Tag: Arkanas football

Yurachek: Petrino was not hired to replace embattled coach Pittman

Hunter Yurachek said Tuesday that Bobby Petrino was not hired as a replacement for Sam Pittman.

In an interview with Hogs Plus on Tuesday, Hunter Yurachek emphatically denied that former Razorbacks head coach Bobby Petrino was hired to eventually replace current embattled head coach Sam Pittman.

“He’s not here to take Sam’s job,” Yurachek told Matt Zimmerman. “He’s here to help change the dynamics of our offense. And who better to do that than one of the brightest offensive minds in college football.”

Petrino helped lift the Razorbacks to as high as No. 3 in the country during his four-year stint as the head Hog, from 2008-11, amassing a record of 34-17. Arkansas finished second in the SEC West in 2010, before losing to Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl.

In 2011, Arkansas finished 11-2 by beating Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl, before ending the season No. 5 in the AP Top 25. The Razorbacks were then ranked No. 10 in the 2012 preseason poll, until a well-documented motorcycle crash began to reveal some deceit, which ultimately ignited the program’s implosion.

Now, 12 years later, the program is still feeling the effects of Petrino’s dismissal. But maybe Petrino, himself, is the answer to help turn things back around.

“I think he has paid his dues,” Yurachek said. “When he reached out through back channels, what he said was he wanted to come here and right his wrongs, and really help Coach Pittman get this program back to where he believed it could be, and back to where it was when he was the head coach.

After leaving Arkansas, Petrino took the reins at Western Kentucky for the 2013 season, before making a return to his old stomping grounds of Louisville, where he remained for five years and coached Heisman Trophy winner and current NFL star Lamar Jackson.

He then spent three seasons at Missouri State and gave the Razorbacks all they could handle when he brought his Bears to Fayetteville for a game in 2022. Arkansas needed a 21-point fourth quarter to eventually win the game, 38-27.

After spending this past season as the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M, prior to being let go by the departure of head coach Jimbo Fisher, Petrino was looking for a job and Arkansas was looking for a proven offensive coordinator.

Petrino is now tasked with helping Pittman turn around a program reeling from a 4-8 season, during which they fired former offensive coordinator Dan Enos.

“One of the things I said, in one of my criteria that I wanted, was a man that loved the University of Arkansas,” Pittman said. “It would be hard to find someone that felt stronger toward Arkansas than Coach Petrino. Once I knew his interest back in us, it was really a no-brainer at that point in time. It was just about making the contract and timeline and all that, making those things work.”

 

 

Trio of Razorbacks voted All-SEC by conference football coaches

Three Razorbacks honored by SEC football coaches with all-conference selections.

Arkansas junior kicker Cam Little and junior defensive end Landon Jackson were each voted first-team All-SEC selects by the conferences coaches on Tuesday, with sophomore punter Max Fletcher pulling in second-team accolades.

The 6-foot-2, 179-pound Little, who recently announced that he would forgo his senior year to enter the 2024 NFL Draft, has been a consistent force for the Razorbacks over the past three seasons. The Moore, Okla., native was one of the top kickoff specialists in the country this season, kicking off 62 times for 3,981 total yards – tied for fifth nationally with a 64.2 kickoff average, while recording 53 touchbacks. As the Arkansas place-kicker, Little connected on 20-of-24 field goal attempts – 83.3 percent – and was perfect on all 33 of his point-after attempts. It marks the second consecutive year that an Arkansas kickoff specialist has claimed first-team honors, following Jake Bates nod last season.

The 6-foot-7, 281-pound Jackson, who transferred in from LSU two years ago, became a dominant forced on the Arkansas defensive line this season, and proved to be one of the nation’s most dominant pass rushers. He tallied 44 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and one pass break-up. He shined his brightest against Alabama on Oct. 14, when he recoded career highs with 11 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks. He drew praise from Crimson Tide Head Coach Nick Saban following the game, while being named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week. The Texarkana, Texas, native anchored a Razorback defense that ranked sixth in the SEC in tackles for loss and sacks, while leading the Hogs in both categories. He is the first Arkansas defensive lineman since Jake Bequette  in 2011, to earn a first-team selection.

