Sam Pittman details how Arkansas must replace Treylon Burks

Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks steadily improved during his time in Fayetteville. It led to a breakout junior season where he posted career highs across the board with 66 catches for 1,104 yards and 12 total touchdowns. That production justified the Tennessee Titans in trading away No. 1 receiver AJ Brown and drafting Burks to replace him with the 18th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. With Burks gone to the NFL, Sam Pittman is left with some major questions in his WR corp.

Pittman discussed the void Burks left during his press conference at SEC Media Days last week. He says their first wake up call came with the receiver’s performances during the Razorback’s Outback Bowl win over Penn State. Burks skipped the bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft and it showed in Arkansas’ passing stats.

“We go to the Outback Bowl. That was about three weeks of preparation. We didn’t have anybody at that point. I think we threw the ball for 103-105 yards. That put up more of a red flag,” said Pittman. “In the second half I think KJ rushed for 100 something yards himself. We decided we could run the football and we did so. (But) it was scary early because we weren’t getting open or we weren’t seeing, whatever the case may be.”

The 105 yard estimate was Pittman even being generous as KJ Jefferson completed just 14 passes overall for 98 yards. No Arkansas receiver finished with more than three catches or finished with more than 33 yards.

In order to ensure that preview doesn’t become their reality, Sam Pittman says they’ll need to fill that gap by committee. 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.”

Haselwood is the most notable of the group as the No. 3 player and No. 1 WR in the 2019 class according to On3’s Consensus Top Wide Receiver Recruits. All six will eventually have to come together, though, to help Jefferson in the pass game. Sam Pittman believes this batch of receivers is the group for the job in order to fill in for Burks entering this fall.