Tag: Arkansas football

Three SEC head coaches enter 2024 season on the hot seat

Some SEC coaches are already on thin ice …

Numerous head coaches start the season at the helm of their respective programs every season but are relieved of their duties because of poor performance, it’s inevitable. In 2024, it will surely happen, but the question is: who is on the hot seat?

Recently, Scooby Axson of USA TODAY Sports named 10 head coaches who will enter the 2024 college football season on the hot seat. On the list are three current SEC head coaches.

First on the list is Vanderbilt Commodores head coach, Clark Lea.

It’s tough to win at Vanderbilt. Maybe they are in the wrong conference, but when coaches take this job, they are fully aware their time on the sideline, at least at this school, could be short. The Commodores lost their last 10 games in 2023, giving up at least 31 points in each game. Not only could they not stop anyone, but they also couldn’t move the ball, making that the exact recipe to get you fired sooner rather than later with another coach enjoying the upgraded stadium and facilities.

Next is Florida Gators head coach, Billy Napier, who has not impressed fans in his time in Gainesville.

With the financial resources, the tradition, and the rich recruiting soil of the Sunshine State, this should be one of the nation’s premier programs. Instead, Napier, with an 11-14 record in his first two campaigns, has quickly turned Gator Nation into an afterthought. And with the schedule backloaded with national title-contending teams (Georgia, Texas, LSU, Ole Miss and Florida State), the powers that be at Florida might be cranking up the buyout machine in no time to thus begin another cycle in desperately trying to get back to the top of the sport.

Finally, Sam Pittman of the Arkansas Razorbacks is named as a head coach who will enter the season on the hot seat.

Hiring former motorcycle-riding head coach Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator seems to be a step in the right direction, if anything, to breathe some life and attention into the program. Still, Arkansas has the unfortunate task of being in the SEC, and navigating that schedule is almost impossible. Quarterback KJ Jefferson and running back Raheim Sanders headed to the transfer portal, leaving ex-Boise State quarterback Taylen Green to take the reins. It’s bowl game or bust for the Razorbacks, and even that might not be enough to save Pittman’s job.

This list of hot-seat head coaches will change greatly as the 2024 season progresses, as some will exceed expectations and others will fall flat.

Quick thoughts on the final day of 2024 SEC media days

The 2024 SEC media days will wrap on Thursday afternoon. Here are the top storylines!

On Thursday afternoon, the 2024 SEC media days will conclude as the final four league members shuffle their way through the media at the Omni Hotel in Dallas.

From the onset on Monday, former Alabama Crimson Tide head football coach [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] stole the show with his analysis.

The Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns have already received their welcome to the Southeastern Conference along with new Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer.

The Arkansas Razorbacks, Auburn Tigers, Kentucky Wildcats, and Texas A&M Aggies will wrap up the annual event on Thursday.

Here are my quick thoughts on what to look forward to on the final day of the 2024 SEC media days.

Is Sam Pittman on the hot seat in Fayetteville?

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - SEPTEMBER 4: Head Coach Sam Pittman of the Arkansas Razorbacks looks on from the sidelines in the first half of a game against the Rice Owls at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on September 4, 2021 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Owls 38-17. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Razorback head coach Sam Pittman will likely field several questions regarding his future with the program. Arkansas is just 11-14 over the past two seasons and the Hog faithful will not put up with that type of outcome for much longer.

Will the Auburn offense be improved in 2024?

The Montgomery Advertiser

Auburn’s offensive struggles in 2023 are well-documented. Quarterback Payton Thorne is back to lead the charge but many fans are not very optimistic about his ability to take the Tigers where they want to go. Head coach Hugh Freeze has long been considered an offensive genius. It’s time for him to prove it on the Plains.

Can Mark Stoops keep it rolling in Lexington?

