Arkansas begins a essential season for coach Sam Pittman when the Razorbacks meet Alabama A&M on Saturday afternoon at Fayetteville, Ark.
Arkansas hasn’t had a profitable mark in Southeastern Convention play in 5 seasons beneath Pittman, a former Georgia assistant coach. So coming off final 12 months’s 7-6 total document, the Razorbacks wish to make strides.
“Throughout camp, I feel we have performed every little thing as a workers that we needed to get achieved,” Pittman mentioned. “Every year, you have to get higher.”
The Alabama A&M program is at a unique stage with the Soccer Championship Subdivision staff beneath first-year coach Sam Shade. The Bulldogs have been 6-6 final season.
This would be the first-ever assembly between the groups.
Arkansas quarterback Taylen Inexperienced is making an attempt to construct on the 2024 season by which he threw for 3,154 yards and totaled 23 whole touchdowns (15 passing, eight dashing). Inexperienced joins Oklahoma’s John Mateer because the lone energetic QBs within the nation to have thrown for greater than 3,000 yards and rushed for greater than 600 yards final 12 months.
Inexperienced ought to have loads of weapons with the Razorbacks of their second season since former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino returned to the staff as offensive coordinator.
“We’re studying that we’ve a reasonably dang good group of wideouts,” Pittman mentioned.
One of many compelling storylines includes sophomore receiver Monte Harrison, a former main league baseball participant who turned 30 earlier this month. He made two catches in his first season with the Razorbacks.
“He stored working and now he is a kind of guys you wish to go to,” Pittman mentioned. “He actually is a man you wish to go to.”
Shade spent the previous three seasons at Division II Miles earlier than he was employed at Alabama A&M.
Quarterback Cornelious Brown IV will stay the starter for the Bulldogs, giving the brand new workers a degree of consolation.
“He has performed a lot soccer so it is arduous for different guys behind him to push to be in that spot proper now as a result of he has simply performed a lot ball,” Shade mentioned. “We’re form of leaning on that have.”
Quarterback JD Davis II, a switch from Western Michigan, can be one of many backups.
“He has made a variety of enchancment from spring ball up till now,” Shade mentioned. “He needs to be on the market.”
Alabama A&M receiver Duke Miller has missed preseason observe time with a boot on his foot, so his standing is murky. Shade mentioned he preferred how the dashing assault clicked for the Bulldogs throughout a few of their scrimmage work late within the preseason.
–Area Stage Media
