Arkansas Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman on the state of the team with just a couple of games left on the schedule, trying to keep the wagon from careening into a ditch, but it is wobbly going into game with Florida International on Saturday night.
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00:00 The news was out yesterday, Travis Williams was you guys nominee for the
00:03 Broyles Award, and I'm guessing maybe you had some input on that and
00:07 what was the decision there?
00:10 >> Well, I think that he's done a really nice job in all facets,
00:15 of being a role model to these guys, getting them to play hard.
00:20 We certainly have improved statistically,
00:24 and he's done a really nice job and so
00:28 I felt like he's done as good coaching job as anybody on our staff.
00:36 And certainly we have some other guys that could have been nominated for it,
00:42 but I just think the statistical difference in what we've had this
00:47 year has been a great improvement and I think he's earned that.
00:51 >> Yeah, we didn't ask you on some injury updates other than Kudas this morning,
00:57 but I think you've got Braxton and Singletary and
01:02 Jashod Stewart, are any of those, what's this updates on those guys?
01:10 >> Stewart's ready, practice, practice.
01:12 Excuse me, Jashod, I thought you start talking about Keon.
01:17 Jashod probably won't play.
01:19 Braxton, he's practiced, been in green,
01:24 I don't know if he'll be healthy enough to play or not.
01:27 And who else did you say, Tom?
01:29 >> Well, Singletary, I believe.
01:31 >> Singletary's practiced as well.
01:33 I don't think he's full speed yet, but we still have a lot of time, but
01:35 he's practiced.
01:37 And so he'll probably be more game time, what he does in warm ups and all that.
01:43 But Braxton's probably the furthest, him and
01:47 Stewart are probably the furthest away.
01:51 I don't think Stewart will be able to play, but
01:53 I believe Braxton might have an opportunity to.
01:56 >> For Stewart, you gotta feel bad for him because he's been dinged up a lot of
02:00 the year.
02:01 What's going on with him?
02:02 >> I hate it.
02:03 And what a great kid, kid from Arkansas, loves the Hogs.
02:07 Just it seemed like one nagging injury after another, hamstrings,
02:12 growing pulls, things of that nature.
02:18 But it's a little bit happened last year as well.
02:22 So we've been working on his flexibility and things of that nature,
02:27 but he's strong tight now.
02:30 And we know that and we've tried to work with some massage folks and
02:36 stretching and all that stuff and just been unfortunate for him.
02:40 [BLANK_AUDIO]
02:42 >> Coach.
02:43 >> Yeah, Sam, you've got another crop of seniors that technically have that extra
02:47 COVID year available to them.
02:49 I'm curious if any of those conversations have started yet.
02:51 Like does the, do those happen sooner now that there's no bowl game or
02:55 does that change the timing at all?
02:57 >> No, I don't think so.
02:59 I mess with them when I walk by them and
03:03 think what number you want to change to next year.
03:06 You like your number, like Hudson Clark, I'm messing with him all the time about
03:11 if he likes Gatorade or water at practice and just mess with him.
03:16 But no, not really.
03:19 I think all those things are still probably Monday after the Missouri game.
03:28 There'll be a lot of things happen that day, I'm assuming as far as,
03:32 we want to find out who's gonna go on the portal and
03:37 who's gonna stay and who, all that kind of stuff.
03:40 That usually starts happening Monday and
03:42 we understand there'll be kids that go on the portal.
03:45 There'll be kids that go in the portal and every team and
03:48 we'll see what happens on that day, but that will probably save it till then.
03:55 >> And you mentioned on the SEC call this morning about how important KJ has been to
03:59 the program and hopefully you can send him out on a high note.
04:02 But he's another one of those guys that technically has an extra year.
04:05 Are you operating under the assumption that he's got two more games left and
04:08 then moving on to the NFL or is there a chance for him to come back?
04:12 >> Yeah, he sure hasn't, we haven't spoke about that either with him.
04:18 I think probably going into the season,
04:24 we thought definitely this would be his last year.
