Opposing SEC coach believes 2023 is the first year to 'really judge' Sam Pittman

Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman is entering his fourth season at the helm in Fayetteville, and in short order has turned the Razorbacks’ program around. After ending his first season 3-7, Pittman elevated Arkansas’ record to 9-4 the following season, marking their best year since 2011.

They took a slight step back last season ending the year with a 7-6 record, but according to what an anonymous coach in the SEC said to Athlon magazine, 2023 is truly the first season to properly evaluate Pittman as a head coach.

“This is the season where you can really judge the Sam Pittman era, honestly. Chad (Morris) was an absolute fraud as a head coach, but he did recruit Texas pretty well, at least enough for these guys to develop some of them. Now you’re gonna see what the roster represents under this staff specifically.”

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It’s definitely challenging to evaluate a head coach early in their tenure at a new program, as they’re still working through getting their proper recruits and staff in-house while also establishing their brand and culture. But now that Pittman is arriving upon his fourth year at the helm, it’s safe to stay that his foundation has now been set in place.

Chad Morris led the Razorbacks to just four total wins in his two seasons as Arkansas head coach, a standard that Pittman quickly exceeded. But success presents new challenges, which in college football usually means turnover within one’s coaching staff.

For all three of Pittman’s seasons in Arkansas Kendal Briles has been his offensive coordinator, boasting one of the strongest rushing attacks in the SEC. But following the season Briles took the job as TCU‘s offensive coordinator, leading to Pittman hiring veteran offensive mind Dan Enos to now run the show.

“Dan Enos is a big swing from what (Kendal) Briles had them doing, so the first question you ask is if they’re going to have the personnel for it. If you’re gonna slow it down, do you have the bodies to mash?”

Enos has spent the last two seasons as the offensive coordinator at Maryland, but brings over 30 years of experience with him to Arkansas. His offensive scheme is more of a pro-style featuring a heavier dosage of under-center and RPO plays, and it will definitely be interesting to see how he pairs with veteran dual-threat quarterback KJ Jefferson this upcoming season in a year that’s apparently crucial for Pittman.