Sep 16, 2023; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops runs onto the field before the game against the Akron Zips at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

Mark Stoops has built the Kentucky program into a consistent winner in the SEC. With Oklahoma and Texas now in the league, the Wildcats likely got knocked down in the pecking order. It will be interesting to see if Stoops can maintain the consistency he has built in Lexington.

Year one expectations for Mike Elko at Texas A&M

The Greenville News

Mike Elko did great with the Duke football program going 16-9 in two seasons. Expectations are certainly higher in College Station and Elko will have to deliver as soon as year one. The roster is loaded and quarterback Conner Weigman might be the most underrated player in the conference. With Texas now in the SEC, the Aggie faithful want to win now more than ever.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on X (Twitter) @Blackwood89.

4-star LB Tavion Wallace announces commitment

Four-star in-state linebacker recruit Tavion Wallace announces surprising commitment

Four-star linebacker recruit Tavion Wallace has committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks over the Georgia Bulldogs, Florida State Seminoles and Florida Gators.

Wallace’s commitment to Arkansas represents a major win for the Razorbacks, who have struggled to recruit in the 2025 recruiting cycle. Wallace is easily the Razorbacks’ best commitment in the class of 2025.

Tavion Wallace plays high school football for Wayne County High School in Jesup, Georgia. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound defender is the third-ranked linebacker in the country. Wallace is ranked as the No. 36 recruit and the eighth-ranked player in Georgia, per 247Sports.

Wallace is not far from being ranked as a five-star recruit. Arkansas does not have a commitment from another four-star prospect in the 2025 cycle.

Wallace runs track and has elite speed (10.9 seconds in the 100 meters). Wallace has NFL bloodlines and a high level of potential. The Carolina Panthers drafted his brother, Trevin Wallace, in the third-round of the 2024 NFL draft. Trevin Wallace played college football at Kentucky.

The four-star was previously projected to commit to Florida State, so his commitment to Arkansas comes as a surprise.

Despite Wallace’s commitment, Georgia should not be counted out because of the Dawgs’ prowess in recruiting top linebackers. Georgia has an excellent reputation of producing NFL draft picks at the linebacker position and co-defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann has recruited linebackers better than any other coach in the country.

Head coach Kirby Smart and Georgia football holds commitments from elite linebackers Jadon Perlotte and Zayden Walker.

Edge rusher Trent Sellers commits to Arkansas

Arkansas’ 2025 recruiting class is now ranked 12th in the SEC.

Trent Sellers is No. 15.

Not his jersey number, no. But Sellers, an edge rusher in the Class of 2025, became the 15th commit to the Arkansas football class when he announced such commitment Sunday night.

Sellers turned down offers from Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Nebraska for the Razorbacks. He was Arkansas’ second commitment of the day, following Warren High wide receiver Antonio Jordan. Both are three-star recruits.

Arkansas’ 2025 recruiting class is now ranked 12th in the SEC and 30th in the nation. The Hogs moved ahead of Kentucky and Missouri in the now-16-team league with the two commitments on Sunday

Sellers is the fourth defensive lineman in Arkansas’ class, joining Keiundre Johnson, JaQuentin Madison and Caleb Bell. The Hogs will likely lose four of their primary six defensive lineman after next season. Landon Jackson, Anton Juncaj, Keivie Rose and Eric Gregory are all seniors and all expected to be major contributors in 2024.

Arkansas opens the season August 29 in Little Rock against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Three-star wide receiver commits to Arkansas

Antonio Jordan chose Arkansas over offers from Florida State, South Carolina, Tennessee and LSU.

Three-star in-state wide receiver Antonio Jordan committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks out of Warren High School on Sunday. He is the second wide receiver to commit to the Hogs for the class of 2025 and the 14th overall commitment Arkansas has received.

Jordan earned Class 4A All-State honors at Warren during his junior season. Florida State, South Carolina and Tennessee are schools that Arkansas beat out for Jordan’s commitment. Both 247Sports and On3 have Jordan listed as the eighth best receiver in Arkansas in the 2025 class heading into his senior season at Warren. 247Sports lists Jordan as the 121st best receiver in the nation entering 2024.