The 6-foot-5, 174-pound Fletcher booted 59 punts this season, for an SEC-leading 2,770 yards. Fletcher is the first Arkansas punter since Dylan Breeding, in 2012, to receive All-SEC recognition. The Melbourne, Australia, native ranked fourth in the conference with 47 yards per punt, and his 19 punts downed inside the 20-yard line, ranked fourth in the SEC. Fletcher boomed 23 punts over 50 yards, including four punts the went more than 60. His longest was a career-long 71-yard missile against Auburn on Nov. 11.

The SEC postseason individual awards will be announced on Wednesday while the SEC All-Freshman Team is slated to be released on Thursday.

First Team All-SEC

Offense

QB –  Jayden Daniels, LSU

RB – Cody Schrader, Missouri

RB – Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss

WR – Malik Nabers, LSU

WR – Luther Burden III, Missouri

TE – Brock Bowers, Georgia

OL – JC Latham, Alabama

OL – Javon Foster, Missouri

OL – Will Campbell, LSU

OL – Tate Ratledge, Georgia

C – Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia

AP – Ainias Smith, Texas A&M

Defense

DL – Darius Robinson, Missouri

DL – James Pearce Jr., Tennessee

DL – Justin Eboigbe, Alabama

DL – LANDON JACKSON, ARKANSAS

LB – Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M

LB – Dallas Turner, Alabama

LB – Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State

DB – Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

DB – Malaki Starks, Georgia

DB – Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri

DB – Caleb Downs, Alabama*

DB – Terrion Arnold, Alabama*

Special Teams

PK – Will Reichard, Alabama

P – Matthew Hayball, Vanderbilt

RS – Ainias Smith, Texas A&M

KOS – CAM LITTLE, ARKANSAS

LS – Hunter Rogers, South Carolina*

LS – Kneeland Hibbett, Alabama*

 

Second Team All-SEC

Offense

QB – Carson Beck, Georgia

RB – Ray Davis, Kentucky

RB – Jarquez Hunter, Auburn

WR – Brian Thomas, LSU

WR – Xavier Legette, South Carolina

TE – Caden Prieskorn, Ole Miss*

TE – Trey Knox, South Carolina*

TE – Rivaldo Fairweather, Auburn*

OL – Tyler Booker, Alabama

OL – Xavier Truss, Georgia

OL – Emery Jones, LSU

OL – Layden Robinson, Texas A&M

C – Eli Cox, Kentucky

AP – Barion Brown, Kentucky

Defense

DL – Mykel Williams, Georgia

DL – Nazir Stackhouse, Georgia

DL – Princely Umanmielen, Florida

DL – Shemar Turner, Texas A&M

LB – Harold Perkins, LSU

LB – Smael Mondon, Georgia

LB – Ty’Ron Hopper, Missouri

DB – Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky

DB – Jaylin Simpson, Auburn

DB – Tykee Smith, Georgia

DB – Kamari Lassiter, Georgia

Special Teams

PK – Harrison Mevis, Missouri

P – James Burnip, Alabama*

P – MAX FLETCHER, ARKANSAS*

RS – Barion Brown, Kentucky

KOS – Will Reichard, Alabama

LS – Wesley Schelling, Vanderbilt

*Ties (ties are not broken)

Are Razorbacks missing the boat on Fayetteville QB Lindsey?

Fayetteville High quarterback Drake Lindsey committed to Minnesota after being shunned by his home state

I understand that I don’t get paid to evaluate high school football talent, but as my amateur eyes watched Saturday’s Class 7A state championship game in Little Rock, I couldn’t help but wonder why the Arkansas football program has shown absolutely no interest in Fayetteville quarterback Drake Lindsey.

