HawgBeat’s top-20 countdown series previews 20 players who are expected to have the biggest impact for Arkansas football in 2023. The series will provide details on each player’s measurables, their 2022 season, an outlook for 2023 and HawgBeat’s take.
Checking in at No. 20 is redshirt freshman wide receiver Isaiah Sategna.
Position: Wide receiver
Year: Redshirt freshman
Height, Weight: 5-foot-11, 178 pounds
PFF Grade in 2022: 64.7
Snaps played in 2022: 26
Though he was a highly-touted four-star prospect coming out of Fayetteville High School, Sategna saw the field on offense for just 24 snaps in 2022. His other two snaps came with the punt return team.
Of the 24 snaps, 18 came against Kansas in the triple-overtime Liberty Bowl win over the Jayhawks. Sategna caught one pass for two yards against Kansas and his only other catch on the year was a 10-yard reception late in the 41-27 win over Auburn on Oct. 29.
On September 13, Sategna rolled his ankle in practice and head coach Sam Pittman said the team had “big plans” for Sategna at the time of the injury. Pittman updated Sategna’s injury prior to the Auburn game and said it was still bothering the wideout, but by that point it just made sense to preserve the redshirt year.
It feels like we’ve written more about Sategna than anyone since spring practice started in March. There is no question that Sategna was as impactful as any wide receiver the Razorbacks had during spring football.
As a senior in high school, Sategna led the nation — yes, the nation — with 1,908 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns for Fayetteville. He was also named the 2021-22 Gatorade Arkansas Boys Track & Field Player of the Year, so he’s got a good shot of beating just about anyone in a foot race.
Arkansas added three transfer wide receivers over the offseason — Andrew Armstrong, Isaac TeSlaa and Tyrone Broden. While other returners such as Bryce Stephens, Jaedon Wilson and Sam Mbake have a shot to break through, Sategna seems to have the best shot to lead all returning pass catchers in receiving yards this fall.
The speedy pass catcher had no trouble finding separation on routes out of the slot during the spring and it’s really just unfair when he makes a quick cut on a slant or bursts to the edge on an out-route for a moderate gain. He can also beat you over the top and he did so with a 65-yard score in the Red-White Scrimmage on April 15.
We made our picks on who will lead Arkansas in receiving yards in 2023, and Sategna was one of the selections.
With new offensive coordinator Dan Enos running the show, routes over the middle are going to be part of the offense much more than they have been the past three years. That favors Sategna’s abilities and he could easily break out as a go-to target for quarterback KJ Jefferson.
Sategna has added muscle, confidence and even speed since his freshman campaign. Arkansas is going to need his efforts and big-play capability this fall.
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Associated Press
Arkansas State Red Wolves (4-1) vs. Indiana State Sycamores (3-3)
Nassau, Bahamas; Friday, 4:30 p.m. EST
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Red Wolves -8.5; over/under is 157.5
BOTTOM LINE: Indiana State takes on Arkansas State in Nassau, Bahamas.
The Sycamores are 3-3 in non-conference play. Indiana State ranks third in the MVC with 16.3 assists per game led by Samage Teel averaging 4.8.
The Red Wolves are 4-1 in non-conference play. Arkansas State is 4-0 when it wins the turnover battle and averages 11.2 turnovers per game.
Indiana State averages 11.2 made 3-pointers per game, 6.2 more made shots than the 5.0 per game Arkansas State gives up. Arkansas State has shot at a 41.4% rate from the field this season, 1.2 percentage points less than the 42.6% shooting opponents of Indiana State have averaged.
TOP PERFORMERS: Camp Wagner is shooting 38.7% from beyond the arc with 2.4 made 3-pointers per game for the Sycamores, while averaging 9.2 points.
Joseph Pinion averages 2.4 made 3-pointers per game for the Red Wolves, scoring 9.6 points while shooting 44.4% from beyond the arc.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
On a bitter afternoon in Kansas City, Missouri, the No. 19 Arkansas Razorbacks (5-2) were defeated by the Illinois Fighting Illini (6-1), 90-77, inside the T-Mobile Center.