He is the second three-star receiver to commit to Arkansas from the class of 2025, joining Kamare Williams from Palm Beach Central High School in Florida. Jordan is listed as 6-foot-6, 230 pounds by 247Sports.

Follow us @RazorbacksWire on Twitter/X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Arkansas Razorbacks news, notes and opinions.

How bad will Arkansas be in 2024? Phil Steele offers dismal projection

Phil Steele has the Razorbacks finishing ahead of only two teams in the SEC standings.

Few, if any, head coaches at Power Four programs are on as big a hot seat heading into the 2024 college football season as Arkansas’ Sam Pittman.

Pittman is entering his fifth season as Razorbacks coach after going 4-8 last season. Only one of those wins came in SEC play — against a Florida Gators program with their own embattled head coach entering the season in Billy Napier.

The Hogs are hoping for a turnaround in 2024. Boise State transfer Taylen Green will likely be the quarterback who replaces KJ Jefferson, and former Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino was brought in to run the offense.

Phil Steele recently made his projections for the 2024 SEC landscape, and unfortunately for Arkansas, it doesn’t look good.

Steele projects the Razorbacks to finish ahead of only two SEC programs — Mississippi State and Vanderbilt. The Bulldogs have a first-year head coach (for the second season in a row) in Jeff Lebby, while Vanderbilt is coming off a 2-10 season that saw them go winless in conference play.

Per On3’s assessment of where Arkansas lands in Steele’s rankings:

“All eyes are on Fayetteville this year as Sam Pittman enters a crucial year at Arkansas. He moved on from offensive coordinator Dan Enos part-way through his first year with the Razorbacks, and the 2024 season could be important for Pittman’s future with the program.

KJ Jefferson is out after transferring to UCF, meaning it could be Taylen Green’s show at quarterback. Nonetheless, it’s looking like it could be another rough year for Arkansas, which came in at No. 14 in Phil Steele’s SEC predictions.”

The Razorbacks open their season against UAPB Thursday, August 29 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CDT. The game can be seen on ESPNU.

Follow us @RazorbacksWire on Twitter/X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Arkansas Razorbacks news, notes and opinions.

Alex Collins, Dave Van Horn on Arkansas’ 2024 Hall of Honor list

Arkansas baseball coach Dave Van Horn and the late Alex Collins are two of the nine Razorbacks greats who will be inducted into the school’s Hall of Honor in 2024.

Arkansas baseball coach Dave Van Horn and eight former Razorbacks athletes across six sports are on the University of Arkansas’ 2024 Hall of Honor class.

An induction ceremony will be held at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville on Friday, September 13, the night before the Razorbacks play UAB at Donald W. Reynolds Razorbacks Stadium. The list of inductees was announced by the university late Tuesday.

Van Horn has been Arkansas’ baseball coach since 2003 and has led the school to seven College World Series and 20 NCAA Tournament appearances. Arkansas was the 2018 College World Series runner-up to Oregon State.

Among the eight former athletes who will be inducted into Arkansas’ 2024 Hall of Honor class is the late Alex Collins. Collins passed away at the age of 28 in 2023 and will be inducted posthumously.

Collins is second on the school’s all-time rushing list with 3,703 yards and 36 touchdowns in three seasons. A fifth-round selection in the 2016 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks, Collins played in parts of five NFL seasons between 2016-21.

Other Razorback athletes set to be inducted are former quarterback Matt Jones (2001-04), linebacker Ravin Caldwell (1982-85), baseball pitcher David Walling (1998-99), men’s basketball guard Kareem Reid (1995-99), track and field star Matt Hemingway (1992-96), women’s basketball’s Wendi Willits (1997-2001) and softball’s Devon Wallace (2012-15).

