I was hugely critical of Cal midway through the season and I still think some of the roster construction and early season coaching criticism was fair. However, he’s undeniably done a fantastic job with this team since starting 0-5 in conference. I don’t know if there’s another coach in the country that could have handled that adversity and kept his team together like Cal did. From an X’s and O’s standpoint, Cal and staff really stepped up following the Boogie injury. They found an identity with the floppy and Spain actions and the offense got to a level good enough to compete in these games and that’s all we really need with the way he gets them to compete.

He doesn’t get a complete pass because some of the struggles were self-inflicted but I’m impressed with the job Cal did this season regardless of postseason success. (But let’s win a few in the postseason anyway).

My understanding (assuming Georgia holds on)

Updates to come ITT.

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The Arkansas football team held its third practice of the 2025 spring schedule on Thursday afternoon in Fayetteville and it was the first day of full pads for the Razorbacks.

Media members were let in to view about two hours of practice out on the team’s outdoor practice fields, and as always, HawgBeat has plenty of notes for subscribers.

Provided below are key takeaways, overall themes from practice, a three-deep depth chart, results from quarterbacks, live periods and more.

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Notes/Tidbits​

The Rundown

Practice officially began at approximately 4:00 p.m. CT and we walked out around 6:30 p.m. CT. They began with stretches before going to individual drills followed by offensive starts, which was a no-camera period. They then did four periods of individual drills followed by one-one-ones and inside zone and then team drills the rest of practice.

The Quarterbacks

I charted the quarterbacks during the 7-on-7 periods, which features a quarterback, running back, tight end and four receivers on offense and two linebackers and four defensive backs on defense.

The best of the bunch was starter Taylen Green, who started 10-for-10 and finished with three straight incompletions. KJ Jackson was 9-for-10 during this drill and freshman Grayson Wilson was 4-for-5, although the one incompletion doesn't count due to a pass interference on the defense. Freshman Madden Iamaleava started with an interception and an underthrow, but bounced back with four straight completions.

It seems like the order is currently as follows: Taylen Green, KJ Jackson, Blake Boda, Madden Iamaleava, Grayson Wilson. I don't think there is a huge gap between the last three, but Green and Jackson are definitely one and two, respectively.

Iamaleava has the raw tools to be great, but he had an interception and underthrow during 7-on-7 today. Wilson had a nice touchdown pass to close out team drills, but he was otherwise rather conservative with his passes. Both seem to be working well with offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, and our practice video today has a lot of film with Petrino and the quarterbacks.

Thudding

With it being the first day in full pads, they were mostly thudding instead of tackling. Basically, there's plenty of contact but not a lot of going to the ground.

There was a lot of physicality and even some late hits. Sophomore linebacker Brad Shaw made one of the harder hits during the third down situation live period with the second team defense to limit the offense from getting a first down. Walk-on defensive end Donovan Witten also had a big hit to stop the third team offense on a wide receiver screen during non-scripted team run.

Raylen Sharpe and Taylen Green have a connection

During the third down situation drills, the first team offense was five for six on converting first downs. Each of the first three plays were passes from Taylen Green to Raylen Sharpe, with two of them being completions for first downs. The other was a pass breakup by Jaheim Singletary.

Sharpe may be undersized at 5-foot-9, 165 pounds, but I could see him as a candidate to lead the team in receptions this season. He spoke with the media today.

"I think it’s the biggest thing with spring ball, is getting that respect and knowing they can count on you," Sharpe said. "So I think that’s the biggest thing. I wouldn’t say I have a chip on my shoulder, it’s that walk-on mentality has never left me and never will."

Sharpe caught 51 passes for 523 yards and three scores last year at Fresno State. He does have one year of experience under Petrino and receivers coach Ronnie Fouch when he was at Missouri State in 2022. The next season in 2023, Sharpe caught 73 passes for 991 yards and seven touchdowns for the Bears.

Something to watch on the offensive line

I've noticed that they'll go Keyshawn Blackstock at right guard and Caden Kitler at center with the first team offense early in practice, but they've been regularly rotating Brooks Edmonson up to first team center and Kobe Branham to first team guard later in practices. I've also seen Shaq McRoy at first team right tackle a bit.

