Tag: razorbacks football

Arkansas Football has the SEC’s third-toughest schedule says CBS Sports

There are only three sure thing’s in life. Death, Taxes, and Arkansas playing a tough schedule…

Arkansas Football’s 2022 football schedule may not feature a non-conference Power Five opponent, but that does not mean that it will mean smooth sailing for the Razorbacks.

CBS Sports recently ranked the teams that make up the SEC based on strength-of-schedule for the 2022 season, and Arkansas makes the list at No. 3.

CBS Sports cites two non-conference games in addition to the brutal SEC stretch is what makes Arkansas’ schedule so tough.

It seems like Arkansas gets the short end of the scheduling stick every year, and the 2022 season will continue that trend. The Razorbacks open with Cincinnati, which is fresh off of a CFP appearance. The Bearcats lost a ton of production off of that team, but coach Luke Fickell has proven time and time again that he can trot out one of the best programs in the Group of Five. As if that wasn’t enough, the Hogs will go to BYU on Oct. 15 in what will be a raucous atmosphere. The home schedule sets up nicely with Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss coming to Arkansas, but the neutral site game vs. Texas A&M seems to get wild on an annual basis.

Here’s a look at the complete SEC ranking, according to CBS Sports:

  1. Auburn Tigers
  2. Vanderbilt Commodores
  3. Arkansas Razorbacks
  4. Tennessee Volunteers
  5. Mississippi State Bulldogs
  6. LSU Tigers
  7. Florida Gators
  8. Texas A&M Aggies
  9. Alabama Crimson Tide
  10. South Carolina Gamecocks
  11. Georgia Bulldogs
  12. Kentucky Wildcats
  13. Missouri Tigers
  14. Ole Miss Rebels

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Alabama cornerback lists Arkansas in top-8

Avery Stuart, a four-star defensive back from Alabama, is set to announce his commitment on July 6. Arkansas is among his top schools.

A four-star cornerback from the Yellowhammer State is considering Arkansas as his college destination.

[autotag]Avery Stuart[/autotag], a four-star cornerback from Montgomery, Ala., is closer to announcing his commitment after releasing his top-8 list on Sunday, which features Arkansas.

The Razorbacks are one of five schools from the SEC to offer Stuart, and one of three to make his top-8 list. Arkansas offered Stuart on February 7, but Stuart has not taken an official visit to the school says 247sports.

While there are no sure predictions for Stuart, On3 gives Florida State a 31% chance to land Stuart. Stuart has only taken two official visits, most recently visiting Florida State, as well as Kentucky. Stuart is set to announce his official commitment on July 6.

As it stands, Arkansas currently holds the nations No. 8 recruiting class for the 2023 recruiting cycle with 11 commits, five being four-star rated. If Stuart were to choose Arkansas, he would be the second recruit from Alabama to commit to the class, joining Dallas Young, a three-star defensive back from metro Birmingham.

Stuart is rated as a four-star cornerback by both On3 and 247sports. He is the 22nd ranked corner in the nation, as well as the No. 22 ranked prospect in the state of Alabama.

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College Football News suggests this non-conference team could upset Arkansas in 2022

Is there a “sure win” on the 2022 schedule that could end up being an upset?

After completing their most successful season in a decade in 2021, the Arkansas Razorbacks have higher-than-usual expectations heading into 2022.

With the likes of [autotag]KJ Jefferson[/autotag], [autotag]Raheim Sanders[/autotag], and [autotag]Jadon Haselwood[/autotag] leading the offense, as well as [autotag]Jalen Catalon[/autotag] and [autotag]Drew Sanders[/autotag] being impact players on defense, it is easy to see why Arkansas could win 9-10 games this season. But, is there a “sure win” on the schedule that Razorback fans should be worried about? College Football News says yes.

In a list titled, “SEC Top Letdown Games for Every Team”, Ben Niewoehner of College Football News says that Arkansas’ potential “letdown” game is not against a conference opponent, but on the road at BYU. The Cougars themselves aren’t a threat to Arkansas, says Niewoehner, but where they are in the schedule could draw some concern.

How will Arkansas rebound from a three-week onslaught before making the tough trip to Provo? It will get on the plane after taking on Texas A&M in Arlington, Alabama, and at Mississippi State. The team will need a week off – that comes after the Cougars.

The Razorbacks and Cougars are set to meet for the first time on the gridiron on October 15 at Lavell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. The game at BYU will be the middle game of a three-game road trip beginning October 8 at Mississippi State, and concluding October 29 at Auburn.

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247sports lists Arkansas-Cincinnati as a top non-conference game in 2022

Arkansas and Cincinnati are projected to take two different paths in 2022, which is what makes this matchup so intriguing says 247sports.

