Sam Pittman confident Jaedon Wilson will play Week 1

Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman revealed some good news regarding the status of receiver Jaedon Wilson for the season opener. Wilson missed spring practice after suffering a cracked tibia in a car accident but returned for fall camp.

In case there was any concern on whether the receiver will be ready to go for Week 1 against Western Carolina, Pittman cleared that up in his Monday press conference.

“He’s healing up,” the coach said. “I’m confident he’ll play.”

Wilson is set to enter his third season in Fayetteville after playing a limited role in the past two years. He appeared in just eight games in 2022, hauling in three catches for a total of 49 yards.

The majority of that production came in the Liberty Bowl against Kansas. Wilson made two catches for 47 yards and also caught a two-point conversion in overtime as the Razorbacks defeated the Jayhawks 55-53.

Wilson ranked as the No. 503 overall prospect and the No. 73 receiver in the 2021 cycle according to the On3 Industry Rating, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He appeared in one game as a true freshman before taking a redshirt.

Pittman highlighted Wilson’s experience at the start of fall camp, indicating he has a chance to play a larger role in the offense this season after the Razorbacks lost their top four receivers from last season.

“I think that Wilson would have a little bit (of a leg up) because he’s been in the system,” Pittman said. “Not necessarily in not in Dan (Enos)’s system, but in our system as a team. So I wasn’t too concerned about him and he showed up today because he showed up all summer, you know.”

Arkansas released its depth chart for Week 1 on Monday, with transfers Isaac TeSlaa and Andrew Armstrong both listed as starters at receiver. Armstrong ranked as the No. 29 receiver in On3’s Transfer Portal Player Rankings after totaling 62 catches for 1,020 yards and 13 touchdowns at Texas A&M-Commerce this past season.

Wilson was listed as a co-starter at the third receiver spot along with second-year player Isaiah Sategna, the No. 1 recruit from the state of Arkansas in the 2022 cycle. Sategna appeared in four games as a true freshman to finish with a pair of catches for 12 yards.

Kickoff for the season opener against Western Carolina is set for noon CT on Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.