Random thoughts

I loved seeing them run a wide receiver sweep for Kam Shanks today. That specific play didn't go anywhere, but he's a weapon. The 5-foot-8, 170 pound UAB transfer led the nation in punt return yards (329) and touchdowns (2) last year.

New Mexico State transfer running back Mike Washington's quickness really stood out to me Thursday. The 6-foot-2, 233-pound back was running very hard and dragging defenders.

I'm curious to see how the tight end position plays out. Andreas Paaske isn't a feature guy. Chaffey CC transfer Jeremiah Beck had a play in 7-on-7s that was nearly a very athletic catch. Texas A&M transfer Jaden Platt had multiple drops Thursday. Montana State transfer Rohan Jones and Maddox Lassiter are also options there.

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Notable plays​

- Selman Bridges had a pass breakup in coverage against CJ Brown on a throw from Taylen Green during a live team period.

- Braylen Russell dropped a wide open pass on a check down, but he made up for it later in practice with a breakaway run down the right sideline for roughly a 26-yard gain.

- Jaheim Singletary had multiple pass breakups in coverage at cornerback on the first team defense.

- Grayson Wilson completed a touchdown pass to Jace Petty over the left side on the final play of live team drills.

- Larry Worth III had a nice pass deflection in coverage against O'Mega Blake on a pass from Taylen Green that was in the end zone.

- KJ Jackson completed a 30-yard touchdown to Ismael Cisse with Jaden Allen in coverage during a non-scripted team period with the second team offense.

- During a third down situational period, Taylen Green took a read option up the middle and would've scored if it was a real game for a roughly 50-yard touchdown.

- Taylen Green trhew a 40-yard pass to Ismael Cisse on the left sideline during the third down period.

- Madden Iamaleava completed a pass to Krosse Johnson during third down drills with the third team offense that might've been a touchdown if it was a real game (hard to tell when they aren't tackling).

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11-on-11 Depth Chart​

These depth charts are unofficial and just a general list based on the multiple 11-on-11 drills ran. They go with different personnel and different formations often.

FIRST TEAM

Offense

QB: Taylen Green
RB: Braylen Russell
TE: Andreas Paaske
WR: O'Mega Blake, CJ Brown, Raylen Sharpe
LT: Corey Robinson II
LG: Fernando Carmona Jr.
C: Caden Kitler
RG: Keyshawn Blackstock
RT: E'Marion Harris

Defense

DE: Quincy Rhodes Jr.
DT: Ian Geffrard
DT: Danny Saili
DE: Charlie Collins
LB: Xavian Sorey Jr.
LB: Stephen Dix Jr.
NB: Larry Worth III
CB: Jaheim Singletary
CB: Selman Bridges
S: Caleb Wooden
S: Quentavius Scandrett

SECOND TEAM

Offense

QB: KJ Jackson
RB: Tyrell Reed Jr.
TE: Jeremiah Beck
WR: Ismael Cisse, Kam Shanks, Courtney Crutchfield
LT: Kavion Broussard
LG: Bubba Craig
C: Brooks Edmonson
RG: Kobe Branham
RT: Shaq McRoy

Defense

DE: Justus Boone
DT: Kevin Oatis
DT: Kaleb James
DE: Ken Talley
LB: Tavion Wallace
LB: Brad Shaw
NB: Jabrae Shaw
CB: Jaden Allen
CB: Keshawn Davila
S: Miguel Mitchell
S: Ahkari Johnson

THIRD TEAM

Offense

QB: Madden Iamaleava
RB: AJ Green
TE: Jaden Platt
WR: Shamar Easter, Rykar Acebo, Krosse Johnson
LT: Aaron Smith
LG: Blake Cherry
C: Kash Courtney
RG: Tim Dawn
RT: Marcus Dumervil

Defense

DE: Donovan Whitten
DT: JJ Hollingsworth
DT: Caleb Bell
DE: Kavion Henderson
LB: Joseph Whitt
LB: Justin Logan
NB: JJ Shelton
CB: Aidan McCowan
CB: Landon Phipps
S: Braylon Watson
S: Anton Pierce

We'll have updates here ITT.

