Sam Pittman evaluates where Arkansas’ program stands after staff, roster turnover

Like every team in America, Sam Pittman’s Arkansas team has deal with change and turnover in the offseason. They’ve had players and coaches come and go as they try to improve upon last year’s 7-6 season.

Well, Pittman is feeling good about the team, saying he feels like the group has a similar vibe to when they went 9-4 in 2021.

“I think it’s as good right now, as it was when we won nine games,” Pittman said after a recent practice. “I think our strength I think it’s as good right now as it was when we won nine games. I think our strength coach, our new coaches have a lot to do with that but we’ve got a lot of good kids on our team that’s working extremely hard. It’d be hard to be more pleased. In other words, I guess. It will happen, I’m sure, but we talk about the portal and who might go in. Kids go in for different reasons and all that kind of stuff, but I just don’t feel like there’ll be a mass exit or possibly any. I feel pretty good about where we’re at there.”

The team returns KJ Jefferson at quarterback while adding double digit players from the portal and a top 25 recruiting class. However, they lost over 20 players to the portal.

But Pittman said there are a lot of positions that their question marks answered this spring.

“We ask questions about the quarterback position,” Pittman said. “Where are we going there? Did we have someone that can win a game for us without, obviously KJ? I think we feel good there. Obviously, we’ve got a couple of tackles on the O line. Who’s gonna be the people? I think we found those guys. I feel good about them.”

Sam Pittman said there are spots that need some more help after the turnover

It is not all sunshine in Fayetteville and Pittman knows that there are still some spots that need some more depth and help.

“The questions at corner I think we’re pretty good and the questions at defensive end, I think we’re pretty good,” Pittman said. “Linebacker” I think Greer was a great addition for those other guys we’ve had. Are we still short some guys? Yeah, because we got eight scholarships. We need more interior guys, need some more safeties, things of that nature. But we’ve answered most of those questions in a positive way. Like I say, I like where the culture of the team is. I do and I think you can feel it at practice.”

But all in all, Pittman is happy where his team is at and likes where the team is going.

“I’m happy where we are,” Pittman said. “It wasn’t near as bad as what everybody thought it was. It wasn’t as good ever as I think it is. It’s somewhere in between, but I feel real confident with this football team. I really do. I like ’em.”