Arkansas’ 2022 non-conference schedule may not feature a Power-Five opponent, but do not let that fool you. The Razorbacks will still play a tough slate of games to go along with their SEC schedule.

To open the 2022 season, Arkansas will welcome the Cincinnati Bearcats to DWR Razorbacks Stadium. The Bearcats have seen great success under head coach Luke Fickell, as he has taken them to back-to-back New Year’s Six Bowl games, including the Cotton Bowl last season, where they broke the mold for Group-of-Five teams by making the College Football Playoff.

However, it feels that Arkansas and Cincinnati are going on two separate paths this season. That’s what makes this matchup so intriguing says 247sports.

In their list of the best non-conference matchups, Matt Howe ranks Arkansas-Cincinnati as the No. 5 most anticipated non-conference game in College Football for the 2022 season.

These two programs have never met before. Cincinnati enters the 2022 season fresh off of a College Football Playoff appearance, where they lost to Alabama in the semifinals by a score of 27-6. However, the Bearcats lost a ton of talent that helped them get to that point, including quarterback Desmond Ridder, cornerback Sauce Gardner, wideout Alec Pierce, safety Bryan Cook and defensive end Myjai Sanders, all of whom were picked in the first three rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. Arkansas has seen major strides under head coach Sam Pittman, finishing 3-7 in 2020 and 9-4 in 2021. The Razorbacks return quarterback K.J. Jefferson who threw for 2,676 yards and rushed for another 664 in 2021. 

The first-ever meeting between Arkansas and Cincinnati is slated for September 3 in Fayetteville. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CDT, and can be seen on ESPN.

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Play Texas every year? Sam Pittman says absolutely

Sam Pittman says that having Texas on the schedule every year could be a great thing for Arkansas in a handful of ways.

As Oklahoma and Texas begin to transition to the Southeastern Conference, a new model will have to be presented in order to more effective scheduling.

Rumors have circulated that the conference could do away with divisions in favor of four-team pods, where each team plays three SEC opponents on a yearly basis while rotating six other teams.

If the SEC were to switch to this format, Arkansas head coach [autotag]Sam Pittman[/autotag] has an idea of who he wants to see every year, the Texas Longhorns.

“Personally, I love the rivalry games and would hate, once Texas gets into the league, not to play them every year, for the fans and everybody else,” Pittman said in an interview with ESPN’s Chris Low. “I’m not calling out Texas. Texas has a great program, and I have high respect for them. I’m just saying for the fans, and obviously for the team, because we’ve got a lot of Texas kids on our team, I think it would be a neat home-and-home each year.”

Pittman says that he is not issuing a challenge to Texas, but understands how important the rivalry between these old Southwest Conference foes means to the people of Arkansas.

“I would want to do that for the state of Arkansas and what it means to so many people here, to be able to play Texas every year,” Pittman said. “Now, I’m not saying, ‘Man, we want to play Texas.’ I’m not saying that. I’m saying — for the fans, for recruiting, for the tradition of this game and things of that nature — I would like to play that game every year. But, certainly, I’m not counting out the Longhorns by any stretch.”

As it stands with their current conference, the Big 12, Oklahoma and Texas are set to join the SEC on August 1, 2025. However, in a report by the Austin American-Statesman, both schools are looking at paying a massive $75-million buyout in order to join the league for the 2024 season.

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Arkansas to partner with Topps in NIL trading card deal

Arkansas fans can soon collect trading cards of their favorite Razorbacks thanks to this new NIL deal with Topps and Fanatics.

Trading card fans rejoice, you will soon be able to add cards of top collegiate student-athletes to your collection.

Fanatics collectibles and Topps trading cards announced Thursday that a comprehensive agreement is in place to produce trading cards of football and basketball student-athletes beginning this fall, in an effort for athletes to earn profit through name, image, and likeness.

Flagship, the University of Arkansas’ program to aid student-athletes in finding NIL deals, also announced Thursday that Razorback student-athletes will have the opportunity to receive compensation by allowing their name, image, and likeness to be used on a trading card. One Razorback men’s basketball player, [autotag]Nick Smith Jr.[/autotag], has already signed a partnership with the company.

In a statement, Fanatics says that the trading cards will feature official university trademarks with NIL rights from both current athletes and former players, and student-athletes will receive payment based on popularity of card sales.

“Both the schools and athletes benefit through rights fees and royalties paid on the sale of collegiate cards. Higher profile universities and student-athletes command larger rights fees driven by demand from collectors.”

Several of College Football’s top players have already signed an NIL agreement with Topps, including Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett, and USC quarterback Caleb Williams.

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On3 lists KJ Jefferson as a top-10 QB ahead of 2022 season

After achieving so much last season, it is easy to see why more eyes will be on Jefferson as the 2022 College Football season draws nearer. 

