Sam Pittman compliments Beaux Limmer, shares humorous story on Pro Football Focus grades

There are certainly mixed feelings about the merits of Pro Football Focus, a service that provides weekly grades for players in college football based on a combination of observing technique and statistics, with some coaching staffs outright derisive of the grading metrics used and others embracing it as a supplemental source of information. For Arkansas coach Sam Pittman, it’s simply an additional tool.

But even Pittman has had to laugh here and there when certain players approach him with their grades from PFF.

On Wednesday, a local reporter asked a question about offensive lineman Beaux Limmer, a multi-year starter for the Razorbacks at right guard who is rated extremely highly by PFF through the first three games of the season.

“I’m laughing but he’s playing really well,” Pittman said, moments before relaying a hilarious PFF story involving one of his former players.

The second-year Arkansas head coach then chopped it up at the expense of an unnamed former player.

“I had a kid one time and he told me that his Pro Football grade was about 8% higher than what my grade was,” Pittman said. “And he got done griping at me a little bit and I said, ‘Well tell your mom hi for me, she works for Pro Football Focus now.’ I had a good time with him on it. I don’t know if it was his mom or his uncle, I think I might have said, ‘Well tell your uncle hello for me, he works for PFF, doesn’t he?’ He got my point.”

For Sam Pittman, Pro Football Focus is what you make of it

Unlike some coaches, Pittman doesn’t seem to hold any sort of particular grudge against PFF. Others have, at times, expressed they have no idea how PFF comes up with grades without knowing playcalls.

In 2016, a handful of NFL offensive linemen slammed PFF grades.

Pittman? Doesn’t seem to bother him. Just another thing to work around. Or potentially even use as motivation or bragging rights in certain instances.

Reporter Bob Holt of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette quipped to Pittman he should just tell his players PFF stands for ‘Pittman Football Focus,’ to which Pittman let out a hearty laugh.

“I should have thought about that when he was talking to me about how much better he graded,” Pittman said. “I’ll tell you what it was, they gave a Lineman of the Week, an Offensive Line of the Week and (this former player) was on it. And he was like fourth-graded on our team, and I’m going, ‘I have no idea how you made that,’ and I think that’s when I said, ‘Tell your uncle hello, he works for them right?’ …

“But listen, they’re a good program and we use them, too. We use them for statistics, anything that’s good. We use it in recruiting. We’re all for it. I was just teasing the other day.”

Back to Beaux Limmer and his play…

Circling back around to Limmer, who has been a stalwart presence on Arkansas’ offensive line, Pittman was quick to offer praise.

And for good reason. In four playing seasons with the Razorbacks he has now started 19 games, while making 27 appearances. He’s been a staple so far on the offensive line that has Arkansas’ rushing offense ranked 10th in the country, averaging 243.7 yards per game.

“He’s strong and he cares,” Pittman said. “Now he’s got the reps to feel confident. He’s always had the athletic ability, so he’s playing really well. He really is. I think he’s comfortable in there between (Dalton Wagner) and (Ricky Stromberg). Says something about guys consistently playing next to each other, they kind of understand.”

Oh yeah, and there’s this: Limmer was named a second-team All-SEC selection in 2021 by Pro Football Focus.