Arkansas

Arkansas football report: Texas A&M QB Weigman a ‘game-time decision’ | Whole Hog Sports

Published

2 years ago

September 26, 2024

Arkansas football report: Texas A&M QB Weigman a ‘game-time decision’ | Whole Hog Sports

FAYETTEVILLE — Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman, who missed the previous two games with a shoulder injury, has been “taking reps on the side” in practice, Coach Mike Elko said Wednesday.

“I think he’s progressing and getting better,” Elko said. “We’re hopeful that we’re going to have him available on Saturday. It will kind of be more of a game-time decision in that regard.”

TJ Shanahan, who started at center last week against Bowling Green, won’t play against Arkansas due to a leg injury, Elko said.

The Aggies have started three centers, with Mark Nabou suffering a season-ending knee injury in the opener against Notre Dame and his replacement, Kolinu’u Faaiu, suffering an injury at Florida.

Faaiu is listed as the starting center against Arkansas with Ashton Funk as the backup. Faaui went in against Bowling Green after Shanahan’s injury.

Safety Bryce Anderson was listed as questionable in the Aggies’ first injury report posted Wednesday.

No FG

Coach Sam Pittman said he felt it was too risky to try a field goal from the Auburn 20-yard line with 1:00 remaining and the Tigers out of timeouts during the Hogs’ 24-14 win Saturday.

Instead of trying a 38-yard field goal on fourth-and-20, the Hogs handed off to Braylen Russell, who was held up for no gain, stopping the clock with 56 seconds left on the change of possession.

“There’s no way we could lose unless they block a field goal and return it,” Pittman said. “The thing is, if you make the field goal what difference does it make? You’re up 13.

“The other thing you have to do is you have to kick the ball off again. So you have two special teams scenarios there where if you get it down to 52 seconds left [ahead by] 10, you probably have a pretty good feeling you’re going to win.

“The risk of a blocked field goal and/or making it and having to kick off was much greater to me than having them have the ball down there inside the 20 and them having to go somewhere around 80 yards with 52 seconds, no timeouts and score again.”

Pitt’s concern

Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman said he thinks the entire coaching fraternity is concerned about the situation former Missouri coach and Arkansas defensive coordinator Barry Odom is facing in his second season at UNLV.

Transfer quarterback Matthew Sluka announced Tuesday night he was going to redshirt after the Rebels’ 3-0 start due to what he termed were “unfulfilled commitments” related to name, image and likeness.

“I think we all are concerned about it, to be honest with you,” Pittman said on Wednesday’s SEC coaches teleconference. “What happened, he said, she said, all that. The one thing about a football coach is you can’t really comment on those things and the kid can. The kid can, the agent can, whoever can, but you can’t. So a lot of times, the real story is somewhere in between.”

Highlight reel

Pittman said he was going to show the Razorbacks five clips of plays on special teams in Monday’s meetings, including two tackles by snapper Ashton Ngo on Auburn punt returner Keionte Scott and one by kickoff man Devin Bale.

The other clips, he said, were for the work by Bryce Stephens and Dazmin James in coverage and of Dylan Hasz taking up three or four blockers on coverage.

“The message is, this is about a team,” Pittman said. “I think the guys are really buying in on special teams. We could’ve played better and all that, but we played really well.”

Clark named

Arkansas defensive back Hudson Clark was named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy on Wednesday by the National Football Foundation and the College Hall of Fame.

The Campbell Trophy is given annually to the best football scholar-athlete in the country for his combined success in academics, football and leadership.

Clark, also a semifinalist for the award in 2023, was named a first-team Academic All-American and NFF Hampshire Honor Society member last year.

A redshirt senior from Dallas, Clark has five career interceptions and 187 tackles, both team highs among active Arkansas players.

The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 23 and each of those players will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship.

A suplex?

Arkansas tailback Ja’Quinden Jackson had some interesting reps in pass protection at Auburn.

In addition to a few routine reps in which he met a blitzer in the gap and held him up, Jackson had two wild plays.

On a fourth-and-1 call late in the second quarter, Jackson just whiffed on the right edge on linebacker Jalen McLeod, who had unimpeded access to Taylen Green on a play-action throw and sacked him for a 6-yard loss.

Later, on a critical 6-yard keeper by Green to pick up third-and-4 on an Arkansas touchdown drive, Jackson was responsible for edge blitzer Eugene Asante. As the linebacker neared Jackson, he went low to drive into the back and Jackson appeared to clasp his arms around Asante’s left leg, pivoting and upending him before planting him in the grass as Green wheeled past.

