HawgBeat - What they’re saying about Arkansas: Athlon Sports Magazine
HawgBeat breaks down what one popular college football magazine had to say about Arkansas.
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Walk into any local grocery store or gas station and you're sure to find the latest college football preview magazine, a staple for fans looking to catch up on their favorite team and programs around the country.
A notable print is Athlon Sports, which covered Arkansas and much more in its latest release on June 4.
Is there anything notable in these 150-plus page previews? HawgBeat will help determine that, with looks at head coach Sam Pittman's hot seat, offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino's role, rankings, projections and more.
On the cover
Note: This is one of many different versions of the Athlon Sports College Football 2024 Preview Magazine's covers.
Coaches hot seat
Sam Pittman, Arkansas:
"Arkansas was a much-improved team in Pittman's first year (2020) and finished 9-4 in his second season. However, the Razorbacks have since trended in the wrong direction. Pittman's team went 7-6 in '22 and finished 4-8 last season, closing the season with blowout losses to SEC rivals Auburn and Missouri by a combined score of 96-24. After winning seven SEC games in his first two years, Pittman has managed only four over the last two seasons. The hire of former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator will make or break Pittman's tenure in Fayetteville."
Other coaches listed:
~ Dave Aranda, Baylor
~ Mike Bloomgren, Rice
~ Sonny Cumbie, Louisiana Tech
~ Stan Drayton, Temple
~ Will Hall, Southern Miss
~ Billy Napier, Florida
~ Mike Neu, Ball State
Things to watch - No. 9: Bobby Petrino Rides Again
"After Petrino's tenure as the Arkansas head coach ended following a motorcycle crash that later turned into a scandal in 2012, the odds of him returning to work for the Razorbacks seemed set on zero.
"But college football coaches can make interesting decisions when faced with desperation. That's exactly the scenario Arkansas coach Sam Pittman faces after a 4-8 season in '23 that placed him squarely on the hot seat.
"With the Razorbacks needing to drastically improve an offense that managed only 4.5 yards per play in SEC games, Pittman turned to Petrino to handle play-calling duties in Fayetteville once again.
"Petrino clearly didn't lose his touch in the SEC after leading Texas A&M to an average of 33.3 points a game, and the early returns in the spring were positive with Boise State transfer Taylen Green at quarterback.
"Can Petrino write a redemption story and help Pittman save his job? Or will this tenure for Petrino end like almost all of the other spots in his career: in disappointment or chaos?"
Tidbits, rankings and more
~ Preseason national forecast: No. 46, only Mississippi State (No. 63) and Vanderbilt (No. 80) are lower among SEC teams
~ Preseason SEC prediction: 14th
~ Top incoming transfers: QB Taylen Green - "Arkansas is hoping Green's dual-threat ability will jump-start an offense that finished near the bottom of the SEC."
~ Bowl projection: Arkansas is not projected to qualify for a bowl game
SEC unit rankings
~ Quarterbacks: No. 13
~ Running backs: No. 13
~ Wide receivers: No. 13
~ Offensive lines: No. 14
~ Defensive lines: No. 13
~ Linebackers: No. 14
~ Secondaries: No. 14
Projected two-deep
Projected Depth Chart| Position | First Team | Second Team |
|---|---|---|
| QB | Taylen Green | Malachi Singleton |
| RB | Rashod Dubinion | Ja'Quinden Jackson |
| WR | Andrew Armstrong | Isaac TeSlaa |
| WR | Tyrone Broden | Jaedon Wilson |
| WR | Isaiah Sategna | CJ Brown |
| TE | Luke Hasz | Ty Washington |
| LT | Fernando Carmona | E'Marion Harris |
| LG | Patrick Kutas | Josh Street |
| C | Addison Nichols | Amaury Wiggins |
| RG | Joshua Braun | Kobe Branham |
| RT | Keyshawn Blackstock | Ty'Kieast Crawford |
Thoughts from anonymous SEC assistant coach
"This is the hot-seat job for the SEC heading into the season. Sam (Pittman) is such a well-respected guy across this industry, you really feel for him having a guy like (new offensive coordinator Bobby) Petrino, who the fans and boosters probably think should be head coach, coming in underneath him.
"That's the SEC right there. If Petrino can get (quarterback) Taylen Green ready, they might have a shot at a .500 year, but they have a shaky situation with their offensive line losses in the spring. Is .500 enough to keep Sam? The defensive line is their best unit probably, but they just don't have the overall defensive talent right now to compete in this league."
Final Analysis
"Winning tight games is key for a bounce-back from last year's 4-8 fall. Arkansas was 2-2 in one-score games while going 9-4 in 2021, but the Hogs are 2-9 in such games since.
"If the offense can stay on the field longer and bump up its production a bit, and the defense can maintain last year's level, Arkansas could produce a winning record."
