Arkansas begins a crucial season for coach Sam Pittman when the Razorbacks meet Alabama A&M on Saturday afternoon at Fayetteville, Ark.
Arkansas hasn’t had a profitable mark in Southeastern Convention play in 5 seasons below Pittman, a former Georgia assistant coach. So coming off final yr’s 7-6 total report, the Razorbacks want to make strides.
“Throughout camp, I believe we have carried out every thing as a employees that we needed to get achieved,” Pittman mentioned. “Every year, you have to get higher.”
The Alabama A&M program is at a unique stage with the Soccer Championship Subdivision staff below first-year coach Sam Shade. The Bulldogs had been 6-6 final season.
This would be the first-ever assembly between the groups.
Arkansas quarterback Taylen Inexperienced is attempting to construct on the 2024 season by which he threw for 3,154 yards and totaled 23 complete touchdowns (15 passing, eight speeding). Inexperienced joins Oklahoma’s John Mateer because the lone lively QBs within the nation to have thrown for greater than 3,000 yards and rushed for greater than 600 yards final yr.
Inexperienced ought to have loads of weapons with the Razorbacks of their second season since former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino returned to the staff as offensive coordinator.
“We’re studying that we have now a fairly dang good group of wideouts,” Pittman mentioned.
One of many compelling storylines entails sophomore receiver Monte Harrison, a former main league baseball participant who turned 30 earlier this month. He made two catches in his first season with the Razorbacks.
“He stored working and now he is a type of guys you wish to go to,” Pittman mentioned. “He actually is a man you wish to go to.”
Shade spent the previous three seasons at Division II Miles earlier than he was employed at Alabama A&M.
Quarterback Cornelious Brown IV will stay the starter for the Bulldogs, giving the brand new employees a degree of consolation.
“He has performed a lot soccer so it is laborious for different guys behind him to push to be in that spot proper now as a result of he has simply performed a lot ball,” Shade mentioned. “We’re form of leaning on that have.”
Quarterback JD Davis II, a switch from Western Michigan, might be one of many backups.
“He has made a whole lot of enchancment from spring ball up till now,” Shade mentioned. “He desires to be on the market.”
Alabama A&M receiver Duke Miller has missed preseason observe time with a boot on his foot, so his standing is murky. Shade mentioned he favored how the speeding assault clicked for the Bulldogs throughout a few of their scrimmage work late within the preseason.
–Subject Stage Media