Late within the 2022 season, each hitting and pitching have faltered for the Arkansas baseball crew. It’s possible that pitching will enhance first, nonetheless, given the probably return of Peyton Pallette in 2023 and the truth that Arkansas was robust on the mound for a lot of this season. Hitting, although, wants a jolt. Over the previous 5 video games, 4 of which had been towards Alabama, the Razorbacks are solely scoring 4.2 runs per sport and hitting .234 as a crew. Walks per sport are down to 3 from the season common of 5 for Arkansas.
It’s clear the Razorbacks may use one other dependable bat within the lineup, they usually might have discovered that bat for subsequent season in Peyton Holt from the junior school ranks. Arkansas lately bought a dedication from JUCO switch Peyton Holt from Crowder School in Neosho, Missouri. The shortstop from Greenwood, Arkansas had initially dedicated to play in Fayetteville for the category of 2019, however opted to spend a while changing into an absolute terror on the decrease ranks first.
Advertisement
By way of 56 video games, Holt is hitting .430 with 9 dwelling runs, 74 RBIs, 68 runs scored and 22 stolen bases.
“Clearly I’ve at all times needed to be a Hog rising up,” Holt advised the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. “I felt prefer it was a great match for each of us. The expectations and requirements of this system and the need to win a nationwide championship is precisely what I’m on the lookout for in a program.”
“I really feel like we’re a fantastic match for one another,” Holt stated. “I just like the teaching employees and I do know guys which have come by way of that program and liked it. It’s the very best school baseball environment within the nation and I’m pumped to get down there and be part of it.”
Holt was a great wanting prospect popping out of highschool, who additionally starred on the soccer area. As a senior, he handed for over 3,000 yards, 23 touchdowns and led Greenwood to a 12-1 file.
It was on the diamond, although, that he shined even brighter, growing into the the fourth-ranked baseball participant in Arkansas and the highest shortstop coming from the Pure State. He was additionally the eighth-highest ranked commit Arkansas had in 2019. He was ranked above names comparable to Peyton Pallette, Brady Slavens and Will McEntire.
Advertisement
Taking part in for Crowder School was in all probability the right path for Holt as a result of he probably would have sat behind senior shortstop Jalen Battles the previous two years and Holt is at present having an exceptional season for the Roughriders.
“I feel within the state of Arkansas all people would agree Peyton Holt has been among the best gamers the state has had over the past 5 to 10 years,” Arkansas Sticks coach Chase Brewster advised the Democrat-Gazette. “Undoubtedly in our Sticks program, he’s among the best gamers we’ve ever had.”
Some notable present Razorbacks who got here to Fayetteville from JUCO embrace Jalen Battles, Brady Slavens and Braydon Webb.
Battles hit .320 with six dwelling runs at McLennan Neighborhood School in 2019 over 56 video games. Brady Slavens hit .507 and mashed 14 spherical trippers in 22 video games for Johnson County Neighborhood School within the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Braydon Webb hit .450 with 14 lengthy balls over 55 video games at Grayson Neighborhood School in 2019.
Former Arkansas first baseman Jared Gates had comparable numbers at Iowa Western Neighborhood School in 2016 in comparison with Peyton Holt at Crowder. Gates hit .434 with eight dwelling runs as a sophomore earlier than coming to Fayetteville for 2 years. Gates went on to hit .243 with 12 dwelling runs and 37 RBIs over 83 video games as a Hog and helped lead the 2018 Nationwide runner-up squad.
Advertisement
On the identical 2018 crew, shortstop Jax Biggers could also be a fair higher comparability. He hit .385 with seven dwelling runs as a sophomore at Cisco Junior School earlier than transferring to Arkansas. He hit .338 with 4 dwelling runs in his first 12 months with the Razorbacks.
Boding Properly for Peyton Holt
Arkansas has discovered success with gamers coming in from junior schools. As a rule, these gamers are available able to carry out after growing at a junior school when they might have simply been using the bench in Fayetteville. If the contributions of latest Arkansas baseball gamers from group schools is any indication, Holt must be a strong participant for the Razorbacks.
