Tag: razorbacks football

Sam Pittman receives success-friendly contract extension through 2026

It appears that the jukebox will stay on for a few more seasons.

“They can fire me whenever they get good and ready to, but I can’t leave if that makes sense. Don’t want to, anyway.”

Following the announcement of contract extensions to coordinators [autotag]Kendal Briles[/autotag] and [autotag]Barry Odom[/autotag] in April, it was revealed that Arkansas head football coach [autotag]Sam Pittman[/autotag] would be receiving an extension as well. Although, at the time, the details had not emerged.

Now, the details of the extension have been revealed.

Pittman, who will enter his third season as the head coach in 2022, has signed an extension that will last through December 2026, where he will earn at least $6 million per season, ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg reports.

As far as the “but I can’t leave” portion of his quote, the new contract is very flexible. Pittman will make at least $6 million annually, with a $100,000 increase every year through the end of the contract.

In addition to receiving a bonus every year, Pittman also has the option of extending the length of the contract. Over the next five seasons, Pittman will receive a one-year extension to 2027 if Arkansas wins at least seven games.

Arkansas athletic director [autotag]Hunter Yurachek[/autotag] says that things are “just getting started” under Pittman.

There is no doubt Coach Pittman has proven to be the right man to lead our football team,” athletic director Hunter Yurachek said in a statement. “He has earned this opportunity with the success he and his staff have had on the field and on the recruiting trail

Pittman is grateful for the opportunity to continue leading the program that he calls his “dream job.”

I am so grateful for our University and Hunter for believing in me, our coaches and staff and the program we’re building. We are all excited to continue to build on what we’ve done and continue to make our fans and the whole state of Arkansas proud of our football team

In 2021, Arkansas won nine games, which is the most since 2011. They won the Outback Bowl over Penn State to claim their first bowl win since the 2015 season. Not only have the Razorbacks seen success on the field under Pittman, but they are building for the future. Pittman’s first recruiting class ranked no. 22 for the 2022 cycle. So far, Arkansas’ 2023 class ranks no. 6 in the nation according to 247sports.

Former Razorback Trelon Smith is on the move again

The Razorbacks’ second-leading rusher from 2021 is headed to UTSA months after committing to transfer to TCU.

Arkansas’ second-leading rusher from last season has announced his second transfer destination since January.

[autotag]Trelon Smith[/autotag], the premier back of the Razorback offense in 2021, announces that he will be transferring to UT-San Antonio after originally committing to TCU in January, he tweeted on Wednesday.

Smith saw significant playing time during his two seasons as a Razorback. In two seasons, Smith rushed for 1,308 yards and ten touchdowns. He rushed for 598 yards in 2021, which was second-best on the team behind KJ Jefferson. He was a dual-threat in the Hog offense in 2020, rushing for 710 yards and five touchdowns, and caught 22 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown.

Prior to his time in Arkansas, Smith played in 13 games over two seasons at Arizona State, where he rushed for 60 yards on 12 carries.

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Kickoff times announced for Arkansas’ first three games

Mark your calendars! Kickoff times for the first three games of the season have been announced.

Thursday marks 100 days until the beginning of the College Football season. Why not celebrate by releasing the times of three early-season games for Arkansas?

Many television networks, including ESPN, have released the times of each broadcast of games involving Power-Five conferences, with Arkansas being brought into the mix.

The Razorbacks’ first three games will be played at DWR Razorbacks Stadium and will be carried by the ESPN family of networks.

Arkansas’ season opener with Cincinnati on September 3 will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT and will be televised by ESPN. This will mark the first-ever meeting between the Razorbacks and the Bearcats. Against current AAC teams, the Razorbacks are 114-55-8, with most of their meetings being between Tulsa and SMU.

Conference play opens in week two, as Arkansas hosts South Carolina for an 11 a.m. CT kickoff. Arkansas currently leads the overall series, 13-10, but have not defeated the Gamecocks since 2011, when the Razorbacks beat South Carolina 44-28 in Fayetteville. South Carolina has won three games in a row in the series, with the most recent game being played in 2017 in Columbia. The Gamecocks won 48-22.

An old friend visits Fayetteville in week three, as Arkansas hosts Missouri State and former head coach Bobby Petrino. Good news, is that the game has a later kickoff, 6 p.m. CT. But the downside, is that the game will not be available on national TV. Fans can watch Arkansas vs. Missouri State on SEC Network+, which available on the ESPN app on smart devices, including smart TVs.

