Sam Pittman reveals freshman playmaker making push for playing time in 2022

The Arkansas Razorbacks are looking like a top-five team in the SEC thanks to the return of quarterback K.J. Jefferson, along with both offensive coordinator Kendal Briles and defensive coordinator Barry Odom. The offense lost leading running back Trelon Smith to the transfer portal, however, Sam Pittman has a true freshman in mind to help “toat the mail” in 2022.

Arkansas had four 500-yard rushers last season, including Jefferson. Smith, now at TCU, ran for 598 yards, Raheim “Rocket” Sanders posted 578 and Dominique Johnson had 575. Now, Georgia native Rashod Dubinion is getting his shot after enrolling early in Fayetteville.

“We went back and forth on whether to run him in there with the threes,” Pittman said after the spring game. “He’s really a shifty runner. He’s a mature kid. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll help us next year in games. Not just special teams but he’ll be one of the backs toating the mail because he’s a good player.”

Arkansas recruited Dubinion out of Cedar Grove High School, where running backs coach Jimmy Smith won multiple state championships as head coach. The 5-foot-10, 188-pound running back was a three-star prospect, according to the On3 Consensus, and a top-50 player in the Peach State.

Pittman concerned with WR room depth

As his team heads into the summer months, Pittman is a little concerned about where Arkansas stands in the wide receiver room.

Arkansas had three wide receivers with at least 300 receiving yards last season, and only one is back 2022. The Razorbacks’ most productive receiver last year – Treylon Burks – is about to become a first-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. With Burks, who had 66 receptions for 1,104 yards and 11 touchdowns, now gone, Pittman is looking for not only a new top receiver in the Arkansas offense but more depth at the position as a whole.

“Well, we’re thin,” Pittman said of the Arkansas wide receiver room. “Last year we had Burks as your bell cow, as your go-to guy. I don’t know that we’ve found that yet. I mean we’re closer, I think (Jadon) Haselwood has that role. But I think he’ll be a lot better too once he gets through summer and understands everything.”

Pittman sees some other young players in the wide receiver room that are poised for bigger roles in the Arkansas offense next season. One of those receivers is Quincey McAdoo.

“He’s young, he doesn’t know exactly what to do yet,” Pittman said. “But he’s a talented kid. He can catch the ball, he can run routes. So he’s getting better. A guy I like a lot is Ketron Jackson, I like him a lot. But sometimes you’ll go through practice and we’re not getting a ball. At times, there’s not a lot of production. But I think he’s a really good player.

“And then Bryce Stephens is continuing now to catch the ball better and that was really his – we had to catch the football. So I think we have enough receivers to have a quality room in the SEC.”

On3’s Jonathan Wagner contributed to this report.