Spring ball is simply across the nook for Arkansas soccer, with its first official follow in preparation of the 2023 season scheduled for March 9.
Having changed half of his teaching workers and practically half of his roster, Sam Pittman is getting into a essential a part of his tenure in Yr 4 on the helm.
The switch portal and new schemes will possible play an enormous position in simply how profitable this 12 months is, however so will the Razorbacks’ 20-man signing class, which is ranked twentieth nationally by Rivals and twenty second within the 247Sports Composite.
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A number of of these gamers gained’t be anticipated to contribute a lot as true freshmen. For instance, four-star quarterback Malachi Singleton remains to be behind KJ Jefferson and it’s uncommon for linemen on both aspect of the ball to play vital reps proper out of the gate.
Nonetheless, Arkansas soccer positive may use a few of them in 2023. Predicting precisely which gamers will emerge as contributors is troublesome, particularly earlier than seeing them in follow, however Better of Arkansas Sports activities took a stab at it. In no specific order, listed below are 5 true freshmen we consider are most primed to make a direct impression…
It’s no secret that the Razorbacks wanted tight finish assist this offseason. That was evident when their first two 2023 commitments had been tight ends…after which they added one other. After all, when the third man is as gifted as Luke Hasz, you may’t actually flip him down. That ended up understanding nice as a result of a type of first two, Jaden Hamm, flipped to Kansas after the departure of tight ends coach Dowell Loggains.
Making the room even thinner than it already was, Trey Knox determined to observe Loggains to South Carolina and Hudson Henry selected to maneuver on together with his life regardless of nonetheless having two years of eligibility remaining. The Razorbacks additionally misplaced a pair of reserves, as Erin Outley entered the switch portal and Collin Sutherland medically retired.
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They did get a lift from the return of Nathan Bax as an excellent senior, however he’s a former walk-on and never a lot of a risk within the passing recreation. In order that just about leaves solely Ty Washington, and even he’s a redshirt freshman with one profession reception — granted it was a landing within the Liberty Bowl.
Evidently, there’s enjoying time to be earned on the tight finish place, even when Arkansas brings in a switch prefer it hopes to do, and Hasz is a first-rate candidate to get a bit of it. In any case, Michigan made a robust push to flip him over the summer season and Alabama didn’t quit till simply earlier than the early signing interval. If these two faculties need you to play tight finish for them, that’s most likely an indication you’re a superb participant.
The opposite tight finish Arkansas signed was Shamar Easter, one in all solely three in-state prospects within the class. Due to all the identical causes listed above, Easter may have a terrific likelihood to earn early enjoying time for the Razorbacks.
Nonetheless, one benefit Hasz has over Easter is the truth that he’s an early enrollee and can undergo spring ball. Easter gained’t arrive on campus till this summer season. He postpone signing till the standard interval due to the teaching change, however he was all the time planning to play basketball his senior 12 months at Ashdown.
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Between Washington, Hasz and Easter, the Razorbacks may have a fairly stable younger trio of tight ends at their disposal in 2023. It stays to be seen what new offensive coordinator Dan Enos’ system will seem like, however he’s extra of a pro-style play caller than Kendal Briles and will make use of a number of tight ends in the event that they show to be higher choices than the new-look broad receiver room. The place performed a big position in his first stint, so it wouldn’t be shocking if it does once more this time round.
TJ Metcalf
Defensive Again | Pinson (Ala.) Valley 247Sports Composite: 3-star (.8842), No. 536 total, No. 51 S
Maybe no Arkansas soccer place group, together with tight ends, modified as a lot because the secondary this offseason. Each coaches answerable for defensive backs — Barry Odom and Dominique Bowman — are gone and have been changed by Marcus Woodson and Deron Wilson, plus the Razorbacks noticed double-digit gamers enter the switch portal.
Assuming there are not any extra departures, the Razorbacks should change 45.1% of their defensive again snaps from final season. No particular place was hit tougher than security, as Jalen Catalon and Simeon Blair transferred out and Latavious Brini exhausted his eligibility. Myles Slusher additionally performed security throughout his profession and he has left, too.
Arkansas does return Hudson Clark, who transformed to security halfway by means of the season, and did add All-Massive 12 performer Alfahiym Walcott from Baylor through the switch portal, however there could possibly be enjoying time opening up at security and TJ Metcalf was essentially the most heralded of the safeties within the 2023 signing class. Rivals tabbed him a four-star prospect and he has wonderful bloodlines as a cousin of Professional Bowl broad receiver DK Metcalf.
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Jaylon Braxton
Defensive Again | Frisco (Texas) Lone Star 247Sports Composite: 4-star (.9405), No. 140 total, No. 15 CB
One space the place the secondary truly appears to be robust is at cornerback. Arkansas returns starters Dwight McGlothern and Quincey McAdoo, the latter of whom earned Freshman All-SEC honors regardless of not enjoying the place till the again half of the season, plus added Lorando Johnson, a starter from Baylor, through the switch portal. It’s also getting LaDarrius Bishop again as an excellent senior.
On paper, that seems to be some fairly stable depth on the place, which might make it so much tougher for Jaylon Braxton — who’s thought-about a cornerback by the entire recruiting providers — to get on the sphere as a real freshman. Nonetheless, he’s the Razorbacks’ highest-rated incoming freshman and will nonetheless make an impression.