Lindsey wrapped up his storybook high school career with a 355-yard passing performance in the 22-16 win over Bentonville in the title game, while securing MVP honors.

As a long-time sports scribe I have been fortunate enough to see many great high school players over the past 35 years. I have even gotten to know a few of them, personally. I have found that it is not only the raw talent that will lead to success at the next level, but also the character and the proverbial “it” factor the athlete possesses.

After covering many of Lindsey’s games over the past two seasons, I have seen a plethora of both. Not only is he one of the most dynamic, consistent passers I have seen, but his humility and respect for those around him, is undeniable.

You want size? He stands 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, and is a load to bring down. You want consistency? He completes 70 percent of his passes, often dropping deep dimes down field. You want gaudy numbers? Look no further than the 7,667 yards and 89 touchdowns he has thrown over the past two seasons. You want success? He just led the storied Fayetteville program to its first-ever perfect state championship season.

As the state’s most prolific drop-back passer the past two seasons, Lindsey is rated the No. 5 overall player in the state for the 2024 class, according to 247Sports, and the No. 33 pro-style quarterback nationally.

It is somewhat understandable why the Razorbacks shied away from him under the previous offensive regime, for schematic reasons. The Arkansas offense was based more on a spread attack, better suited for dual-threat signal-callers. Still, how can you not at least test the waters with one of the state’s best quarterbacks, who plays his games right across the street.

Lindsey, who committed to the University of Minnesota on May 12, is a pure pro-style quarterback. But what he may lack in mobility, he makes up for with his down-field vision and quick release – a la Ryan Mallett and Tyler Wilson, two of the most successful passers in Razorback history.

Ironically, Mallett and Wilson’s success was a direct product of Bobby Petrino’s offensive wizardry. One of college football’s most innovative offensive minds of the past 25 years, Petrino has recently mended some fences and now finds himself back in Fayetteville, tasked with rehabbing a less-than-stellar offensive attack.

His successful recipe for moving the ball downfield is based on a “feeding the studs” philosophy, which consists of having a quarterback who can quickly distribute the ball effectively to playmakers across all areas of the field. Granted, the 6-foot-7 Mallett and the 6-foot-3 Wilson were surrounded by a few more “stud” weapons during their times at Arkansas, but having the right trigger-man is always essential.

Watching Lindsey take the shotgun snap, go through his progressions and quickly fire downfield with consistent accuracy, takes me back to those earlier pre-ride Petrino days. This kid is a bonafide distributor, who makes few mistakes.

Fayetteville head coach Casey Dick, a former Hog quarterback himself, said Lindsey has the size and talent to excel anywhere he plays, and is disappointed that Arkansas has not shown more interest. Former Razorback head coach Houston Nutt has also publicly questioned the Razorbacks’ lack of interest in Lindsey.

Then there is the deep-rooted legacy that the Lindsey family has built in Razorback football over the past 60 years. Not saying that his name alone should draw the Hogs’ utmost attention, but when you add that to his skill set, the question lingers.

His grandfather, Jim, was an Arkansas legend, helping lead the Razorbacks to the 1964 National Championship. His father, John David, and uncle, Lyndy, also wore the Hog on the helmet, as did his cousin, Jack, a quarterback from 2016-19.

Drake obviously grew up a devout Hog fan, always dreaming of continuing that Razorback legacy. But when your dream school won’t even give you the time of day, what else can you do? Head north, I guess.

With the current state of the Arkansas program, much has been said about the lack of home-grown, in-state talent — kids that were born and raised with the heart of a Razorback. Of course, they also need to be talented. But few quarterbacks have proven to be better than Lindsey on the field, and his pure Hog pedigree is unmatched.

He admitted that he was somewhat heart-broken early in the recruiting process, being shunned by his home-state school, but has since re-focused his vision to going someplace that he is wanted, and being the best player that he can be. If Arkansas was to do an about-face and show some late interest, would he consider a flip before the Dec. 20 early-signing period? Possibly, but he can only cross that bridge if it is presented.

