FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas football opens up fall camp Wednesday, and a make-or-break month for Sam Pittman is on the horizon.
The Razorbacks are coming off a 4-8 season in 2023 and desperately need a bounce back to guarantee Pittman’s tenure as head coach lasts past 2024. The next four weeks will be critical in settling position battles, finding comfort in the Bobby Petrino scheme and instilling confidence that last year was more anamoly then long-lasting trend.Pittman continues to exude offseason confidence that a turnaround is coming, reiterating his belief in the roster Tuesday at a press conference previewing fall camp. One factor Pittman thinks will help his cause is an uptick in chemistry, with the team’s camraderie taking shape well before fall camp’s arrival. The togetherness of the team. They’re fun to be around,” Pittman said. “You know they’re working. Any time you can work and you really don’t know it because you’re enjoying what you do … we’ve had some really great strides.”
Pittman’s players echoed this sentiment throughout the spring and at SEC Media Days in Dallas earlier this month. From returnees to transfers, everyone inside the Arkansas football program recognizes a different, closer team heading into 2024. According to Pittman, the coaches are responsible for putting that foundation together, but it’s up to the players have to ensure it gets put to use. Transfers like Taylen Green and Fernando Carmona have brought some fresh energy into the building, and there’s a real desire from veterans like Landon Jackson and Cam Ball to right the wrongs from last year.
And of course, there’s no shortage of players who have left the porgram since 2023’s disappointment. I think it has to do with who we get on the team, possibly who’s not on the team,” he said. “A lot of things go in with culture. You guys are in the workforce and you’re with people and I guarantee your mind can think of ‘that guy’ or ‘that lady’ and you’re thinking, ‘If he wasn’t here, how much, or if she wasn’t here, how much different would it be.’”Pittman didn’t mention anyone by name, but captains KJ Jefferson and Rocket Sanders are no longer with Arkansas. Neither are defensive leaders like Chris Paul Jr. and Jaheim Thomas. All four hit the transfer portal and were viewed as significant losses for the Razorbacks.
On Tuesday, and throughout the entire offseason, Pittman is banking on new voices in the program providing a boost, helping rediscover the success he found early in his time as Arkansas head coach. Fall camp will be the opportunity to build confidence in that belief.Your culture becomes very powerful. It can become powerful either way and right now it is very, very strong in a positive way,” he said.
But improved camraderie won’t save Pittman’s job alone. The chemistry has to show itself in more wins on the football field.
The road to that conclusion begins Wednesday.