Right out of the gates, Arkansas’ lack of physicality and focus was noticable. Not only did that result in 11 total turnovers throughout the contest, but the Razorbacks couldn’t stop the Illini from finishing white-hot from distance (15-of-31 from three), either.
Leading the Hogs was forward Adou Thiero, who racked up 26 points, six rebounds, an assist and a steal. 12 of his points came from the charity stripe, where he shot 21 attempts in total.
Below are social media reactions from fans and media throughout the Hoop Hogs’ non-conference loss:
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -— If Taylen Green and Luke Hasz needed more motivation going into his first Battle Line Rivalry game this Saturday, then being ticked off at Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz for blatantly butchering their names should do it.
“Talon Green” pic.twitter.com/iIO8EhjG4i
— Tyler Cass (@TVTylerCass) November 26, 2024
Green’s name isn’t hard to pronounce given it sounds just like it looks Tay-Len, not Tal-On as Drinkwitz said. It’s obvious that Missouri’s coach knows exactly what he’s doing given his antics over the previous four seasons that get under other SEC fanbase’s and coaches skin.
The Boise State transfer has shown himself to be a playmaker when he can take care of the ball. Green has recorded 3,052 yards of total offense and 20 touchdowns this season and could make a statement with a clean performance and victory at Missouri.
Not seen in the short clip is a few seconds later Drinkwitz saying Luke Hasz’ name as “Halls” which is totally off and a pronunciation most haven’t heard. It’s the small things like this which Missouri’s coach is allowed to get away with by most conference members.
Nearly 20 years ago, former LSU coach Les Miles had an infamous press conference as he was being courted by Michigan to be its next coach in 2007. The Tigers were No. 1 in the nation with a 10-1 record overall going up against 7-4 Arkansas.
As he was being asked about the Michigan noise, Miles assured media and fans that he was focused as LSU’s head coach and playing its rival “Ar-Kansas” that Black Friday.
Lol remember how Les Miles pronounced Arkansas? pic.twitter.com/GstRPjMSpP
— KB (@KBKnowzBest) November 24, 2019
Arkansas coach Houston Nutt used the soundbite above as motivation for his team that day as the Razorbacks pulled out a memorable 50-48 triple overtime victory which was thought to end LSU’s title hopes. Two-time Heisman runner up Darren McFadden had one of his finest performances in one of the Hogs’ greatest wins in program history with 206 yards rushing and four total touchdowns.
Immediately after the game, Nutt and McFadden met with CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson to celebrate their monumental upset. The Razorbacks’ coach embraced his star running back and proclaimed him as the best player in the country. The proud Little Rock native responded with a correction of Miles stating “It ain’t Ar-Kansas, it’s Arkansas, baby!”
“I GOT THAT WOOD!”
In 2007, Darren McFadden ran for 206 yards and 4 total TD in @RazorbackFB‘s 3OT upset of No. 1 LSU in Death Valley 💪 pic.twitter.com/tbDakDRWft
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 23, 2020
For the sake of talking about one of the most memorable Arkansas games of all-time, it would be shameful to not at least include highlights of McFadden’s epic performance. That game ended an era as Nutt resigned and moved onto Ole Miss where he spent his next four seasons before becoming an analyst for CBS Sports.
Darren McFadden’s Heisman like performance vs #1 LSU in Death Valley 🐐 (2007) pic.twitter.com/ON2IP0ech5
— College Football Report (@CFBRep) December 27, 2023
The Tigers ended up winning the SEC Championship with several other teams ranked ahead losing to regain a spot in the national title game, ultimately winning it. On that fateful day, it was all about the Razorbacks who brought the wood and beat LSU without doubt similar to what Green could do in response to Drinkwitz.
“That’s how you pronounce it. It ain’t Ta-Lon or Halls, it’s Taylen and Hasz, baby.”
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