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From @DanielFair:

The Arkansas Razorbacks have struggled a bit this season, but that won’t be the case next year if five-star guard Meleek Thomas has anything to say about it.

A 2025 Arkansas signee out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Thomas joined the 1-star Recruits podcast (yes, the same one that hosted athletic director Hunter Yurachek around this time last year) to talk about what he hopes to bring to Fayetteville next season.

“One immediate impact I’m going to bring to flip the script is just my energy, my leadership and my dominance,” Thomas told the podcast. “When I step onto the floor, anywhere I play at, I want to make my presence felt early, immediately. So I’m going to go in there and change the narrative.”

The No. 7 player in the nation according to Rivals is one of three high school signees for the Razorbacks this year, as he’ll join fellow five-star guard Darius Acuff Jr. and four-star guard Isaiah Sealy at Arkansas next season.

Coupled with some returning players and transfer portal adds, Thomas said he expects the Hogs to win plenty of games next season.

"The second year is going to be Arkansas’ turn-up year,” Thomas said. “Because it’s going to be me, Darius (Acuff Jr.), you’re going to have pieces coming back. My energy, my dominance, my leadership, how I’m able to score the ball and get my teammates open…it’s just going to change the narrative. I just don’t see us having a bad year at all next year.”

Led by Thomas, the City Reaperz are set to play in the Overtime Elite finals. His 26.8 points per game is good for second in the league and his 8.9 boards per game ranks third. He's shooting 38.2% from three and 48.2% from the field overall.

Arkansas coach John Calipari went in to see Thomas the day before the Hogs took down Texas, 86-81(OT), and Calipari watched Thomas drop 33 points to help beat Fear Of God Athletics, 95-72.

"I spent a lot of time with (Calipari) pregame just talking about how things were going, how I’m doing in OTE,” Thomas said. “He just wanted to check up on me and make sure things are progressing for me in the right way.”

Thomas committed to Arkansas on Nov. 11, 2024, over offers from schools like UConn, Alabama, Pittsburgh and others. Calipari had been recruiting him for nearly a year and a half, and part of what drew Thomas to the Head Hog was the Pittsburgh area, where both are from.

"(Moon Township) is where he’s from, but Pittsburgh is where he grew up, so it kind of hit me immediately,” Thomas said. “Especially with the kind of caliber coach he is, I never would have thought, before I knew that, that he was from the same area. So it was like, you’re that great of a coach and were from the same spot, so we could relate off that already.”

In addition to his high-level play at OTE, Thomas was also named to the McDonald's All-American Game roster and will play for the West team. He was also a Naismith Trophy First Team All-American Honorable Mention on Wednesday.

In the McDonald's All-American Game, he'll compete against his future teammate in Acuff, who was named to the East roster, as well as five-star forward Nate Ament, who is set to visit Arkansas this weekend before he makes his commitment on April 1.

Game 1 of the Overtime Elite finals between Thomas and the City Reaperz and YNG Dreamerz will tip off at 6 p.m. CT on Friday, March 7. The game will be streamed on Prime Video.

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Diggs, Souza, and Peppi should all sit. They aren't doing anything offensively or defensively.

W Aloy - 6
Maxwell - 9
Iredale - 5
K Aloy - DH
Kozeal - 4
Helfrick - 2
Anderson - 3
Boles - 7
Thomas - 8

Super R heavy; but, two of your Ls are like 3/29 with something like 20 ks. Unfortunately, our worst hitters are the hitters that are home grown hitters. I also put aloy at the leadoff spot. Davalan just doesn't sacre offenses and Aloy and Iredale are up with the bases empty with outs on the board A LOT. I'd rather they get up with higher expected run outputs.

Will be hard to keep the moral of the lineup healthy if you're sitting guys and continuing to play Souza and Diggs.

Should be on staff before spring portal opens, per SEC Mike per Chuck & Bo.