04:26 But I don't know where he stands right now.
04:30 And again, the portal doesn't open up for
04:35 a week after eight days after our game or whatever it is.
04:39 So we'll have plenty of time to sit down and talk about it.
04:42 But I don't think, usually, used to the senior walk really meant something and
04:48 it does to the guys that definitely know.
04:50 But I don't know that the guys that are out there walking are necessarily
04:55 not gonna do it again next year, obviously with the COVID plus one.
04:59 [BLANK_AUDIO]
05:02 >> Gray.
05:03 >> Andrew basically took both of my questions, but
05:06 I was wondering how KJ is responding to everything this season in terms of
05:12 being the leader that he's been and kind of the face of the team in a lot of ways.
05:15 With the senior year not going the way it does.
05:18 >> Well, I'm sure it's been disappointing to him.
05:21 I mean, if his actions and practice and
05:28 his leadership on the team are inductive of how he feels.
05:34 I mean, he feels good.
05:38 The problem has been all year that we've really never got into a rhythm,
05:45 a consistent rhythm, either running the football or
05:50 giving him time to throw the ball.
05:53 And so I'm sure that's been very frustrating to him.
05:56 Been frustrating, to be honest with you, for all of us.
06:01 But he's been good with it.
06:04 He's gotten hit, he's played through the hits the other day.
06:09 He was bleeding on his left hand and did not wanna come out, did not ask to come out.
06:16 So I think that tells you a little bit about what he feels about the program and
06:21 where he wants to finish strong and things of that nature.
06:24 So I've been really, really proud of him because you usually can tell a lot about
06:29 a person when they're going through tougher times and
06:32 whenever everything's going real well for them.
06:35 And so I've been real proud of him for that.
06:40 >> Last year, you told us to buckle up and there was, I think,
06:43 two dozen players that entered the transfer board.
06:45 Would you expect it to be anything as wild as what we saw last year or more?
06:49 >> Man, even when I was buckling you up, Trey,
06:52 I wasn't ready for that express train.
06:55 I knew there was gonna be a lot.
07:02 I don't know, I don't see anything like a year ago.
07:07 But if it is, we'll adjust, but I don't see anything like that.
07:18 The first thing we're gonna try to do is look at the plus ones that
07:21 obviously can help the team and things of that nature.
07:25 And talk to them and see if we can get that going.
07:28 But we'll have, there's always, and you know it,
07:32 there's always that one or two guys where you're going.
07:36 Man, I didn't see that coming.
07:37 And but otherwise, I think we pretty much know at this point in time,
07:44 in a season, you can kind of tell by mannerisms and
07:48 things of that nature who may go in the portal and who may not.
07:52 But there'll be a surprise, I'm sure, like every squad has.
07:57 >> By plus one, you mean the 18 seniors that have another year?
08:01 >> Yeah, the COVID guys.
08:04 Yeah, as you can get that fifth year from COVID, those guys.
08:11 >> You kind of answered it a little bit, but
08:13 you expect a decent number of those guys to come back?
08:16 I know you said you hadn't talked to them, but just-
08:18 >> I do, yeah, I really do.
08:20 I think we'll have a high number of those guys.
08:26 I think the way the season's been, obviously everybody's disappointed.
08:31 And of course, we have two games, the season's not over,
08:34 we have two very important games.
08:35 But I think with how it's gone, I think the team, for the most part,
08:42 I think the kids wanna be here and they don't wanna leave out, I think,
08:47 on we had had some success and I think they wanna go back and
08:53 prove that we can have it again.
08:54 And so I think a high majority of those guys could come back.
09:01 >> Thanks, Coach.
09:02 >> Thank you.
09:02 >> Mason.
09:03 >> Yeah, Coach, we've seen some Juco guys reporting offers from you guys.
09:08 I was wondering if there's a specific position that you guys are looking for
09:12 in the junior college ranks?
09:14 >> Yeah, I think there's several.