With Robert Moore and Jalen Battles each presumably going to the MLB Draft, that opens the door for Peyton Holt to start out within the center infield. He shall be competing with Drake Varnado and Peyton Stovall for these positions. Varnado has primarily been a pinch runner this 12 months whereas Stovall has been the beginning first baseman. There are additionally just a few incoming gamers who might compete for the place as nicely.
“He can play any place on the sector however first or pitcher,” Brewster stated. “I do know a few professional guys have turned him in as a catcher. He’s performed the outfield for Crowder. Within the Junior School World Sequence final 12 months, he performed left area. He’s performed second base and shortstop for them this 12 months.”
Holt’s elite versatility is uncommon and will increase his potential worth to subsequent 12 months’s crew. She he not land at shortstop, he may transfer anyplace across the area to maintain his bat within the lineup. Though the Razorbacks’ batting took a big dip in 2022 in comparison with earlier seasons, don’t anticipate it to remain down with expertise like Peyton Holt coming aboard.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Hope springs eternal every offseason, but Arkansas football got the optimism train for 2025 off the tracks Friday night in its 2024 season finale.
The Razorbacks (7-6) led from start-to-finish in a 39-26 victory over Texas Tech at the Liberty Bowl. The Hogs racked up 559 yards on offense, held the Red Raiders (8-5) to just seven points in the second half and played a near-perfect game on special teams. In all three phases, Arkansas executed, giving the Razorbacks their third winning season in the past four years under head coach Sam Pittman.
But there is also a beacon to the hope in the form of redshirt junior quarterback Taylen Green. The Texas native was dynamic against the Red Raiders, throwing for 341 yards and running for 81 more. He accounted for three touchdowns, and as Arkansas ran away in the second half, Texas Tech’s defense had no answer.
Advertisement
Green will return to Arkansas for his final college season next year, and why shouldn’t coaches or fans believe he can give SEC defenses the same issues in 2025?
“Taylen took over,” Pittman said. “We have Taylen Green, a lot of teams don’t, and it gives us opportunity to win.”
More: Former Missouri wide receiver Courtney Crutchfield transfers to Arkansas
More: Here’s how we graded Arkansas football in Liberty Bowl win over Texas Tech
Green did all of the things Arkansas fans have seen in flashes throughout the season Friday night. He hit receivers in stride and extended plays with his legs. Some of those resulted in long runs, and others finished with him finding an open target on the move.
Advertisement
The quarterback led Arkansas to touchdowns on its first three possessions of the game and slammed the door shut on a potential Texas Tech comeback with a 47-yard touchdown pass to Tyrell Reed Jr. in the third quarter. It was the first reception of Reed’s Arkansas career.
A similar milestone was set in the first quarter. The first catch of Dazmin James’ college career resulted in a 94-yard touchdown that gave Arkansas a 21-3 lead. It was the longest touchdown reception in Arkansas history and the longest pass in Liberty Bowl history.
“It’s crazy, we were talking about that slant in the hotel, the whole week, and it came to fruition,” Green said.
Advertisement
Reed and James’ production keyed the Arkansas victory, but it also represented a question answered for Green’s development.
All season, Green relied heavily on wide receiver Andrew Armstrong, who accounted for more than 30% of Green’s passing yards in the regular season. Sometimes, Green keyed too much on Armstrong.
Against Texas Tech, Green showed he can thrive regardless of his weapons. In addition to Armstrong, Arkansas was without the services of Luke Hasz and Isaiah Sategna. James finished with three catches for 137 yards, and freshman CJ Brown had four catches. The only familiar target, Isaac TeSlaa, had three catches for 107 yards.
“It just speaks to our depth, not just at the receiver position, but the running backs, tight ends, O-line,” Green said. “That’s the one thing you know I knew when I committed here — I knew y’all probably didn’t know yet — but just the weapons that we have offensively. I’m just grateful and excited that they have their opportunity.”
