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Missouri State’s Zack Stewart joins Razorbacks as outfield transfer
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Missouri State outfielder Zack Stewart, once the top prospect in his home state, announced Tuesday that he’s transferring to Arkansas, a move that could reshape Dave Van Horn’s outfield just as the program prepares for another run at Omaha.
With the Razorbacks facing significant turnover in its outfield and high expectations from both fans and coaching staff.
Stewart, who stands 6-foot-2, emerged as a candidate for either corner outfield spot. His commitment marks the first outfield addition for the Hogs via the transfer portal this offseason, and his reputation precedes him.
Stewart was previously ranked as Missouri’s No. 1 overall prospect, just ahead of current Razorback Reese Robinett, who was ranked fourth in the same class.
While Stewart’s production dipped in 2025, the Razorbacks are betting on his tools and upside as they look to reload a roster that could lose all three starting outfielders to the MLB Draft or graduation.
The transfer comes amid a broader trend in college baseball, where top programs have come to rely on the portal as much as high school recruiting.
Dave Van Horn, entering his 23rd season as Arkansas’s coach, has become known for his ability to retool quickly.
“The transfer portal is tough,” Van Horn admitted recently. “I have mixed emotions on it. First off, as a coach, you recruit a kid. You’d like to keep them, but sometimes, moving on is best for everyone.”
Van Horn has used the portal to revamp his outfield in each of the past two years, and the 2025 transfer class is already drawing national attention.
The Razorbacks’ incoming portal class ranks No. 2 in the country, according to Baseball America. Stewart’s arrival is expected to strengthen a roster that saw its depth tested during the 2024 season, especially as the Razorbacks made a push for the College World Series.
The need for reinforcements was clear. Arkansas’s outfield is in flux after the departures of key veterans.
Logan Maxwell exhausted his eligibility, and both Jared Wegner and Jace Bohrofen are draft-eligible. In this context, Stewart’s experience and versatility are seen as assets.
“It’s time for them to make their move and leave their mark on this program. My expectations are the same as the team. We need to get better every week,” Van Horn said of his newcomers.
Stewart’s career at Missouri State showcased both promise and adversity. After earning all-conference honors as a sophomore and drawing attention for his power and arm strength, Stewart battled through a challenging junior season.
His batting average dipped, but scouts remain intrigued by his athleticism and ability to play multiple outfield positions.
Van Horn, for his part, has not shied away from high expectations. The Razorbacks reached the 50-win mark for the first time in his tenure last year, and the sense is that the program remains just one breakthrough away from a national championship.
“Winning that elusive national championship is the only thing left,” wrote one local columnist, capturing the mood around Fayetteville.
Stewart’s transfer is seen less as a gamble and more as a necessary move in a hyper-competitive SEC landscape.
The Razorbacks’ embrace of the transfer portal reflects broader changes in college athletics, as student-athletes seek playing time and exposure while coaches aim to build deeper and more versatile rosters.
Van Horn, who has expressed both ambivalence and pragmatism about the portal, summed it up simply.
“You’ve got to adjust or get left behind. That’s just the way it is now.”
Arkansas’s willingness to adapt has kept it near the top of the SEC and in perennial NCAA tournament contention.
The 2025 Arkansas roster is far from settled. Alongside Stewart, several other transfers are set to join the team, and the MLB Draft will likely claim more than a few Razorbacks. The addition of Stewart signals a belief that Arkansas can remain a force despite roster churn.
“If you want to compete in this league, you need guys who aren’t afraid of a challenge,” Van Horn said in a recent press conference.
Stewart, who comes to Fayetteville with something to prove, fits that mold.
For Stewart, the move represents both a fresh start and a new set of expectations.
“Arkansas is a place where you’re expected to win. That’s why I’m here,” he said in a statement released by the university. The hope is that a change of scenery, combined with the Razorbacks’ renowned development program, will help Stewart recapture the form that made him a top prospect out of high school.
As summer workouts begin and the Razorbacks’ roster takes shape, the focus will turn to how Stewart and his fellow transfers fit into Van Horn’s plans. The SEC remains as unforgiving as ever, with powerhouse programs reloading through both recruiting and the portal. In this environment, every transfer and every roster move matters.
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Razorbacks rebuild: Transfers, depth chart battles shape 2024 football
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — By the end of spring, Arkansas barely resembled the one that limped through last fall.
