.
I’ve never played in Austin, Texas against the Longhorns. That’s a rivalry game for the state of Arkansas, excited to play there. Never played in Neyland Stadium, excited to play there. Excited for the whole season. This is my last season and I want to leave my mark being a vocal leader and being a dominant football player.
Q. How would you describe your team’s culture this year and how it may affect the outcome of the season?
CAM BALL: I can say with this being my fifth year that this is the closest that the team has ever been. Just the accountability is different. We hold ourselves to a higher standard, and I feel like we all got the same goal and we just want to win.
We’re not thinking ahead to postseason. We’re not thinking about self-accolades. We’re just all trying to win and make each other better. When fall camp starts, it’s going to be a really competitive and physical fall camp, and I’m excited for it.
Q. What has been your most memorable moment and experience that you’ve had with your teammates at your time at Arkansas so far?
CAM BALL: I’m a big chef. I love cooking. I got that from my dad. I’ve got my own business, if you ain’t all heard of it. It’s called Ball’s Barbecue. Do your research, if you haven’t. It’s going to be jumping pretty soon now. But I specialize in ribs, chicken. My girlfriend, she do the sides with the baked beans and mac and cheese. Shout out to Cassidy. That’s one of my biggest experiences, just having my teammates over and selling plates to my teammates and people in Fayetteville, in general, just doing that. I’m so grateful to be a Hog, and God has blessed me to be there for five years, meeting so many people, impacting so many people’s lives.
Just being at Arkansas, in general, it’s just a blessing. I’m overall grateful for my experience to be a Hog.
Q. You going to keep your business in Arkansas when you’re done?
CAM BALL: Probably. I don’t know. Arkansas, a lot of barbecue spots there. I’m not worried about competition, but I just gotta be smart about where my business is at; but wherever I am, Ball’s Barbecue, that’s where it will go. I talked to Coach Pittman about going into business with me. He reminded me again about how he wanted to invest in it. I’m going to hold him to it. If anybody in this room, remember, you see Ball Barbecue, Sam Pittman, he helped me.
Q. Try to get on “True South,” that will help.
CAM BALL: I really love “BBQ Pitmasters.” That’s my show.
Ruscin & Zach July 16
Tye checks in from Atlanta where he has hit the SEC media days wall. Then we Grill Bill.
Democrat-Gazette’s Tom Murphy’s views from SEC Media Days in Atlanta
Plus some talk of MLB All-Star game, also in Atlanta on Tuesday night, plus various teams across SEC this season.
That SEC Podcast’s Michael Bratton’s thoughts on Hogs at SEC Media Days
Popular podcaster’s view on all things in the SEC and his projections for the Razorbacks in year where most don’t expect much.
SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum at SEC Media Days on Razorbacks’ prospects
What he thinks of Sam Pittman’s team heading into what many think is a crossroads sixth year coaching the Hogs.
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: 7-16-25
LIVE from SEC Media Days! How do YOU feel when an outsider shares their beliefs about your favorite teams?
Guests: SEC Mike and Paul Finebaum!
