Sam Pittman gets defensive leader back for another season

Photo by Arkansas Communications
By ESPN Arkansas News Services

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

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.

RAZORBACK FOOTBALL

Sat, Sep 5vs North AlabamaW 31-14
Sat, Sep 12@ UtahL, 43-10
Sat, Sep 19GeorgiaL, 45-17
Sat, Sep 26TulsaW 34-6
Sat, Oct 3@ Texas A&ML, 34-7
Sat, Oct 10TennesseeL, 24-17
Sat, Oct 17@ VanderbiltW 31-21
Sat, Oct 31vs Missouri6:45 PM
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Sat, Nov 7@ AuburnTBA
Sat, Nov 14South CarolinaTBA
Sat, Nov 21@ TexasTBA
Sat, Nov 28vs LSUTBA

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

OVERALLRecordPts
1.Shiloh Christian (16)7-01871
2.Bentonville6-11634
3.Conway (3)6-11562
4.Joe T. Robinson7-01045
5.North Little Rock6-1937
6.Bentonville West6-1883
7.Sheridan7-0709
8.Springdale Har-Ber5-2508
9.Greenwood5-24410
10Searcy6-1426
Others receiving votes: Bryant 22, Mountain Home 7, Sylvan Hills 7, Stuttgart 6, LR Christian 4, Pulaski Academy 3, Jacksonville 3, Fayetteville 2, Benton 2, Van Buren 1, Nashville 1.
CLASS 7A
1.Shiloh Christian (16)7-0921
2.Conway (3)6-1642
3.Bentonville6-1624
4.North Little Rock6-1265
5.Bentonville West6-1193
Others receiving votes: Springdale Har-Ber 15, Bryant 7.
CLASS 6A
1.Sheridan (16)7-0902
2.Searcy6-1711
3.Mountain Home (3)6-1415
4.Sylvan Hills5-2353
5.Benton4-3314
Others receiving votes: Van Buren 12, Lake Hamilton 5.
CLASS 5A
1.Joe T. Robinson (17)7-0931
2.Greenwood (2)5-2762
3.Jacksonville6-1544
4.Farmington6-1243
Little Rock Parkview4-3245
Others receiving votes: LR Mills 7, HS Lakeside 5, Greenbrier 1, Camden Fairview 1.
CLASS 4A
1.Stuttgart (16)7-0921
2.Nashville (3)7-0792
3.Ozark7-0384
4.Elkins6-1335
5.Southside Batesville6-110—
Others receiving votes: Gravette 7, Fountain Lake 3, Forrest City 2, Lonoke 1, Booneville 1, Arkadelphia 1.

CLASS 3A
1.Bismarck (13)6-1851
3.Mansfield (2)6-2542
2.Smackover6-1413
4.Walnut Ridge (3)6-1274
5.Rivercrest6-1245
Atkins6-124—
Others receiving votes: Fordyce (1) 14, Newport 9, Prescott 5, Glen Rose 2.
CLASS 2A
1.Mount Ida (10)8-0831
2.Baptist Prep (9)7-0822
3.Marked Tree6-1383
4.Earle6-1334
5.Gurdon5-2295
Others receiving votes: Dierks 11, Magnet Cove 4, Bearden 2, Des Arc 2, Hazen 1.
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Corning (6)6-0261
2.Cedar Ridge (4)6-0242
3.Magazine (2)6-0173
Others receiving votes: Izard County 5.

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