With more than half the roster turned over, new faces, many via the transfer portal, line up across the practice field, each fighting for a spot in the season opener against Alabama A&M on August 30.
This is not just a reshuffle; it’s a full-blown recalibration of Razorback football under coach Sam Pittman.
Sixty percent of the Razorbacks’ 85-man scholarship roster consists of newcomers, a seismic shift even by modern college football standards.
“It’s a lot of new, but I like the energy,” Pittman said after a recent practice. “We’ve got competition at almost every spot, and that’s healthy for us.”
The departures, 36 scholarship players including three high school signees, have been offset by a wave of 30 transfers, 19 high school recruits, and two junior college additions.
The most intense battles rage on the right side of the offensive line, at wide receiver, and throughout the secondary. Five transfer offensive linemen and one junior college player are pushing six scholarship returnees for starting jobs, a level of competition that Pittman has publicly welcomed.
“We needed to get older and stronger up front,” he said, a nod to the struggles that plagued the unit last year.
At wide receiver, Arkansas is almost starting from scratch.
The 2024 roster returns little production but has added three proven Group of Five transfers along with highly-touted freshmen like Courtney Crutchfield and Stanford’s Ismael Cisse.
Spring brought more reinforcements in Jalen Brown from Florida State and Andy Jean, who spent time at both Florida and Pitt.
Brown, recently with the Seminoles, is looking for a fresh start.
“This is a place where I can show who I am on and off the field,” he told local media.
The Razorbacks’ projected depth chart at wide receiver is a patchwork of new names. Andrew Armstrong and Tyrone Broden, both seniors, anchor the outside, while sophomore Isaiah Sategna is a favorite for the slot.
Reserves like CJ Brown and freshman Davion Dozier are pushing for reps, and the arrival of Brown and Jean has only intensified the battle for snaps.
Quarterback Taylen Green, a transfer from Boise State, is penciled in as the starter. Green brings dual-threat ability and leadership qualities that Arkansas sorely needs.
“He’s got the arm and the feet, but more than that, he’s got the confidence to command a huddle,” offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino said. The backup spot is probably KJ Jackson leading the way after Madden Iamaleav departed for the California sunshine.
The offensive line’s overhaul was among the offseason’s top priorities.
Last year’s group struggled with protection, resulting in far too many sacks and a stagnant run game. In response, the Razorbacks added experience and size through the portal, hoping for instant improvement.
“We’re not just filling holes,” said Pittman. “We want to dominate the line, period.”
Players like Fernando Carmona and E’Marion Harris are expected to anchor the left side, but the right side remains wide open.
On defense, the secondary is the team’s biggest question mark. Injuries during spring compounded the uncertainty, but the addition of Julian Neal—regarded as Arkansas’ top-ranked transfer offers hope.
“Julian’s got SEC speed and has been a leader from day one,” defensive coordinator Travis Williams said. Other new faces, including safeties from the portal and promising freshmen, will be counted on early and often.
Defensive tackle depth is stronger than last year, with Cameron Ball, Eric Gregory, and Anthony Rose forming a sturdy rotation.
Even here, Arkansas is hedging its bets, knowing the SEC gauntlet will test every layer of the depth chart.
“We’ve got three we like, but we need more guys ready to go,” Williams said.
Special teams is another area of flux, with position battles at kicker and punter expected to last into fall camp. Transfers and walk-ons alike have been given opportunities to win jobs, and Pittman has made clear that no role is safe.
“We’re not handing anything out this year,” he said. “If you want a spot, you earn it every day.”
The transfer portal has changed the calculus for Arkansas and every other program in the SEC. Pittman, entering a pivotal season, knows this year’s success or failure could hinge on how quickly the newcomers gel.
“It’s a challenge, but it’s also exciting. Our fans want to see results, and these kids are hungry to deliver,” Pittman said.
If there’s a unifying thread to this Razorback roster, it’s uncertainty, mixed with the kind of cautious optimism that only a clean slate can bring.
“We’re still probably somewhere between four and six additions out of the portal…and we’ll take our time there,” Pittman said, signaling that the roster churn may not even be finished.
Razorback football in 2024 will be defined not by who left, but by the newcomers eager to leave their mark.
