HawgBeat - Isaiah Sategna having strong spring for Arkansas
Redshirt freshman receiver Isaiah Sategna is impressing so far this spring for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
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Arkansas brought in a trio of transfer receivers over the offseason, but a returning player in the receiver room has been the most impressive pass catcher so far this spring.
Redshirt freshman Isaiah Sategna continues to come along for receivers coach Kenny Guiton's group, and head coach Sam Pittman told reporters Tuesday that he likes the second year pass catcher.
To this point, Sategna has made a case for the team's Most Valuable Player in the spring — at least from what the media has seen so far. Seeing Sategna not come down with a catch is a rarity, and it is normally due to an overthrown or underthrown pass.
The speedy four-star product out of Fayetteville High School has knack for creating immediate separation on basically any route he runs. Out-routes are a piece of cake for him, slants are no problem and he's even shown the ability to just run a streak and get a few steps behind the defender in a flash.
"I mean he's playing his speed is what I guess I need to say," Pittman said. "He's gotten bigger. He's playing physical. Playing physical doesn't always mean blocking. It means getting off of people and being able to separate yourself physically from the defender."
During the media viewing portions, I find myself writing "16 again" just about every time we watch the portion where it's two receivers against three defensive backs. It's not just that he's getting open and making catches, but he's having his way with defenders and almost making it look effortless.
Sategna was a name that Pittman and former offensive coordinator Kendal Briles spoke highly of during fall camp last year.
"He's been extremely low maintenance, love his work ethic, he's a tough kid, doesn't say anything, doesn't complain about anything," Briles said on Aug. 19. "He just goes out there and goes to work. Obviously he can run and he's pretty slippery, but I think the biggest thing I've been impressed with is just his toughness. He's been a tough kid. He makes tough catches, contested catches. He's going to have a bright future."
A rolled ankle early in the season set Sategna back and hurt his development. He ended up playing just 24 total offensive snaps on the year — six in the blowout win at Auburn and 18 in the Liberty Bowl win over Kansas.
The Hogs got by without production from Sategna last year, but having a guy who has been in the system and has world-class speed — he was the No. 4 track and field prospect in the nation for 2022 class according to MileSplit — gives Arkansas a real threat.
Sure, the Razorbacks brought in a trio of transfers in Tyrone Broden, Isaac TeSlaa and Andrew Armstrong, but don't be shocked to see Sategna competing for play time.
"He has been one of the most impressive guys over the last three or four practices to me," Pittman said. "He's always had the speed and things like that. But I've been really impressed with his progression and I think he will be a really good player for us. I really do."
Not only does Pittman think highly of Sategna, but the Head Hog said starting quarterback KJ Jefferson is beginning to gain trust in Sategna.
"Well, it’s not only that you have got to get open and you’ve got to catch it, but the main thing is the quarterback has to believe in you," Pittman said. "I mean, he’s got to look for you. I think KJ is starting to have a little more and more belief in Sategna getting open."
It is still the spring and there's a lot of time until the start of the season. While Sategna has been very impressive, Pittman said he still doesn't think Arkansas has a receiver that has really come along to show that they can be a go-to guy.
"There really hasn't been a wide out that you go, 'that's the guy' yet," Pittman said. "We do feel comfortable with who is out there, but you're talking about a guy that can catch for 700 or a 1,000 yards or something like that. I don't know that guy has yet identified himself.
"I'm not saying he's not on the team. I just don't know we know for sure. A lot of that is speed you are playing and it's hard to play fast, fast when you are still concentrating on where am I supposed to be, my alignment, what's my route and what am I in the progression? Things like that. I felt like they got a little bit better today. And I think that's with their install has about seized at this point and time."
Arkansas' next practice will be its 10th of the spring on Thursday afternoon. Stay tuned to HawgBeat for updates, takeaways, video and much more.
