Razorbacks lose key special teams member to transfer portal

An important part of the Arkansas Razorbacks’ special teams uniform has entered the transfer portal.

Sam Pittman and the Arkansas Razorbacks lost an important member of their special teams unit this week.

Max Fletcher, the team’s starting punter from Melbourne, Australia, entered the transfer portal on Thursday, less than a week after the Razorbacks’ annual spring game. Fletcher was a rising name on special teams after a strong 2023 performance. He was named to the Ray Guy Award watchlist ahead of last season and increased his average yards per punt from 37.5 in 2022 to 46.9 in 2023.

In doing so, Fletcher earned second-team All-SEC honors from coaches for his efforts during his sophomore season.

With Fletcher entering the transfer portal, junior Devin Bale is the likely frontrunner to handle punting duties for the Hogs going forward. Bale transferred to Arkansas from Northern Colorado in the Big Sky Conference after the 2022 season . While there, he averaged 41.2 yards per punt over two seasons from 2021-22.

Freshman Sam Dubwig, a preferred walk-on from Arkansas’ Cabot High School, is also a member of the Razorbacks’ special teams unit. Dubwig officially committed to Arkansas in December.

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)

Arkansas vs. Mississippi State – Players of the Game: Cam Little and…???

When your kicker and punter are your two best players, something’s wrong. Something’s wrong at Arkansas.

Kicking is kind of offense, right?

For the second straight week, the only Arkansas football player who did any significant damage with the ball was kicker Cam Little. The Razorbacks’ offense was atrocious against Mississippi State on Saturday as the Hogs provided the Bulldogs with their first SEC, 7-3, on Saturday.

Arkansas had 200 yards of total offense and scored only on its first series of the game. Even that likely wouldn’t have come had Mississippi State not thrown an interception in its own territory, allowing Arkansas to start within a legitimate scoring distance.

Whether its the offensive line that gave up another four sacks, the wide receiving corps that averaged barely five yards per catch or the running game’s 103 total yards on the ground, Arkansas’ biggest problems on offense are many to choose from.

A shame, too, considering Arkansas’ defense was dynamite yet again, making that side of the ball’s Player of the Game selection a bit tougher.

At any rate, here are our picks for the best Hogs on the day from editor E. Wayne and contributors Steve Andrews, Derek Oxford and Connor Goodson.

Sam Pittman shaking things up with the depth chart in one key area

BYU’s started in Arkansas territory or within 10 yards of the 50 seven times in the Cougars’ win. Sam Pittman aims to fix that with a change.

The list of issues the Arkansas football team needed to tweak has been lengthy for practically all three of the team’s games so far.

One such quirk may seem minor in the grand scheme of things, but was a significant factor as to why Arkansas lost against BYU in Week 3.

Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman said Wednesday that the Razorbacks will play both punters Max Fletcher and Devin Bale on Saturday against LSU on the road. Fletcher has averaged 44.4 yards per punt this year, but had punts of 10 and 28 yards against the Cougars. The 10-punt resulted in BYU starting its next drive on the Arkansas 45. BYU running back LJ Martin took the first offensive play of the series to the end zone, tying the game at 14.

“We’re going to start Max,” Pittman said. “But we will punt Devin Bale on Saturday because he’s earned the right to do that.”

Fletcher began the 2022 season as Arkansas No. 1 punter, as well, but lost his job midway through the year to Reid Bauer. When Bauer left, Bale transferred in from Northern Colorado. He averaged 41.4 yards per punt on 51 punts last year at the FCS school.

Sam Pittman pleased with Arkansas punter Max Fletcher after season opener

After struggling all of last season, Arkansas punter Max Fletcher showed off his improved leg in the Week 1 win over Western Carolina.

Arkansas didn’t have to punt much in their opening win over Western Carolina – only five times all game – but when they did, it was much more impressive than last season.

The credit for that improvement goes to Razorback punter [autotag]Max Fletcher[/autotag], who pleased [autotag]Sam Pittman[/autotag] with his performance in Week 1.

“I thought our special teams performed as good as we have in the first game,” Pittman said. “But I was pleased with (Fletcher). I was pleased with how high he kicked the ball. We had a 50-something yarder with no return.

“I was really happy with Fletcher because he kicked the ball fairly consistently. He’s got that kind of leg.”

Arkansas fans probably remember the struggles with the punting game last season as the freshman Fletcher battled with senior Reid Bauer for the starting gig. Neither punter was consistent, but Fletcher eventually won the job.

However, he finished the season averaging just 37.5 yards per punt – which ranked No. 120 in the country. After Week 1 against Western Carolina, Fletcher’s 49-yard average ranks him tied for No. 8 in the country.

Pittman has mentioned on a number of occasions how much of an emphasis special teams was this offseason, and it’s a good sign to see that translate in the first game of the season.