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Steak, sports and small-town camaraderie at The All-American Steak House
SPRINGDALE, Ark. — The sign just off West Sunset Avenue, where football fans and families mingle beneath the flat-screen glow at The All-American Steak House.
Springdale isn’t the kind of place you’d expect to find a steakhouse with aspirations beyond the local ball game, but the steady thrum of conversation and the scent of charred steak say otherwise.
Opened in October 2021 by Mark and Laura Bazyk, The All-American Steak House & Sports Theater quickly became more than just a spot for a post-game meal.
“We wanted a place where people could feel like regulars the moment they walked in,” said Laura Bazyk in a recent local interview, echoing a sentiment that’s become the restaurant’s unofficial motto.
The couple, seasoned restaurateurs, transformed a former Western Sizzlin’ into a space that balances casual comfort with the rowdy energy of a sports bar, right in the heart of Northwest Arkansas.
On a recent Friday night, the dining room was alive with the clatter of forks and cheers from the Razorback game on the big screens. At one table, a group celebrated a 70th birthday.
“We were all exceptionally happy with the food, from salad, appetizer, to steak,” one guest said, her voice nearly lost amid the din of happy diners.
The menu is a study in steakhouse standards with a few playful detours.
Hand-cut, aged steaks anchor the offerings, but there’s also a formidable burger lineup, pasta, and even Tex-Mex inspired dishes like blackened chicken pasta, a dish so popular it became a fixture after a trial run as a special.
“The Blackened Chicken Pasta was such a hit, we decided to let it stick around!” the restaurant announced to fans online.
But steak remains the star. The 14-ounce Delmonico, at just over $40, arrives with a perfect char and a tenderness that suggests care in the kitchen.
“The steak was spot on, juicy, seasoned well, cooked just the way I ordered,” said a regular seated at the bar, who added with a grin, “I come for the meat, but I stay for the staff.”
Even the burgers, topped with sharp cheddar or a fried egg, draw rave reviews, with one local declaring, “It’s the best burger in town, hands down.”
Not every dish is a home run. A few diners have noted inconsistency in the steaks, particularly during busy hours.
“The food is always great and the service is even better. It is never a long wait,” another regular said, describing the bar as a sanctuary for solo diners and sports fans alike.
Service is the restaurant’s secret sauce. Waitstaff are attentive and personable, sometimes stopping by just to check on the game score.
“THE WAITRESS was amazing—she never rushed us and actually took the time to give us exactly what we ordered,” wrote one customer online, a sentiment echoed in dozens of reviews.
The owner is frequently seen making the rounds, shaking hands, and asking about meals, a rarity in today’s fast-casual era.
Atmosphere is as much a draw as the menu. The interior, recently refreshed with mid-century modern flair, is clean and comfortable, with dim lighting that sets a relaxed tone for game nights or family dinners.
Open sightlines to the kitchen offer a glimpse of steaks hitting the grill, and the sports theater section is usually packed during big games.
Affordability is relative. Steaks aren’t cheap, but the restaurant offers regular specials, like $10 burgers or 2-for-$20 entrée deals, making it accessible for families and fans on a budget. Early bird specials run most weekdays, and the kitchen never seems to phone it in, even on busy nights.
Community involvement has also set The All-American Steak House apart.
During a recent tornado relief fundraiser, Arkansas football players joined staff to help raise money for local victims, a gesture that underscored the restaurant’s role as a gathering place when Springdale needed it most.
The All-American Steak House delivers on its promise of a reliable local steakhouse where the beer is cold, the welcome is warm, and the grill is always fired up.
The steady stream of regulars, from Razorback fans to retirees, attests to its place in the Springdale dining scene.
As one customer put it simply, “It’s not fancy, but I always leave happy. That’s what keeps me coming back.”
In a region crowded with chain steakhouses and fast-casual upstarts, The All-American Steak House manages to carve out a niche by staying true to its roots with good food, good company, and a little local color.
It’s not trying to be New York’s Peter Luger, nor does it need to.
If the lines at the door and the hum of conversation are any indication, Springdale has found a new favorite.
The All-American Steak House isn’t about reinventing the wheel. It’s about making sure everyone from the first-time visitor to the lifelong regular feels like there’s a place at the table.
And in a state where hospitality is currency, that’s a winning bet every time.
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