Arkansas’ [autotag]KJ Jefferson[/autotag] proved to many last season that he can handle the pressure of being a starting quarterback, and lead his team to become of the best in the Southeastern Conference.

The rising junior took over the Razorbacks’ offense in 2021 and threw for over 2,500 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was also the team’s second-leading rusher, and led Arkansas to their first bowl win since 2015.

After achieving so much last season, it is easy to see why more eyes will be on Jefferson as the 2022 College Football season draws nearer.

On3 recently released their top-10 quarterbacks, as part of their “Impact 300”, with Jefferson making the list at no. 8.

Jefferson’s incredible dual-threat ability is what earned him a spot on the list, says On3’s Nikki Chavanelle.

Back for his fourth season with the Hogs, second as the starter, KJ Jefferson is one of the best deep-ball passers and runners in the country. In 2021, he threw for 2,676 yards with an additional 664 rushing yards. He posted 21 touchdowns with four interceptions and added six more scores on the ground. His NIL value is $823,000.

According to On3, Impact 300 ranks the best players in college football entering the 2022 season, with a full release coming in the next few weeks. Prior to the release of the inaugural list – which also factors into the calculation of On3’s NIL Valuation.

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Former Arkansas LB announces transfer to Appalachian State

Andrew Parker becomes the eighth Razorback since the end of the 2021 season to announce their transfer destination.

A member of Arkansas Football’s 2018 signing class will continue as a student-athlete elsewhere.

[autotag]Andrew Parker[/autotag], a linebacker from New Orleans, La. who saw action in 17 games over two seasons for Arkansas, has announced that he is heading to Appalachian State.

Parker signed with Arkansas as a three-star linebacker from Sophie B. Wright High School in New Orleans. He saw action in seven games as a redshirt freshman in 2019, where he recorded five tackles. In 2020, Parker appeared in all ten games, making 12 total stops, with his career-best day coming against Ole Miss, where he made four tackles.

Parker is the eight Razorback to announce a transfer destination since entering the transfer portal. Most recently, running back Treylon Burks announced his intentions to transfer to UTSA.

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Feleipe Franks gets look at another position during Falcons OTAs

The former Razorback QB appears to be exploring options for the upcoming NFL season.

A former Razorback signal-caller appears to be improving his odds for more playing time, even if it means moving to another position.

[autotag]Feleipe Franks[/autotag], who was the starting quarterback for Arkansas during the 2020 season following a four-year career at Florida, was picked up by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent after the 2021 NFL Draft. Despite being brought in Atlanta as a quarterback, it appears that Franks is moving to tight end, according to ESPN Falcons reporter Michael Rothstein.

Franks is still listed as one of three quarterbacks on the Falcons official roster, joining offseason addition Marcus Mariota and draft pick Desmond Ritter. The move potential move could be crucial in finding more playing time in Atlanta, as a potential back-up option to fellow former Gator Kyle Pitts.

Last season, Franks attempted one pass for Atlanta, which was intercepted. He also carried the football three times for six yards.

In his lone season in Fayetteville, Franks passed for 2,017 yards and 17 touchdowns while breaking the school’s record for completion percentage by completing 68.7% of his passes.

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Drew Sanders named Arkansas’ “key newcomer” from the Transfer Portal

Sanders will be a key addition to the Razorback defense with his incredible pass rush ability, says On3.

Arkansas Football received nine players from the Transfer Portal for the 2022 recruiting cycle, with each athlete adding an individual element that will make the Razorbacks better.

For linebacker [autotag]Drew Sanders[/autotag], his ability to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks’ provides a much-needed boost to the Razorbacks’ defense.

Out of all nine transfers, expect Sanders to be the “key newcomer” says Mike Huguenin of On3.

Huguenin named his picks for the key newcomer from the transfer portal for each program of the SEC West and says that the Alabama transfer barely beat out wide receiver [autotag]Jadon Haselwood[/autotag], a transfer from Oklahoma, for the top spot for the Razorbacks.

WR Jadon Haselwood, a transfer from Oklahoma, is getting a lot of attention, but Sanders’ pass-rush ability could be vital for the Hogs. Both Haselwood and Sanders are former five-star recruits; Haselwood was so-so at OU, while Sanders got squeezed out for playing time with the Tide. Arkansas had 25 sacks last season, but only 13 in the eight SEC games. Revving up that aspect of the defense is a must, and that’s why Sanders’ arrival is so important. Sanders (6-5, 232) has good size, is a solid athlete and holds up nicely against the run.

Sanders played in 12 games for Alabama, starting in three games at the beginning of the 2021 season. In his limited playing time with Alabama, Sanders recorded 24 tackles, with 2.5 for loss. The Denton, Texas native saw action in 11 games during the 2020 season, where he made nine tackles.

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