09:16 And I'll say this, I don't know a lot of difference right now in Juco and
09:22 portal transfers, they've played, it depends on what their competition's been,
09:27 all that kind of stuff.
09:28 But certainly, we've got to do something with the offensive line.
09:34 And then you can look at each position we have and you probably,
09:40 in all honesty, could have a pretty good idea cuz you're familiar with the program
09:44 and follow it and you could probably have a pretty good idea of where we might go
09:50 in a portal or in junior college to enhance our football team.
09:57 And I don't wanna specifically say,
10:00 I think everybody knows that we've got to go get some offensive linemen.
10:04 But other than that, I'd rather not really go into much further than that right now.
10:09 But we're certainly trying to improve our football team and
10:13 there are positions that we need to do that on.
10:17 Obviously, I just don't wanna talk specifically about those if you don't mind.
10:22 >> And then I saw last week you were at that event with Justin Moore,
10:28 the NIL event.
10:29 I wanted to ask you, as far as your program goes in NIL,
10:34 are you kind of pleased with where that's at?
10:36 And how much are you talking to recruits about it when you have them in and
10:40 all that good stuff?
10:41 >> I think everybody wants more money than,
10:47 they want a pool of money that collectives can bring that
10:53 can help your program and make you competitive around the country.
11:01 We're not talking specifically about that much.
11:07 That's really with the NIL department.
11:09 But the money, the funds that are there,
11:14 obviously we need to grow that budget.
11:19 And once we do that,
11:22 we can become obviously more competitive in recruiting.
11:28 >> Thank you.
11:30 >> Daniel.
11:31 >> Wondering just as the season has kind of progressed, has you or
11:37 anybody else's on the staffs like communicative style changed or shifted?
11:42 Or have you felt the need to do that at all?
11:44 >> I'm sorry, the way we work, the style we're coaching with or
11:51 the schemes or- >> Or more just in communication,
11:56 not by schemes.
11:58 >> With the kids?
12:00 >> Yes.
12:00 >> No, we pretty much been status quo, how we do things.
12:05 I think you did start doing a lot of changing.
12:08 I think you have panic in the building and it's worked in the past.
12:14 It will work in the future.
12:15 We got to find a way to win close games and things of that nature.
12:20 But no, we haven't really changed a whole lot communication wise with the kids.
12:28 >> And then have you had to shift your message at all in terms of recruiting and
12:33 on the trail just given, I mean, how do you handle when kids ask you,
12:37 maybe perhaps about this season's results or how the season's been going?
12:41 >> Well, it's recruiting, I mean,
12:47 you can handle it several different ways.
12:53 You can handle it as, hey, we need you to help us win the close games or
12:56 we're losing guys at your position, whatever it may be.
13:02 But no, I don't think there's a lot of difference in what we've done in the past
13:08 as far as where we're at recruiting, we've got, I think it's 18 guys committed
13:14 to us and I think probably the most we'll do after that is coming
13:19 through the JCs or the portal, depending on how many scholarships we have available.
13:26 Some of those guys we probably haven't even talked to yet to be perfectly honest
13:30 with you, the junior college guys, they want opportunity to play right away.
13:34 And so they have to come to me, they have to come watch a game.
13:37 I can't tell them where they can play right away or not.
13:39 They come to watch a game, watch us on TV.
13:41 They'll figure out whether they think they're better than somebody that we have
13:44 on the field now.
13:45 And if they do, then obviously you have a much better chance of getting them.
13:49 [BLANK_AUDIO]
13:52 >> Jackson.
13:52 [BLANK_AUDIO]
13:55 >> Hey Sam, any chance this stress this season with especially with Patrick's
14:00 injury that you could maybe get Devin and Andrew on the field together and
14:05 then just moving forward, that's three young O linemen when Patrick returns.
14:10 Is there any way to get all three of those guys working together on the offensive
14:13 line?
14:14 >> The way I think the way that that could happen is you could move.
14:20 I think the only one that you really could move inside is Kudas.
