Sam Pittman details difficulty of repeating success in SEC

The Arkansas Razorbacks haven’t had a 10-win season in more than a decade but head coach Sam Pittman has the Hogs on track to potentially pull it off in 2022. Exceeding their 2021 results won’t be easy by any means as they face a slate of SEC West teams that are all trying to prove some consistent success.

At SEC Media Days, Pittman described why he believes it’s so hard for most teams to repeat success year after year in the SEC.

“I think it’s going to be, for most any team in our league, it’s hard to stay consistent with nine wins,” Pittman said. “I’m not sure we snuck up on anybody. We went to Georgia and they beat us 37-0, they kinda were ready for us. I think you just go compete. In this league, everybody knows you better play well, no matter who.

“It’s hard to go from six wins to nine, certainly harder to go from nine to… each one you go up it’s harder to maintain, especially in the SEC West, no disrespect to the East. I love it at Arkansas. I’m not complaining one bit about it, but it’s tough.”

On top of an SEC slate that features Alabama and Texas A&M back-to-back, the Hogs face Cincinnati coming off of a CFP appearance, as well as BYU and a potentially resurging South Carolina.

Pittman details how Arkansas could replace Treylon Burks

In 2021, Treylon Burks posted career highs across the board with 66 catches for 1,104 yards and 12 total touchdowns. That production justified the Tennessee Titans trading away No. 1 receiver AJ Brown and replacing him with the 18th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Pittman discussed the void Burks left during his press conference at SEC Media Days last week. He says their first wake-up call came as the Hogs battled for the Outback Bowl win over Penn State. Burks skipped the bowl game to prepare for the draft and Arkansas’s passing game struggled.

The Razorbacks skipper believes they’ll need to fill that Burks-shaped gap by committee in 2022. Between a group of transfers, returning players and incoming freshman, he thinks they can accomplish that tall task.

“I think it’s gonna have to be a little bit by committee. Jadon Haselwood transferred over from Oklahoma. Matt Landers is another portal guy. Ketron Jackson’s a guy that’s got to step up. Warren Thompson has to. We’ve got some young guys in Jaedon Wilson and Bryce Stephens. Those are probably our top six (receivers)…I’m not saying one of those guys can’t have a breakout season. (But) I think to replace a Burks, you got to do it with more than one guy.”

On3’s Sam Gillenwater contributed to this report.