Sam Pittman gets defensive leader back for another season

Jalen Catalon made the announcement Tuesday that was really not that surprising:

Dear Arkansas…❤️ pic.twitter.com/zKFMkQOsc9

— Jalen Catalon (@jcatalon27) December 14, 2021

And Sam Pittman gets his hardest-hitting defender back for another year. The NFL will have to wait another year.

After missing the final six games of the regular season with a shoulder injury, Catalon’s NFL prospects dropped a little. NFL teams are waiting

Catalon has 151 tackles (3.5 tackles for loss), nine pass breakups, five interceptions and three forced fumbles in 17 career games at Arkansas. His 79.4 overall grade was the second-best among safeties in the SEC during the 2020 season, according to Pro Football Focus.

In 2021, he recorded 46 tackles (1.5 tackles for loss), four pass breakups and two interceptions. While Catalon’s injury may have affected his draft ranking, ESPN’s Mel Kiper still listed Catalon as the No. 6 safety prospect in the draft.

As a redshirt freshman in 2020, he became the first Razorback defensive back to earn All-SEC honors from the league’s coaches since Michael Grant in 2007.

Catalon was also the first SEC freshman to post at least 86 tackles and three interceptions since Tennessee’s Eric Berry in 2007.