Entering the 2023 season, one of the biggest question marks for this Arkansas football team is at the wide receiver position.
With an influx of transfers and a new offensive coordinator, it remains to be seen which weapons [autotag]KJ Jefferson[/autotag] will be able to rely on most in the passing game. One wideout who appears to be in line for a starting role as slot receiver is sophomore [autotag]Isaiah Sategna[/autotag].
Sategna, a Fayetteville native, has been turning heads throughout spring practices and into fall camp. Arkansas wide receivers coach [autotag]Kenny Guiton[/autotag] credits that to his maturity from last year to now.
“His maturity level and how much he’s grown from last fall to spring to now, I mean, it’s a big jump,” Guiton said following practice on Tuesday. “He’s a guy that understands what we want to get done when you make a play call and he’s able to go out and execute.”
“He’s matured to a point where we can really count on him, and I think he knows that. I think he’ll excel at everything we throw in front of him.”
Sategna only played in four games last season and totaled 24 offensive snaps. 18 of those snaps came in the Liberty Bowl, which was a big learning moment for the second year receiver.
“Yeah, right before halftime against Kansas, I didn’t run the best route and KJ ended up throwing an interception,” said Sategna, speaking to the media on Tuesday. “I really felt like that was my fault. I go back and watch that a lot. That just makes me want to work even harder and stuff, and I’m going to keep that in the back of the mind this year whenever I’m going against these other DBs and just know that I’m going to get my payback.”
That moment obviously sparked a change in Sategna’s mindset as he’s become one of the most reliable receivers over the course of spring practices and now fall camp. His speed, pass catching ability and improved route-running means that he’s likely in line to for more playing time this fall.
“I’m trying to get on the field this year. I don’t care where it’s at,” Sategna said. “Last year, it was kind of weird because I was on the bench. That’s never happened for me. This year I’ve just tried to go hard in practice and not take any plays off and just know that practice translates to the games.”
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