Arkansas Flips the Script

Two years in the past, Arkansas employed a extensively unknown place coach named Sam Pittman to be the pinnacle coach of its floundering program, and let’s be trustworthy, all of us had a giant chortle over it.

To not single Mandel out (okay, perhaps slightly bit), however this response was a reasonably customary take on the time:

That take has not aged effectively. Taking on a staff coming off back-to-back 2-10 seasons, Pittman struggled in his first yr, however did get the Hogs to 3 wins, which hides their precise enchancment. Arkansas was 1-23 within the SEC the three years prior, and he went 3-7 in convention play in his first season.

Final yr, he guided Arkansas to their greatest season in a decade. Now, it says so much in regards to the fall of Arkansas soccer that 9-4 (4-4) counts as their greatest season in a decade, nevertheless it additionally speaks extremely of the job Pittman has finished.

Arkansas is managing to compete in probably the most stacked division within the nation. Now, they’re being helped by the very fact LSU took the final two seasons off from being top-of-the-line packages within the nation and regardless of the heck is happening at Auburn, however that’s what Arkansas has to do. Take benefit when the door opens a crack.

That is nonetheless a staff affected by a large expertise hole. Final yr’s Workforce Expertise Composite from 247 rated the Hogs because the tenth most gifted roster within the SEC, and forward of solely Mississippi St within the West (and barely at that). They have been the one SEC West staff with no five-star recruit on the roster.

Although the Workforce Expertise calculator additionally demonstrates how powerful it’s to play within the SEC West. Arkansas is 6^th within the West and 10^th within the SEC by the expertise rankings, but it ranks because the 28^th most gifted roster within the nation. This can be a gifted roster, simply not relative to its neighbors.

Arkansas was hit comparatively arduous by commencement and transfers, however they’ve finished an admirable job of plugging the holes by means of the switch portal. Their portal exercise offers you an thought of simply how a lot the brand new guidelines are serving to Arkansas keep afloat.

Based on the 247 composite, Arkansas had seven 4-star recruits and solely two rated above .900. Within the portal, they added 5 extra 4-stars, two of whom have been 5-stars as highschool seniors. And all 5 rated as .900 or higher. That’s a stellar job of stopping expertise drain at a spot that may barely afford it.

Regardless of the hole in uncooked expertise, Arkansas produced final yr. The Razorbacks boasted the SEC’s high speeding assault, averaging 227.8 yards a recreation and 5.04 yards per carry. They return 4 begins on the road and whereas they lose nominal starter Trelon Smith, Raheim Sanders solely had 5 much less carries. The remainder of the backfield returns.

And that features the man who makes this staff go, KJ Jefferson. Jefferson was really the staff’s main rusher final yr, however he was a real double risk. Jefferson accomplished 67.3% of his passes for a mean of 9.1 yards per try. He has an excellent case to be the very best quarterback within the SEC not named Bryce Younger.

Nonetheless, Jefferson is the exception on a staff that doesn’t concentrate on star energy. A largely no-name protection ranked fifth within the SEC in yards/play, and sure will repeat that efficiency. Barry Odom has an extended monitor within the SEC of turning frivolously recruited gamers into, effectively perhaps not elite, however undoubtedly excellent defenses.

Arkansas is a program which is a testomony to the worth of fine teaching. They aren’t going to out expertise anybody, however they’re going to beat quite a lot of somebody’s. Arkansas and A&M each went 4-4 in SEC play final yr, however Arkansas beat the Aggies straight up. What proof is there that the hole between these packages has narrowed?

Arkansas goes to look similar to they did final yr. They may have a stable protection full of fellows you could have by no means heard of. They may have an elite energy operating recreation behind a terrific offensive line. And they’ll have a dynamic playmaker underneath middle who has the power to make huge performs occur.

If Arkansas is ever going to make a run on the SEC title, that is the yr. LSU is reloading, A&M’s spectacular class remains to be inexperienced, and Ole Miss is more likely to take a step again with out Matt Corral. The door is open only a crack.

You may’t cease progress, however perhaps Arkansas can gradual it down for a season. They’ve the employees to do it.