FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Special teams for Arkansas will feature new faces and higher expectations heading into the 2025 season.
Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman aims to turn an area of past concern into a program strength.
The Hogs, who struggled with consistency and big-play capability on special teams in 2024, are counting on the arrival of standout return specialist Kam Shanks and highly regarded freshman kicker Scott Starzyk to spark improvement across the board.
Shanks joins Arkansas after transferring from Alabama-Birmingham, where he led the nation in punt return average last season at 20.6 yards per attempt and scored two touchdowns.
His performance earned him a spot as a finalist for the Jet Award and preseason First Team All-SEC honors from Phil Steele. Pittman said Shanks’ ability to shift field position gives Arkansas an immediate weapon:
“We targeted Kam because he can change the game with one return,” Pittman said during SEC Media Days.
Pittman also indicated that the Razorbacks’ overall size and depth have improved on special teams, creating more competition for roles this summer.
Special teams coordinator Scott Fountain, now in his fifth season at Arkansas, will look to maximize the unit’s potential after a year in which Arkansas allowed several long returns and struggled with placekicking accuracy.
The kicking game will be in the spotlight early, as Starzyk, a five-star recruit out of Texas, steps into a starting role.
Ranked as the No. 1 kicker nationally by Kohl’s Kicking, Starzyk impressed coaches during spring practice but has yet to attempt a field goal in a college game.
“He’s shown he can make kicks in practice,” Pittman said. “Now we need to see him do it in the stadium with a crowd.”
Redshirt freshman Charlie Von Der Meden and transfer Blake Ford are also in the mix for kicking duties, though neither has attempted a field goal at the collegiate level.
Pittman expressed confidence that the competition would produce a reliable option by the start of the season.
Returning at punter is Devin Bale, who averaged 45.2 yards per punt last season, including 11 punts downed inside the 20-yard line and 11 of 50 yards or more.
Bale’s consistency earned him Preseason Third Team All-SEC recognition. Pittman said Bale is “one of the most valuable players on our roster” and his experience will be crucial in close games this fall.
The Hogs face a demanding 2025 schedule, with eight opponents ranked in the FPI Top 25, including home matchups against Notre Dame and Texas. Pittman said special teams execution could tip the balance in a year where margins are expected to be slim.
The Razorbacks have focused on improved coverage and tackling during offseason workouts, seeking to eliminate costly errors that contributed to several losses in 2024. Pittman said the unit’s progress will be measured by its ability to deliver in high-pressure moments.
“We need to be sound in every phase to win in this league,” he said.
Arkansas will open the season on Aug. 30 against Alabama A&M at Razorback Stadium. Pittman said the team may hold open preseason practices to allow kickers and returners to perform in front of fans before the season opener.
That would be a fresh approach for the Hogs, who have done most of their preseason practices behind closed doors. Exactly why has never been explained because that’s not what NFL teams do, so it’s hard sometimes to understand.