The Auburn sideline erupted in protest on the play, with lip readers noting Coach Hugh Freeze shouted to the nearest official, “He suplexed the **** out of him!”

ESPN analyst Roddy Jones defended Jackson’s block as the network replayed it three times.

“I didn’t see a hold,” Jones said. “He kind of got his arms around him as he got lifted.”

Added play-by-play announcer Mark Jones, “That kind of reminds me of Greco-Roman wrestling in the Olympics.”

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Arkansas

DeGray Lake Resort State Park offers a week’s worth of summer fun in Arkansas

Published

2 hours ago

June 26, 2026

Press Room

DeGray Lake Resort State Park offers a week’s worth of summer fun in Arkansas

Bismarck, Ark. (KATV) — If your idea of a perfect summer getaway includes a clear lake, plenty of elbow room and enough activities to keep the whole family busy for days, DeGray Lake might be calling your name.

In the run-up to America’s 250th birthday, DeGray Lake is being highlighted as Arkansas’ only resort state park — a place designed to be a one-stop vacation spot where guests can settle in and stay put.

“We are Arkansas’s only resort state park, and with that, we have enough to keep a guest and their family busy for really a whole week,” a park representative said.

The park’s setup is meant to keep everything in one place, from the lodge and pool to the restaurant and swim beach. Visitors can also find trails, four stables, golf, disc golf, fling golf and interpretive programs held every day during the summertime.

“So really, the whole package is designed so that people, they would never leave, never need to leave the park while they’re here on vacation, they can be here all week,” the representative said. “We’ve got your food, we’ve got your lodging, we’ve got plenty to keep you busy and having a good time. That’s what makes us Arkansas’s only resort state park.”

Water sports are a big summertime draw, and the park also offers a range of ways to stay overnight — whether you want comfort, something in-between, or a more traditional camping experience.

“If you like getting in the outdoors, but you don’t like staying in the outdoors, you can come stay in our comfy lot,” the representative said, noting the lodge has 96 rooms. For a “step up from camping,” the park also has three yurts available, described as a more glamorous option with bunk beds, a sky dome and a door that locks. Campsites are also available, ranging from RV hookups to simple tent sites.

For anglers and lake lovers, the park representative said the fishing is great and the water is clear, with options that include line fishing, spear fishing and scuba diving.

“It’s a beautiful lake,” the representative said. “We’re nestled right here in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains.”

The park is described as a little off the beaten path — but that’s part of the charm.

“I tell people all the time it’s kind of like the best kept secret, because you look out there at that lake, not too busy,” the representative said.

For more information on planning a visit, click here.

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Arkansas

Arkansas Governor joins national A.I. workforce initiative

Published

12 hours ago

June 25, 2026

Press Room

Arkansas Governor joins national A.I. workforce initiative

LITTLE ROCK, AR (KATV) — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has joined a new national artificial intelligence initiative that launched Thursday, June 25.

RAISE US, started by former Governor Eric Holcomb of Indiana and Gina Raimondo, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce is a nonpartisan national organization that will partner with governors, employers, workers and training organizations to help the workforce transition to an AI economy.

“As artificial intelligence transforms America’s economy, we have one clear message: technology should empower people, not replace them. By leveraging our Arkansas LAUNCH initiative, and with the resources and expertise provided by RAISE US, Arkansas will turn that mission into reality. We want the Natural State to be a leader on education, workforce training, and up-skilling, and this new partnership gives us the tools we need to build a model for the entire nation.”

The organization will design and pilot incentives to retrain workers, new approaches to support job transitions, and training models tied to employer demand.

RAISE US launches with more than two dozen American companies and philanthropies and initial state partnerships in Connecticut, Maryland and Utah.

“America has a technology strategy for leading the global AI competition. It does not yet have a people strategy — and we cannot lead without one,” Raimondo, who will serve as CEO of RAISE US, said.

“If we build the best AI systems in the world and leave millions of Americans behind, we won’t have won anything; we’ll have automated our own decline. I believe AI will create new jobs and industries over time, but the transition could be disruptive, and it’s already underway. We shouldn’t fearmonger, but we can’t pretend our training and worker support systems are ready either. It’s time for innovative and practical solutions. This moment demands ambition, urgency, and creativity. We’ve assembled the country’s top companies, best economists, and bipartisan governors at a scale rarely seen — all to advance new ideas and incentives, pilot them with governors and business, and scale what works.”

Governor Sanders is partnering with RAISE US to support Arkansas LAUNCH, an AI-powered career navigation platform that connects students and jobseekers to personalized learning and employer-linked career pathways.

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