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Arkansas makes top-10 list for Oklahoma product

Micah Tease, a 4-star athlete from Tulsa, is considering joining Arkansas’ already loaded 2023 signing class.

One of the nation’s most talented athletes is considering Arkansas.

On Thursday, [autotag]Micah Tease[/autotag], a four-star athlete for the 2023 class from Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, released his top-10 college choices with Arkansas making the cut.

Arkansas was not one of the first programs to offer Tease, but they are among the top schools to land him. The Razorbacks extended an offer to Tease on September 6, 2021, and Tease took an unofficial visit to Arkansas on September 11 for the Texas game at DWR Razorbacks Stadium.

Where will Tease end up? It is all dependent on which recruiting source you trust the most. If you look at 247sports, Tease has a Crystal Ball to Oklahoma, with the highest confidence coming from Oklahoma Insider Parker Thune.

But, as for On3, Tease has a 74.6% chance of committing to Arkansas.

Micah Tease is the no. 3 rated prospect from the state of Oklahoma, and the no. 11 overall athlete from the state of Oklahoma says 247sports. Arkansas currently holds the nation’s no. 5 ranked signing class for the 2023 cycle with 11 commits.

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Treylon Burks inks rookie deal with Tennessee Titans

Burks, who is expected to make an immediate impact for the Tennessee Titans, has agreed to terms on his rookie contract.

A former Arkansas standout has officially come to terms with his first NFL contract.

On Tuesday, the Tennessee Titans and first-round selection Treylon Burks agreed to a four-year deal, with a fifth-year option according to Field Yates of ESPN.

According to Titans Wire, Burks is the 5th draft pick by the Titans to sign a rookie deal joining Hassan Haskins, Kyle Phillips, Theo Jackson, and Chance Campbell, who were all third day selections.

Picks who have yet to come to an agreement include Auburn’s Roger McCreary and Liberty’s Malik Willis.

Burks had a rocky start to his Titans career, as he reportedly left the first day of rookie mini camp early due to being winded.

“I know that they’re working and they think that they are trying to get in shape, but that’s just not the case,” said Titans head coach Mike Vrabel of Burks’ early exit. “That’s something that we have to focus on and try to make sure that we’re getting some work in with all of them. We’re trying to be as smart as we possibly can.”

However, his performance on day two was better as he practiced the entire time without issues.

Burks was the first Razorback taken in the first round since Frank Ragnow was selected by the Detroit Lions with the 20th overall pick in 2018. Burks is also the highest Razorback taken in the NFL Draft sice Darren McFadden was taken 4th overall by the Oakland Raiders in 2008.

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PHOTO GALLERY: A look at Arkansas draft picks with their new team

Treylon Burks, John Ridgeway, and Montaric Brown all have new homes. Here’s a peek at what they look like in their new uniforms.

Arkansas Football had three players selected in the 2022 NFL Draft, which is the most since 2019, when three Razorbacks were also taken in the draft.

[autotag]Treylon Burks[/autotag] was taken 18th overall by the Tennessee Titans in this year’s draft, making him the first Razorback to be taken in the first round since 2018, when Frank Ragnow was selected 20th overall by the Detroit Lions. Burks was the highest draft pick from Arkansas since Darren McFadden went 4th overall to the Oakland Raiders in 2008.

The next selection from Arkansas was [autotag]John Ridgeway[/autotag], who was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys with the No. 178 overall selection. Ridgeway becomes the third Razorback to be taken by Dallas, which is surprising considering the proximity of Dallas to Fayetteville, and the fact that the Cowboys are owned by Arkansas alum, Jerry Jones. The last Razorback to be taken by Dallas before Ridgeway? Felix Jones in 2008.

The last selection from Arkansas in the 2022 draft was [autotag]Montaric Brown[/autotag] with the 222nd overall pick. Jacksonville has been a popular destination for former Razorbacks, as five former Hogs have been selected by Jacksonville since 2000, with the most recent being Brandon Allen in 2016.

Here is a look at what these former Razorbacks look like in their new uniforms.

Where does Arkansas fall in USA Today Sports’ re-rank?

USA Today Sports has re-ranked every FBS team following spring practice. Check to see where Arkansas, as well as the rest of the SEC, falls in the adjustment.

Now that spring practice is behind us and we begin to move towards summer training, USA Today Sports has re-ranked all 131 teams in College Football.