Jones was the Razorbacks’ starter from 2002-04, leading Arkansas to two bowl games. Caldwell helped lead the Razorbacks to 32 wins in four seasons (1982-85) before going on to play for the NFL’s Washington Redskins. He was a member of Washington’s two Super Bowl-winning teams in the 1987-88 and 1991-92 NFL seasons.

Here is a full list of accomplishments of Arkansas’ Class of 2024 Hall of Honor inductees.

Follow us @RazorbacksWire on Twitter/X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Arkansas Razorbacks news, notes and opinions.

Georgia recruit commits to Arkansas football

Peach State defensive end JaQuentin Madison committed to Arkansas over the weekend.

Georgia three-star defensive end recruit JaQuentin Madison committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks on Sunday after an official visit to Fayetteville.

Madison, listed by 247Sports as 6-foot-2, 275 pounds, chose the Razorbacks over Missouri, Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern, SMU, NC State and others.

Like fellow class of 2025 defensive end recruit Keiundre Johnson, who also committed to Arkansas over the weekend, Madison was recruited by Razorbacks defensive line coach Deke Adams.

247Sports lists Johnson as the 120th best defensive lineman in the nation in their Composite Recruiting Rankings for the class of 2025.

Johnson played his junior season at Alpharetta High School in Georgia, where he had 75 tackles (10 for loss), nine sacks, a forced fumble, 17 hurries, two pass deflections and an interception return for a touchdown, according to WholeHogSports.

RELATED: Three-star Lone Star State DE chooses Arkansas over Texas, Texas A&M

Follow us @RazorbacksWire on Twitter/X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Arkansas Razorbacks news, notes and opinions.

Three-star Lone Star State DE chooses Arkansas over Texas, Texas A&M

Class of 2025 edge rusher Keiundre Johnson announced his decision to play for Arkansas over the weekend.

Three-star defensive end/EDGE Keiundre Johnson committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks over the weekend.

Listed as 6-foot-4, 215 pounds by On3, Johnson chose the Razorbacks over a host of Texas schools, including the Texas Longhorns, Texas A&M, SMU, as well as LSU and others.

On3 ranks Johnson as the 43rd overall edge rusher in the class of 2025, the 71st best player in Texas, and the 481st best player nationally. 247Sports lists Johnson as the 49th best edge rusher nationally.

Arkansas defensive line coach Deke Adams recruited Johnson to Fayetteville. Johnson is the 12th commitment in Sam Pittman’s class of 2025 recruits.

“The visit was amazing,” both On3 and 247Sports quotes Johnson as saying. “It was way more than I expected. I loved it a lot. I’ve got to talk to Coach Pittman here soon and will probably have some big news coming after that, but I loved it a lot.”

Follow us @RazorbacksWire on Twitter/X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Arkansas Razorbacks news, notes and opinions.

Connor Howes is Arkansas’ second OL commit in as many days

Connor Howes is Arkansas’ first player rated higher than three stars in the 10-person class so far.

One day after Arkansas flipped a commit from Baylor to the Razorbacks, Sam Pittman and Co. grabbed another offensive line commitment in the Class of 2025.

Connor Howes, a four-star recruit from St. Cloud, Florida, became the 10th member of Arkansas’ class when he announced his commitment on Friday. Of the 10, three are offensive linemen, including Blake Cherry from Owasso, Oklahoma, and Kash Courtney from Carthage, Texas.

Arkansas’ class is now ranked 42nd in the country and 12th in the SEC, in front of Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Florida and Mississippi State. Kentucky and Florida each have more four-star commits than Arkansas, which only has one, but the lower number of overal commits keeps the Gators and Wildcats behind the Razorbacks for now. Howes is Arkansas’ lone four-star, though he is just a three-star in the 247Sports rankings.

When it comes to in-state recruiting, Arkansas has landed the fourth- and fifth-ranked players from the Natural State in the class. Two of the remaining three in the top five have not yet fully committed, though Carius Curne, from Marion, started with the Razorbacks before changing his mind for LSU. He is still taking recruiting trips elsewhere, however.