Tag: Eric Mateos

Arkansas offensive linemen Ty’Kieast Crawford and Andrew Chamblee announce plans for 2024

Two Arkansas offensive linemen, Ty’Kieast Crawford and Andrew Chamblee, announced their 2024 plans on Monday afternoon. The news came after the Hogs added transfer QB Taylen Green.

Arkansas received some good news on Monday afternoon as highly-touted quarterback transfer Taylen Green announced his commitment to the Hogs. Given his impressive size, athleticism and passing ability, Green’s addition generated excitement for a large majority of Razorback fans.

However, Hog fans saw firsthand last season that the individual talent of a quarterback can easily be overshadowed and neutralized by the deficiencies of his offensive line. If the offensive linemen can’t block, it doesn’t matter if you have [autotag]KJ Jefferson[/autotag], Lamar Jackson or Tom Brady – your offense is going to struggle.

New offensive line coach [autotag]Eric Mateos[/autotag] has his hands full next year, as the offensive line was easily the worst it has been in a long time. A large part of that was due to inexperience and lack of depth. Luckily, the Hogs got some good news in both of those departments shortly after Green’s announcement.

Senior [autotag]Ty’Kieast Crawford[/autotag], one of Arkansas’ most experienced offensive lineman, and redshirt freshman [autotag]Andrew Chamblee[/autotag], one of Arkansas’ most talented young prospects, both announced that they would be returning to the Razorbacks next season.

The pair each posted to Twitter (X) to confirm their plans. Crawford tweeted a picture (above) with the caption, “let’s run it back” and tagged the official Razorback Twitter (X) account. Chamblee quote tweeted new offensive line coach Eric Mateos (below) saying, “So ready to get the 2024 season started!! Can’t wait to show the world.”

While the news isn’t the biggest needle-mover for Arkansas’ offseason, it gives the Hogs some quality depth up front. Chamblee, in particular, showed some flashes of brilliance in his playing time this season, but his youth and inexperience were both unmistakable as well.

[autotag]Sam Pittman[/autotag] and Eric Mateos still need to hit on a few high-level portal targets up front before anyone gets too excited for next season.

Arkansas to hire Mateos as OL coach, per report

Arkansas looks to have filled its offensive line coach vacancy as of Sunday afternoon, per reports.

Arkansas is turning to a familiar face to fill the offensive line coach vacancy on its staff.

Eric Mateos, who previously was a graduate assistant at Arkansas from 2013-15, will be the replacement for Cody Kennedy.

Mateos worked with coach Sam Pittman while here as a graduate assistant. He actually served as the interim offensive line coach during the Liberty Bowl at the end of the 2015 season when the Razorbacks defeated Kansas State, 45-23.

He left Arkansas to go take a similar position at LSU and has worked his way through Texas State, BYU and Baylor before it appears he is to be reuniting with Pittman and the Arkansas program.

His contract details were unavailable at publication time. He will join Bobby Petrino’s offensive staff after Petrino was hired as the team’s offensive coordinator earlier in the week.