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Two positions key for Arkansas’ success

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Two positions key for Arkansas’ success


FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas will be at the SEC Media Days on Thursday which is an indication that football season is near again.

Arkansas is looking to be vastly improved over 2023. The addition of four new assistants on offense including Bobby Petrino calling the plays should help tremendously. Here’s a look at two positions, one on each side of the ball, that could help determine the success in 2024.

Offensive Line

This unit wasn’t good last fall. Eric Mateos has replaced Cody Kennedy coaching the unit. The play calling last fall didn’t help the offensive line or any other position on that side of the football. With Petrino it’s a certainty that will improve. Mateos also has brought in three transfers who are in the starting lineup. Fernando Carmona is stationed at left tackle and Keyshawn Blackstock is at right tackle. That allowed Patrick Kutas to move to his more natural position of guard. He and Joshua Braun are the starting guards. Addison Nichols came from Tennessee and is starting at center. That should be a much better unit than the one last year if everyone plays up to their potential. It is a must this unit is much better because last year’s offensive line gave the team no chance at success. As noted that isn’t putting all, or even most of the blame on the offensive line itself, but the predictable play calling made it very difficult for this unit as well as the others on offense. Some depth pieces for the offensive line are E’Marion Harris, Ty’Kieast Crawford, Joe More, Amaury Wiggins and others. If this group plays well under Mateos the chances for success goes up tremendously for the entire team.

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Linebackers

Gone from last season are Chris “Pooh” Paul, Jahiem Thomas and others. Travis Williams almost had to completely rebuild the position. Brad Spence returns after a very impressive freshman season. Arkansas also added Xavian Sorey Jr., Larry Worth III and Stephen Dix Jr. from the transfer portal. All three were very successful at their previous schools and should fit in well with this group. Arkansas also returns Carson Dean, Alex Sanford and Kaden Henley from last season. They also added freshmen such as Bradley Shaw, Wyatt Simmons, JuJu Pope and Justin Logan. If Williams can get four of five linebackers he’s comfortable with this group has a chance to avoid the dropoff many expected with Paul and others entered the transfer portal. A key to that may be Spence making the progression many expected, the three transfers all being as good as expected and another young linebacker or two make a move up the depth chart. If all that happens this group should help the defense.



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Arkansas

Brian Evans’ path to Arkansas House speakership took turns through business, Cabot School Board | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

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Brian Evans’ path to Arkansas House speakership took turns through business, Cabot School Board | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette


December 28, 2024 at 8:46 p.m.

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Neal Earley



State Rep. Brian Evans, R-Cabot, the incoming speaker of Arkansas’ House of Representatives, answers a question during an interview at his L&L Freight Services office in Cabot on Dec. 2, 2024. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Staci Vandagriff)

CABOT — Arkansas’ next speaker of the house, Brian Evans, had planned to study law, a path that he hoped would lead one day to a career in politics.

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But instead, at the age of 23, Evans found himself at a truck stop in West Memphis, second-guessing a life choice he had made. With his bags packed, Evans said he had hesitated about taking the job at an Orlando, Fla.-based logistics company.

Sitting in his office in Cabot, Evans, 56, said he can vividly recall the moment. The sun was rising and he had a choice: Turn left and continue on to Florida, or turn right and head back home to the family farm in McCrory to “figure out what I was going to do in life.”

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Arkansas State Police release details in crash that killed one Greenwood student and injured another | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

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Arkansas State Police release details in crash that killed one Greenwood student and injured another | Arkansas Democrat Gazette


HUNTINGTON — Details of the crash that left a Greenwood High School student dead have been released by the Arkansas State Police.

Chloe Walters, 19, of Huntington was driving a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu northbound on U.S. 71 in Huntington around 3:10 p.m. Thursday when the crash occurred, according to a fatal crash report from the State Police. The Malibu lost control and traveled into the southbound lane and was struck by a southbound 2022 Dodge Ram 1500 driven by Daran Stovall, 58, of El Paso, the report states.

