Sam Pittman looking to identify top wide receiver on roster
The Arkansas football team will have the unenviable task of replacing its top two wide receivers on the team from the 2022 season, leaving the onus to produce on a handful of younger players.
Arkansas coach Sam Pittman likes what he has in the group, but he’s not sure if there’s a standout just yet.
“There really hasn’t been a wideout that you go, ‘That’s the guy,’ yet,” Pittman said after a recent practice. “Probably the closest thing to that has been Bryce (Stephens). We do feel comfortable with who’s out there, but you’re talking about a guy to catch for 700, 1,000 yards, something like that. I don’t know that that guy has yet identified himself.
“I’m not saying that he’s not on the team, I just don’t know that we know for sure.”
There’s a lot of lost production to replace.
Matt Landers led the team last season with 47 catches for 901 yards and eight touchdowns. Jadon Haselwood was right behind him with 59 catches for 702 yards and three touchdowns.
Arkansas might have some players that can replace him, but it’s possible the top wide receiver is injured right now.
“As of right now I guess we have to understand a little bit is Tyrone Broden had a little bit of an MCL issue, non-surgical. He was out there a little bit today, but not necessarily healthy. And of course we know about Jaedon Wilson. So those two guys aren’t out there right now.”
Broden is a transfer from Bowling Green who caught 32 passes for 506 yards and seven touchdowns, while Wilson caught three passes for 49 yards last season at Arkansas.
Both will help, while a number of other transfers are also expected to make an impact.
Right now, though, Pittman mostly sees a group still getting its feet under it in practice. There’s no top wide receiver yet and there’s a lot to learn, which is impacting how the group plays at the moment.
“A lot of that is speed that you’re playing and it’s hard to play fast, fast when you’re still trying to concentrate on, ‘Where am I supposed to be? What’s my alignment? What’s my route? What’s my timing? What am I in the progression?'” Pittman explained. “Those things like that. I felt like they got a little bit better today and I think that’s with their install has about ceased at this point in time.”