Patrick Kutas isn’t guaranteed Dalton Wagner’s old job. But a week into fall football camp at Arkansas, it appears the gig is his for the taking.
The Razorbacks will be breaking in a new starting right tackle for the first time in four seasons and basically five years. Wagner held the job from 2019 to 2022. He apprenticed there as a freshman in 2018.
Kutas is on the same trajectory.
The sophomore from Christian Brothers High School in Memphis played in all 13 games last year for the Razorbacks, though most of his action came on special teams. Kutas made enough of an impression then that he was given every chance in the spring to try for Wagner’s old job after Wagner went to the NFL.
Throughout fall camp, Kutas has stood out not just as the most likely candidate for the starting gig, but maybe even one of the best offensive linemen on the roster. Kutas has rolled with the first-team more often than not so far. Pittman saw it coming in the spring, even.
“Kutas has done really well out there,” Pittman said during spring camp. “I mean, real well. That’s what we recruited him as, a tackle, and of course we hadn’t needed him at that position. I think we’re going to be okay out there.”
Arkansas has three weeks before it opens its season against Western Carolina at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. That’s plenty of time for things to change, especially with Ty’Kieast Crawford, E’Marion Harris and Andrew Chamblee also in the running for starting position.
If you’re betting kind of person, though, don’t bet against Kutas.
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