Some insight from Pittman on why the Hogs aren't (as of right now) planning to bring in a QB this offseason...
arkansas.rivals.com
FAYETTEVILLE — For the first time in a decade, Arkansas did not sign - and doesn’t plan to add - a quarterback in its 2022 class.
The position was noticeably absent from the Razorbacks’ 22-man list of signees on the first day of the early signing period Wednesday and head coach Sam Pittman said it was a strategic move.
With a proven starter in KJ Jefferson set to just be a junior next season and what the second-year coach believes is solid depth behind him, Arkansas held off on a quarterback this year in hopes of landing a high-profile one in 2023.
“We made a decision not to sign a quarterback this year simply because we felt like we were on some really good ones in the 2023 class,” Pittman said. “I don’t know if it’s a smart move or not - I guess time will tell - but I felt like we could, because there’s nobody immediately in front of a guy (and) with KJ going to be a junior, maybe you could really sign a great one in the 2023 class.”
Arkansas has three scholarship quarterbacks on the roster other than Jefferson and each of them have remaining eligibility.
However, Pittman did not mention John Stephen Jones, who is slated to be a fifth-year senior in 2022 but was recognized on Senior Day before the Missouri game. Instead, he listed current redshirt freshman Malik Hornsby and true freshman Lucas Coley.
Another name Pittman brought up was Kade Renfro, who joined the team as a walk-on transfer from Ole Miss last offseason. He’s not your traditional walk-on, though, as he was on scholarship with the Rebels and was a three-star recruit.
Renfro - whom Pittman described as a “fine quarterback” - could potentially go on scholarship this spring and not be considered an “initial counter” that has to go toward the Razorbacks’ 2022 signing class because he would have been on campus for a full year.
With four quarterbacks the staff is confident in set to be on the roster next year, Arkansas isn’t considering adding any from the transfer portal at the moment, but that could always change.
“Everything’s fluid with the transfer portal — both ways, out of here and in here,” Pittman said. “So certainly that would be something, is always something, we’d have to look at.”
Looking ahead to the 2023 class, a trio of talented quarterbacks have already checked out the Razorbacks multiple times since the pandemic-induced dead period was lifted this summer.
Jackson Arnold, a four-star pro-style quarterback and the No. 170 overall player in the 2023 class, was in Fayetteville for the Razorbacks’ win over Texas and also at AT&T Stadium for their win over Texas A&M.
A pair of dual-threat quarterbacks, Vic Sutton and Avery Johnson, attended camps at Arkansas this summer before making their way back to Fayetteville for games. Sutton, who was recently elevated to four-star status by Rivals, was at the Auburn game, while Johnson, a 5.7 three-star prospect, went to the Texas game.
HawgBeat - Why Arkansas didn't sign a QB in its 2022 class
One position was noticeably absent from Arkansas' 2022 early signing class.
arkansas.rivals.com
FAYETTEVILLE — For the first time in a decade, Arkansas did not sign - and doesn’t plan to add - a quarterback in its 2022 class.
The position was noticeably absent from the Razorbacks’ 22-man list of signees on the first day of the early signing period Wednesday and head coach Sam Pittman said it was a strategic move.
With a proven starter in KJ Jefferson set to just be a junior next season and what the second-year coach believes is solid depth behind him, Arkansas held off on a quarterback this year in hopes of landing a high-profile one in 2023.
“We made a decision not to sign a quarterback this year simply because we felt like we were on some really good ones in the 2023 class,” Pittman said. “I don’t know if it’s a smart move or not - I guess time will tell - but I felt like we could, because there’s nobody immediately in front of a guy (and) with KJ going to be a junior, maybe you could really sign a great one in the 2023 class.”
Arkansas has three scholarship quarterbacks on the roster other than Jefferson and each of them have remaining eligibility.
However, Pittman did not mention John Stephen Jones, who is slated to be a fifth-year senior in 2022 but was recognized on Senior Day before the Missouri game. Instead, he listed current redshirt freshman Malik Hornsby and true freshman Lucas Coley.
Another name Pittman brought up was Kade Renfro, who joined the team as a walk-on transfer from Ole Miss last offseason. He’s not your traditional walk-on, though, as he was on scholarship with the Rebels and was a three-star recruit.
Renfro - whom Pittman described as a “fine quarterback” - could potentially go on scholarship this spring and not be considered an “initial counter” that has to go toward the Razorbacks’ 2022 signing class because he would have been on campus for a full year.
With four quarterbacks the staff is confident in set to be on the roster next year, Arkansas isn’t considering adding any from the transfer portal at the moment, but that could always change.
“Everything’s fluid with the transfer portal — both ways, out of here and in here,” Pittman said. “So certainly that would be something, is always something, we’d have to look at.”
Looking ahead to the 2023 class, a trio of talented quarterbacks have already checked out the Razorbacks multiple times since the pandemic-induced dead period was lifted this summer.
Jackson Arnold, a four-star pro-style quarterback and the No. 170 overall player in the 2023 class, was in Fayetteville for the Razorbacks’ win over Texas and also at AT&T Stadium for their win over Texas A&M.
A pair of dual-threat quarterbacks, Vic Sutton and Avery Johnson, attended camps at Arkansas this summer before making their way back to Fayetteville for games. Sutton, who was recently elevated to four-star status by Rivals, was at the Auburn game, while Johnson, a 5.7 three-star prospect, went to the Texas game.