Advertisement
Just as he has all season, Green deflected the praise to his teammates and coaches. He walks the walk and talks the talk as a starting quarterback and program figurehead in the SEC.
Arkansas will have plenty of holes to fill this offseason. The Hogs need to find three new starters on the offensive line and three more at wide receiver. They’ve already started finding replacements through the transfer portal and have a good foundation returning on defense.
But Green is the central focus for any offseason hope. It will be nine months before Arkansas takes the field against Alabama A&M in the 2025 season opener. Taylen Green will be under center, and that’s as good a starting point the Razorbacks can ask for.
The Texas Tech Red Raiders take on the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Liberty Bowl, and both squads could have an entirely different look compared to the regular season. For Tech, the Red Raiders lost their offensive coordinator but should be a tad more stable in terms of roster outlook compared to the Razorbacks. Arkansas is down to six scholarship offensive linemen and will be missing two key starters in this bowl game. Furthermore, both squads have had players leave for the transfer portal, but the Razorbacks losses were significantly more impactful such as WR Andrew Armstrong heading to the NFL. Furthermore, Arkansas will be without two of its better defensive players: safety TJ Metcalf and EDGE rusher Landon Jackson.
Texas Tech’s biggest loss could be star RB Tahj Brooks, but he has participated in every bowl game practice leading up to the game despite not making an official decision with less than 24 hours to go before kickoff. Stability is key in modern-day bowl game matchups, and while neither side has much, the Red Raiders have a clear edge in that department. With all things considered, I’ll take Texas Tech on the moneyline.
Texas Tech ML (-120) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number up to -140.
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — Jaylen Raynor passed for 221 yards and two touchdowns to go with a rushing score, and Zak Wallace had 99 yards rushing and a TD to help Arkansas State beat Bowling Green 38-31 on Thursday night in the 68 Ventures Bowl.
Wallace scored on a 14-yard run with 3:10 left in the fourth quarter for a 38-24 lead. He carried the ball on the last six plays of the drive, gaining 59 yards on the eight-play, 68-yard march. It was his 11th rushing touchdown of the season, nine coming in the last six games.
Advertisement
Rahkeem Smith returned the ensuing kickoff 58 yards to give Bowling Green a short field. Five plays later, Smith made a 23-yard catch in the end zone to get within 38-31.
Hunter Summers easily recovered the onside kick and Wallace powered through the middle of the defense for a 19-yard gain to seal it.
Corey Rucker added 107 yards receiving and two touchdowns for Arkansas State (8-5), which won a bowl game for the first time since 2019 — the same year it last won eight games in a season.
Rucker caught a long pass from Raynor and raced for a 79-yard touchdown for a 24-14 lead with 4:13 left in the first half. Following a fumble recovery by Noah Collins, Raynor found Rucker for a 6-yard TD to make it 31-21 early in the third.
Connor Bazelak threw for 390 yards and three touchdowns for Bowling Green (7-6). Harold Fannin Jr. had 17 catches for a career-high 213 yards and a touchdown.
Advertisement
Fannin reached 125-plus yards with a touchdown for the sixth time this season, which leads the FBS.
Bowling Green’s special teams struggled. Zach Long missed his third field goal attempt of the game (one was blocked) with 10:19 left. The Falcons allowed Courtney Jackson to return a punt for a 60-yard touchdown in the first quarter, and BGSU also had a fake punt come up short of a first down in the second half.
Record Holder
Fannin made a catch midway through the first quarter to become the single-season record holder for receiving yards by a tight end in the FBS. He entered needing just 11 yards to surpass Jace Amaro’s record of 1,352 in 2013 at Texas Tech. Fannin finished the season with 1,555 yards.
___
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24924653/236780_Google_AntiTrust_Trial_Custom_Art_CVirginia__0003_1.png "Google’s counteroffer to the government trying to break it up is unbundling Android apps")
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25672934/Metaphor_Key_Art_Horizontal.png "There’s a reason Metaphor: ReFantanzio’s battle music sounds as cool as it does")