Like many others who have left the state of Arkansas to shine at various out-of-state schools, Lindsey may soon have the Hogs regretting their decision.

LOOK: Bobby Petrino on campus after being named Arkansas offensive coordinator

Bobby Petrino was spotted on campus Wednesday afternoon, just hours after being named Arkansas offensive coordinator.

Just hours after the school officially announced Bobby Petrino as Arkansas’ next offensive coordinator, he was spotted on campus in Fayetteville.

Twitter (X) user Jack Dawson posted an image posing with the former head coach as the pair stood outside of Donald W. Reynold Razorback Stadium. As was evident from social media the past two days, fans are generally excited to have Petrino back in Fayetteville.

It’s the first time Petrino has been on campus since 2022 when he was head coach at Missouri State. He led the Bears into Razorback Stadium and nearly upset [autotag]Sam Pittman[/autotag]’s then-10th-ranked Hogs, 38-27. That game marked Petrino’s first official return to Fayetteville since his infamous dismissal as Arkansas head coach in 2012.

Petrino has his work cut out for him as offensive coordinator for next year. Arkansas finished the season 4-8 overall and 1-7 in SEC play, due in large part to awful play on the offensive side of the ball.

The Razorback offense averaged 326.5 yards per game (106th in the FBS) including just 187.5 passing yards per game (104th in the FBS). Those offensive numbers were good enough for just 13th and 12th in the SEC, respectively.

Fans frustrated on X (Twitter), but glad Hogs’ season finally over

Razorback fans are content with this dismal football season finally coming to an end.

Now that the dismal football season is finally over, Razorback fans are “voicing” their frustrations on social media.

With somewhat high expectations heading into the season, the Razorbacks finished the disappointing campaign at 4-8, with just one solemn win in the SEC.

Hunter Yurachek has previously given Sam Pittman full support for returning next season, but many are questioning that decision.

Here is some of the postseason chatter that has been posted:

Hog fans skeptical on social media about last football game of season

Arkansas will wrap up it’s football season today with a trophy showdown with No. 10 Missouri.

Despite the woeful season the Arkansas football team has had, a few fans are still interested in the outcome of today’s game against No. 10 Missouri in the annual Battle Line Rivalry.

All the Razorbacks have to play for now is pride, which should generate some, with a win over a Top 10 team.

Here is some of the scuttlebutt that hit X (Twitter) prior to the game:

Sam Pittman lands transfer offensive lineman day after confirmed return in 2024

Less than a day after it was confirmed that Sam Pittman will be returning, the Hogs received some much-needed good news at position of need.

Nearly 24 hours after Arkansas athletic director [autotag]Hunter Yurachek[/autotag] confirming [autotag]Sam Pittman[/autotag]’s return as head coach next season, the first domino has fallen.

Michigan State transfer offensive lineman [autotag]Keyshawn Blackstock[/autotag], announced his commitment to the Razorbacks on Monday afternoon. Blackstock is the first transfer addition of what will likely be an extremely busy offseason.

Blackstock, a 6-5, 300-pound offensive tackle entered the transfer portal back in late October and was a hot commodity, as he held offers from Ole Miss, Penn State, NC State, Nebraska, Virginia Tech and others. He was the No. 1 rated JUCO lineman prospect in the 2023 class, and committed to Michigan State following a two-year stint at Kansas’ Coffeyville Community College.

As mentioned previously, the timing of Blackstock’s announcement comes less than a day after Pittman’s job security for next year was confirmed. This could be the first of many dominos to fall for Arkansas recruiting in the coming weeks – both in the portal and high school ranks.

For now, Blackstock fits a huge need on the offensive line, which has been the bane of this Razorback team throughout the entire season. It’s the first step of many needed to get that unit back up to a competitive and competent level.