Arkansas
Gabe Gaeckle Ready to Take Next Step for Arkansas in 2025
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said it early on. Pitcher Gabe Gaeckle was on a two-year course, bullpen arm the first year, then ascend to an even bigger role once the likes of former ace Hagen Smirh moved on.
“I feel like he’ll be a starter for us,” Van Horn said in March. “He could be a starter this year but we got some guys. If we needed him to start, we could start him. He’ll be a starter next year for sure and that’s what I see.”
Now those guys are gone, the entire starting rotation from last year, Smith, Brady Tygart and Mason Molina have all started their pro careers. It leaves a massive void that Gaeckle is may help help fill.
“Whatever they want me to do I’m happy to do,” Gaeckle said. “I’m starting the scrimmages, so they’re probably building me up for that.”
After a stellar freshman season in which he became the team’s closer and pitched to a 2.32 ERA across 42 2/3 innings, Gaeckle’s fall got off to a rough start. He gave up three homers to the first three batters that he faced.
Four appearances into the fall Gaeckle is starting to settle in. He struck out five of the seven hitters he faced in two clean innings Thursday.
“I’m just working on a few pitches.” Gaeckle said. “I’m trying to throw more change-ups to righties this fall. I’ve done that a few times. Just sharpening up the rest of the arsenal.”
Although Gaeckle is one of the frontrunners to lock down a spot in the starting rotation, Van Horn has no shortage of candidates. Left-handed transfer from Ohio State Landon Beidelschies has yet to allow a run in two appearances, according to unofficial stats kept by the Arkansas media. Gage Wood is also trying to make a case after taking over in the rotation late last year.
East Carolina transfer Zach Root also becomes the next left hander to wear 33 under Van Horn. His fastball sat 91-93 Thursday in his inning of work.
Homers continue to fly out of Baum-Walker Stadium at a steady pace, including six in Thursday’s scrimmage. It was the first homer of the fall for both second baseman Cam Kozeal and catcher Elliott Peterson. Third baseman Brent Iredale also hit his team-leading fifth homer.
Arkansas will continue scrimmaging Saturday, all scrimmages are free and open to the public. A time has not been announced. The Razorbacks will play its annual Fall Classic, a seven-inning intrasquad scrimmage, 6 p.m. Oct. 4. The event is also free and open to the public.
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Arkansas
OPINION | WALLY HALL: Arkansas will need more than Robinson’s coerced contribution | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
Wally Hall
Wally Hall is assistant managing sports editor for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. A graduate of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock after an honorable discharge from the U.S. Air Force, he is a member and past president of the Football Writers Association of America, member of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, past president and current executive committee and board member of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, and voter for the Heisman Trophy. He has been awarded Arkansas Sportswriter of the Year 10 times and has been inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and Arkansas Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame.
Will Garrett Nussmeier’s size hold him back in the NFL?
LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier will look to impress scouts at the NFL Combine despite size concerns.
Move over, Anthony Richardson. There’s a new quarterback athletic marvel at the NFL scouting combine.
On Saturday in Indianapolis, Arkansas’ Taylen Green broke Richardson’s top marks at the position since 2003 for both the vertical leap and broad jump. Green’s 43½-inch vertical topped Richardson’s previous high by three inches, while his 11-2 broad jump beat the Indianapolis Colts signal-caller’s measurement by five inches.
Then, Green reeled off a 4.36-second 40-yard dash time. That stood as the second-best time for any quarterback since 2003, trailing only Reggie McNeal in 2006 (4.35 seconds). Richardson, for comparison, logged a 4.43-second mark in 2023.
Green didn’t even bother with a second attempt after his initial time.
The testing profile created quite the stir around the 6-6, 227-pound passer, who had widely projected as a developmental option for teams on Day 3.
NFL Network’s Charles Davis said Green told him that no teams had approached him about working out as a receiver, adding that he would not be interested in a position switch.
Green started for the Razorbacks for the last two seasons after playing the first three years of his career at Boise State. Known for his running ability and ample arm strength, Green threw for 2,714 yards and 19 touchdowns last year while adding 777 yards and eight scores on the ground.
It was a banner day for Arkansas, as running back Mike Washington Jr. also stood out among his peers with a group-leading 4.33-second 40-yard dash as well as strong marks in the vertical leap (39 inches) and broad jump (10-8).
Rex Nelson
Rex Nelson has been senior editor and columnist at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since 2017, and he has a biweekly podcast called “Southern Fried.”
After graduating from Ouachita Baptist University in 1981, he was a sportswriter for the Arkansas Democrat for a year before becoming editor of Arkadelphia’s Daily Siftings Herald. He was the youngest editor of a daily in Arkansas at age 23. Rex was then news and sports director at KVRC-KDEL from 1983-1985.
He returned to the Democrat as assistant sports editor in 1985. From 1986-1989, he was its Washington correspondent. He left to be Jackson T. Stephens’ consultant.
Rex became the Democrat-Gazette’s first political editor in 1992, but left in 1996 to join then-Gov. Mike Huckabee’s office. He also served from 2005-09 in the administration of President George W. Bush.
From 2009-2018, he worked stints at the Communications Group, Arkansas’ Independent Colleges and Universities, and Simmons First National Corp.
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