As usual, the Southeastern Conference has plenty of representation in the top-25. Alabama is the front runner to win the College Football Playoff National Championship, with Georgia also considered to be a contender.

Where does the rest of the SEC rank in the adjustment? Here’s a look at the conference, from lowest to highest:

Arkansas in running to land safety from Alabama

TJ Metcalf, a three-star safety from Pinson Valley High School in metro Birmingham, has listed Arkansas among his top schools.

A three-star safety from the Yellowhammer State with strong SEC ties is considering Arkansas to be his college home.

[autotag]TJ Metcalf[/autotag], the No. 40 safety for the 2023 class from Pinson, Ala., released his top-10 over the weekend, and Arkansas made the cut. Along with Arkansas, Metcalf is considering Penn State, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Georgia, Florida State, Tennessee, Jackson State, and Ole Miss.

Arkansas offered Metcalf on February 7, and offered his younger brother Tevis 16 days later. The brothers went on a visit to Arkansas during the weekend of March 11.

Although Metcalf has not publicly stated that there is not a top school on his radar, there is one school to watch for, and that is Ole Miss.

Metcalf’s cousin, DK Metcalf, was a standout at Ole Miss, and currently plays wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks. During a visit to Tennessee earlier this year, Metcalf told David Johnson of 247sports that his cousin’s legacy at Ole Miss will not be a deciding factor.

“A lot of folks think it has a lot to do with it, which it does, but that’s not going to be really a deciding factor of where I go,” Metcalf told Johnson. “It’s just that they’re in the same boat as any other team. They just have to do more than what another team does,”

Arkansas’ 2023 recruiting class is ranked No. 6 according to 247sports. Among the 11 commitments in the class, one is from the state of Alabama. Dallas Young, a three-star corner back from Gardendale, Ala., ranks two spots above Metcalf in the state rankings at No. 23.

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Jacksonville Jaguars select Montaric Brown in seventh round

Montaric Brown is heading to Jacksonville! He’s the fifth Razorback in history to be selected by Jacksonville, and the first since 2016, when the Jags selected Brandon Allen in the sixth round of the 2016 draft.

[autotag]Montaric Brown[/autotag] has become the third Razorback taken in the 2022 NFL Draft, as has been selected in the seventh round by the Jacksonville Jaguars, as the 222nd overall pick.

Brown is the second pick from Arkansas to be selected on the final day of the draft, joining [autotag]John Ridgeway[/autotag], who was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the 178th overall pick.

Brown becomes the fifth player from Arkansas to be drafted by Jaguars, and the first since Brandon Allen, who was selected 201st overall in the 2016 draft. If Brown signs with the Jags, he will become teammates with former Razorback Jeremiah Ledbetter, who plays defensive end for Jacksonville.

When it comes to drafting former Razorbacks, Jacksonville has usually gone the offensive route. Allen, as well as Matt Jones (2005), and Emanuel Smith (2000) were offensive players taken by the Jaguars. Brown is just the second defensive player from Arkansas to be drafted by Jacksonville, the first being Chris Smith, who was drafted with the 159th pick in the 2014 draft.

Brown had a breakout season for Arkansas in 2021. The Ashdown, Ark. native started in all 13 games, and recorded career-bests in total tackles (54), pass deflections (11), and interceptions (5).

Throughout his five-year career at Arkansas, Brown made 132 total tackles, forced two fumbles, and picked off seven passes.

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John Ridgeway selected in 5th round by Dallas Cowboys

Ridgeway becomes the first Razorback to be drafted by Dallas since Felix Jones was taken 22nd overall in 2008.

It appears that another Razorback is headed to Dallas.

The Dallas Cowboys have selected Arkansas defensive lineman [autotag]John Ridgeway[/autotag] with the 178th overall selection of the 2022 NFL Draft, making him the second product from Arkansas to be taken in this year’s draft, joining [autotag]Treylon Burks[/autotag], who was taken 18th overall by the Tennessee Titans. 

A transfer from Illinois State, Ridgeway played his final collegiate season at Arkansas, where he started in 11 of 12 games that he appeared in. In his lone year in Fayetteville, Ridgeway recorded 39 total tackles, four tackles for loss, and two sacks.

During his four-year college career, Ridgeway started in 40 games, made 141 tackles with 12 of them being for loss.

Ridgeway becomes just the third Arkansas player to be drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, who are owned by Arkansas alum Jerry Jones, and the first since Felix Jones was taken 22nd overall in the 2008 NFL Draft.

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