The No. 3 Arkansas baseball team (19-2, 2-1 SEC) defeated Oral Roberts (12-7, 1-2 Summit League) in a 4-1 midweek bout Tuesday evening at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville.

Both teams combined for 15 total hits, eight of which came from the Razorbacks. Charles Davalan poured in three singles, a walk and an RBI, while Wehiwa and Kuhio Aloy each had two hits.

Arkansas finished 8-for-28 at the plate, 6-for-17 with runners on, 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position and 0-for-3 with the bases loaded.

Hogs' starting pitcher Ben Bybee was excellent in four innings, as he struck out five batters and only allowed one hits on 55 pitches. That outing lowered his season ERA to 3.38.

Bybee's day started strong on the mound, as he struck out three-of-four batters he faced with one hit allowed in the top of the first. The Razorbacks loaded the bases their first time up to bat behind two singles and a walk, but that was all she wrote against Oral Roberts right-hander Brenden Asher.

After picking up two more punchouts in the second, Arkansas' offense finally clicked things into gear. Carson Boles led off with a walk, but he was erased off the base paths on a Nolan Souza fielder's choice. Zane Becker worked a great at-bat that ended with a hard-hit single, and Charles Davalan put the Hogs up 1-0 with an RBI hit to left field.

The third inning went as fast as it came, primarily because of Bybee's early at-bat success. That continued in the fourth, as he recorded his first two outs on only three pitches. His next adversary took the count to full, but Bybee drew a fly out for his second straight 1-2-3 frame.

Bybee was relieved in the fifth for freshman lefty Cole Gibler, who gave up three straight singles to allow Oral Roberts to tie the game, 1-1. Gibler bounced back with a strikeout, groundout and flyout to escape the jam.

Oral Roberts also changed pitchers in the fifth, and it backfired quickly. Davalan led off with his second single of the game, Wehiwa Aloy walked and Kuhio Aloy gave Arkansas the lead with a hit to left field. After a Maxwell catcher's interference play, Iredale smoked a ball to right field, but it was caught on a great sliding play and resulted in a sac-fly run. A double play ended the inning with the Razorbacks up 3-1.

Trust worthy junior Arkansas left-hander Parker Coil took the mound in the seventh for the Hogs, but he allowed a leadoff single to get the Eagles going. That didn't matter much, as Coil drew back-to-back first-pitch outs to end the frame.

Arkansas loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but a close play at second on Souza's fielder's choice groundout ended the inning, after review. That upped the Hogs' stranded-on-base total to 10 in the game.

The Eagles made a run of things against Coil in the eighth, which included a two-on, one-out situation, but the southpaw punched back with a drawn flyout and a strikeout to close the door on the comeback.

Becker walked to start the eighth and Davalan picked up hit No. 3 to jumpstart the offense. The bases were loaded following a Wehiwa Aloy single and the Hogs increased their lead to 4-1 on a Kuhio Aloy RBI double-play groundout.

Wild righty closer Christian Foutch looked to return to form in the ninth, and he started well with a strikeout and flyout before issuing a four-pitch walk. The game ended on a first-pitch foulout.

Up next, Arkansas will face Oral Roberts in Game 2 of their midweek set Wednesday at Baum-Walker Stadium. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed on SEC Network+.

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Friday, March 7

Portland – RHP Carter Gaston (0-3, 1.69 ERA)

Arkansas – RHP Gabe Gaeckle (0-0, 7.24 ERA)

Saturday, March 8

Portland – RHP Kaden Segel (1-1, 2.57 ERA)

Arkansas – LHP Zach Root (1-0, 2.93 ERA)

Sunday, March 9

Portland – LHP Ryan Rembisz (2-0, 2.18 ERA)

Arkansas – LHP Landon Beidelschies (2-0, 1.29 ERA)

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Friday, March 7

Portland vs. #3 Arkansas – 3 p.m. – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats

Saturday, March 8

Portland vs. #3 Arkansas – 2 p.m. – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats

Sunday, March 9

Portland vs. #3 Arkansas – Noon – SEC Network+ – Listen – Live Stats