A female minor passenger in Walters’ vehicle died, according to the report.

A social media post from the Greenwood School District states Walters’ sister, Cadence Walters, was killed in the crash.

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Chloe Walters and Stovall were both injured in the crash and taken to Mercy Hospital Fort Smith, according to the State Police.

The trooper investigating the crash reported the weather was rainy and the road wet at the time of the accident.

“We are heartbroken by the loss of Cadence and the ongoing medical situation with Chloe. Both students are active and well loved throughout the school community,” the School District’s post states. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Walters family during this incredibly difficult time. As a school community, we stand together to support them in every way possible.”

A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the Walters family where those wishing to help may make donations. By Saturday afternoon, the page had raised $12,242 of a $20,000 goal with 198 donations received.

Greenwood High School counselors are available for students, staff and community members who need support, the district’s post states.

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Anyone needing assistance may email info@greenwoodk12.com or reach out to a school counselor, teacher or administrator through the School Status app, the post states.



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Green's MVP performance propels Arkansas to Liberty Bowl win

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Green's MVP performance propels Arkansas to Liberty Bowl win


Arkansas (7-6, 3-5 SEC) won its final game of the 2024 season with a 39-26 victory over Texas Tech in the Liberty Bowl on Saturday behind a strong performance by quarterback Taylen Green.

The redshirt junior, who just wrapped up his first season with the Razorbacks, finished the game with 422 yards of total offense — 341 through the air and 81 on the ground. He ended the game tied with running back Rodney Hill as the Hogs’ leading rusher in the game and Green was named Liberty Bowl MVP for his efforts.

“I think it was a fast start,” Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman said after the game. “(The defense) made a fourth down stop and then really the offense took over. Taylen took over. We have Taylen Green, a lot of teams don’t and it gives us opportunity to win.”

The Razorbacks started the game firing on all cylinders and scored on each of their first three possessions. Green was a key cog in that machine, as he scored the first touchdown of the game on a 12-yard rush. He followed that drive up by showcasing his arm with passes of 17 yards and 56 yards to wide receiver Issac TeSlaa, which set up a touchdown run by running back Braylen Russell on the goal line.

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Touchdown No. 3 of the first quarter came on a slant route to redshirt freshman receiver Dazmin James, who caught Green’s pass and took it 94 yards to the end zone — the longest pass play in Arkansas program history.

Texas Tech didn’t go down without a fight, though. The Red Raiders cut the lead to 24-19 by halftime, and Arkansas needed another spark. Cue Green again, who found running back Tyrell Reed Jr. alone and unguarded for a 43-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter.

“(Reed), he’s always ready,” Green said after the game. “He’s always in the back learning whether it’s from (Ja’Quinden Jackson) or from (Rashod Dubinion). From (Rodney Hill). He’s always taking things in, asking questions. When he had his opportunity to shine, he made the most of it.”

A native of Lewisville, Texas, Green only had one blemish on his stat line, as he was sacked in the end zone for a safety in the second quarter, but Pittman said afterward that a blocking miscue in the backfield led to the miscue.

Green’s 341 passing yards broke the previous Arkansas record in a bowl game, which was set by Bill Montgomery, who threw for 338 against Ole Miss in the 1970 Sugar Bowl.

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The former Boise State transfer also became the first Arkansas passer to eclipse 300 yards in a bowl game since Brandon Allen threw for 315 yards in the 2016 Liberty Bowl against Kansas State.

“I’m gonna take (the MVP trophy) to my parents’ crib,” Green said. “Shout out to my mom, shout out to my dad, shout out to my sisters, and we gonna celebrate.”

Arkansas football’s 2024 season has now come to a close. Up next, the Razorbacks will look to close out transfer portal season strong. Be sure to follow along at The Trough premium message board for updates on the offseason recruiting action.



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