In highschool, Braxton excelled on either side of the ball, so he could possibly be versatile sufficient to maneuver round within the secondary. With Myles Slusher gone, the Razorbacks will want a brand new nickel and maybe he may beat out guys like Jayden Johnson and Jaylen Lewis for enjoying time at that spot.
One other place hit arduous this offseason was broad receiver. Not solely did Jadon Haselwood declare for the NFL Draft and Matt Landers exhaust his eligibility, however potential returners Ketron Jackson Jr. and Warren Thompson entered the switch portal.
Of the opposite remaining 5 broad receivers from 2022, solely Bryce Stephens, Jaedon Wilson and Isaiah Sategna have caught a move on the school degree — they usually’ve mixed for less than 17. With not a lot expertise coming again, Arkansas emphasised the place within the portal and landed a trio: Andrew Armstrong, Isaac TeSlaa and Tyrone Broden.
All three of these gamers had been extremely coveted transfers, however none of them have ever performed on the Energy 5 degree. Armstrong and TeSlaa come to Fayetteville from the FBS and Division II ranks, respectively, whereas Broden performed within the MAC.
The Razorbacks are clearly hopeful that every one three pan out, but when they don’t, they do have Davion Dozier coming in as a real freshman. He was a low- to mid-level three-star recruit when he dedicated, however is now a four-star prospect after a dominant senior season. His possibilities of contributing early on additionally tremendously elevated when touted commit Micah Tease flipped to Texas A&M, however he’ll need to make up floor within the fall as a result of he isn’t one of many early enrollees.
Susie Maynard was named Arkansas Elementary Art Teacher of the Year for 2023-24, but the White Hall School District instructor is quick to give credit to her coworkers.
“The only thing that sets me apart is that I have the best team,” Maynard said Tuesday. “That’s what makes me so good is the team. We have the best art team.”
The team puts together a district-wide art show every year at the White Hall Community Center featuring drawings, paintings, sculptures and more.
“We try to include every avenue of art,” Maynard said.
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Maynard was acknowledged for her award at a WHSD board meeting. Arkansas Art Educators presented the honor to Maynard during the fall semester.
Maynard teaches kindergarten through fifth grades at Moody and Hardin elementaries. She has taught in the WHSD for at least 15 years and also spent a year in the Little Rock School District.
She values giving students a chance to problem-solve and think for themselves.
“I don’t feel like they have enough of that, and art is such a great avenue for them to make their own decisions, to make their mistakes and figure out, how do I solve this mistake?” she said. “How do I turn it into something really cool?”
Before approaching those questions, students do learn the basics from Maynard.
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“We teach how to use the paintbrush, how to hold your pencil, how to draw different shapes and how to put it together, and then the student picks it up and carries it from there,” she said.
Other teachers nominated Maynard for the award and the AAE board decided on the winner, she said. Despite such a prestigious honor, she remains humble.
“I don’t think I stand out,” Maynard started, “but I …”
“Yes, she does,” Debbie Jones interjected. Jones is the assistant superintendent for curriculum. “There is creativity that she brings to the table, and it’s also opportunity for students to explore within their art.”
Arkansas’ economic expansion continued in the last months of 2024 and positions the state to continue building momentum as the year opens, according to a regional economic analysis released Wednesday.
Nevertheless, rising prices could hinder growth and business executives are worried about persisting inflation and the potential economic hurdles that tariff increases could create. Christmas holiday sales were uplifting, coming in better than expected and brightening the outlook for 2025.
Sales were helped by a late Thanksgiving that fueled a spending spree and delivered a kickstart to the year, the Federal Reserve Bank reported Wednesday in its Beige Book economic analysis. The report covers 12 regional districts, including Arkansas and surrounding states in the St. Louis district.
“Retailers in our district indicated that December sales were stronger than in previous years,” Charles Gascon, the Fed economist for the Arkansas region, said Wednesday.
Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn gave a long-awaited update Wednesday on the status of senior outfielder Kendall Diggs, who suffered a torn labrum during the 2024 season.
Diggs, who exited a game against McNeese State in March with the injury, was hitting .357 at the time before finishing the year with a lowly .229 batting average.
It seems, after an offseason of recovery, the SEC veteran is on track for a major return for the Diamond Hogs.
“He’s 100% cleared to do everything now,” Van Horn said Wednesday. “Now, it’s all about timing at the plate. Getting that bat speed back that he’s had in the past. Seeing live pitching and just feeling confident…now it’s not about him being part of the team, because he’s going to be a big part of the team. It’s just a matter of how soon. We know what he can do when he’s full-go.”
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A 6-foot-0, 210-pound lefty hitter from Olathe, Kansas, Diggs was named to the All-SEC Second Team in 2023 after slashing .299/.436/.547 with 12 home runs and a team-high 63 RBIs.
“You look at what (Kendall) has done in the past, he played 50-some games last year with major tears,” Van Horn said. “He’s swinging the bat, he’s going to hit live pitching tomorrow. When I say live pitching, not just batting practice, we’re talking live pitching. So, we’ll see how that goes. He’s a little bit behind, but he’ll get there.”
Even after his 2024 injury, many expected Diggs to be selected in the 2024 MLB Draft, and his return gave Arkansas another competitive piece in a loaded outfield full of transfer portal additions.
“He’s stronger than ever, even with the shoulder injury,” Van Horn said. “He’s had a chance to work on his lower half and he’s a full-grown man now. It’s time to go, and I think he’s excited about being out there.”
The Razorbacks will open their season Friday, Feb. 14, against Washington State at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville.
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