14:24 And certainly we've had discussions about that.
14:28 But certainly, to get them all three on the field at the same time,
14:33 Kudas would be the guy to move inside.
14:36 I just think you're gonna need spring ball to do that.
14:40 But to get them all on the field, that would be the way to do it.
14:44 >> And is there one of the two between Andrew and
14:49 Devin who maybe would be better flipping over to the right side?
14:53 >> Yeah, I think Devin would be better staying at left and Andrew would be better.
14:57 Chambly, yeah, Andrew would be better going at right,
15:02 Devin would be better staying at the left side.
15:04 Cuz, well, I don't know that for sure, but we have done that already with Chambly
15:09 in practice and he seems to be doing just fine with the ability to do both.
15:15 >> Gotcha, and it wasn't much, but the record seemed to indicate Dozier did
15:21 get a snap against Auburn his first time playing, I think, since Western.
15:25 Any chance maybe he gets some action over the last two games?
15:29 >> He sure could.
15:31 Obviously, we've got really the guy that's probably that we're probably,
15:36 because of the number of games left that we're watching is Graffard.
15:42 Ian, he's at four and we would like to keep him there, to be perfectly honest.
15:48 So the other guys have opportunities to play.
15:52 Certainly, we would rather him, Dozier play in a situation
15:57 that's certainly different than the one he got into the game the other day.
16:03 But it just helps some comfort knowing that you can put them in the game,
16:09 but there's really not a plan for
16:11 anybody that has not played a lot of ball to necessarily get extra time.
16:17 Maybe Augusta, I mean, Augusta, maybe him,
16:22 he may play a little bit more Saturday.
16:26 >> Thanks, Sam.
16:27 >> Wrap us up, Trey.
16:30 [BLANK_AUDIO]
16:34 >> Yeah, I just had one, coach, just off of what Mason said, but
16:38 compared to your peers, like Ole Miss, Missouri, Auburn, etc., so on and so forth.
16:42 Do you feel like Arkansas has the NIL resources and
16:45 NIL programs that allow you to compete on a similar level when it comes to players?
16:51 >> I think there's no doubt, Trey, that we have the resources and all that.
16:55 It's hard to know everybody's budget.
16:59 It's hard to know all budgets.
17:02 I don't feel probably that our budget is as big as a lot of the schools in the SEC.
17:07 But it's hard to know that because you really don't know,
17:10 you just know what other kids, where they come in and recruiting,
17:14 of what NIL can do for them at other schools.
17:20 And it's a lot more than what you could imagine, to be perfectly honest with.
17:28 >> Would you be in favor of legislation to make that more open and
17:33 put caps on it, or are you fine with the way it is now?
17:38 >> I'm not fine with it at all, the way it is now.
17:42 But I think there has to be some type of, if we're gonna be an NFL type franchise,
17:51 we probably ought to look at what the NFL is doing with their incoming,
17:55 with caps, incoming players.
17:58 Because there's some guys on the team, Trey,
18:03 in all honesty, that came in without NIL.
18:07 And so the NIL is certainly a big part of recruiting, and
18:12 you've got guys on your team that started for a while or whatever.
18:15 And it's just like the NFL where they had a starting left tackle, and
18:19 then the rookie a long time ago came in and made a heck of a lot more money than he did.
18:25 It's just, it's wild, to be honest with you right now.
18:29 And so there's something that has to give in legislation,
18:35 because I remember two or three years ago when the kids at Texas,
18:40 if they played O-line, got $20,000 in NIL endorsements or whatever.
18:51 And I remember at the time going, man, we can't recruit at all.
18:55 And now that's a drop in the bucket.
18:59 So it's rapidly increasing.
19:02 It's not monopoly money.
19:04 And so we're in trouble across, in my opinion,
19:09 across the NCAA, because it's not monopoly,
19:13 it's real money that's being paid out there.
19:17 So yes, I'd be all for somebody putting some type of restrictions on it.