FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas has released its first depth chart of the season as Thursday night's game nears.
On Monday, Sam Pittman explained some of the decisions for the depth chart and what went into certain positions with six starting spots including an "Or" as far as who goes out first against UAPB. One of the spots is left guard where Patrick Kutas or former Joe T. Robinson standout E'Marion Harris will start.
"I don’t believe Patrick will play," Pittman said. "I’ll say this too, and we’ll miss him because he’s a good player. That back is still bothering him. But E’Marion Harris has had an outstanding camp and I don’t know that there’ll be any drop-off there. He’s really not 5, if you were going 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, he’s not 5. I don’t know where he’s at. I don’t know if he’s 3, I don’t know if he’s 4 but he’s not 5. He’s really done a really good job. I’m really pleased with how he’s come along and gained his weight. He’s always in position. I’m happy for him."
Pittman was asked about the running back spot where Rashod Dubinion and Ja'Quinden Jackson are listed in an "Or" situation. The team made it through a very physical preseason with all five running backs including former Benton standout Braylen Russell available for the opener.
"Thanks for bringing that up," Pittman said. "It was very physical. We had two scrimmages and we also had two other times that we tackled to the ground in specific situations. I think we did the right thing. Obviously we talked about it a long time and what we wanted to get done. Spring was that was as well. We had two scrimmages and two tackle-to-the-ground (practices).
"The depth there at running back, I look for Ja’Quinden to be our starter there and then we’ll go after that, probably Rodney Hill would be the second guy in the game and then R-Dub. R-Dub’s been beat up a little bit, so he hasn’t practiced at full speed consistently over the last 10 days. Rodney’s done a really good job. We feel like we have five backs that can really play. But probably in order of going into the game, that would be one and two. Then we’ll figure out how Rashod is at practice today and whether that would be him or Braylen probably going in there."
Pittman was asked in addition to Kutas and Dubinion is anyone else somewhat injured entering Thursday?
"Probably the only one would be (Andrew) Armstrong left," Pittman said. "He’s practiced every day. But whether he’s full speed or not, we’ll have to wait probably until Thursday night to find that out. But he has practiced every day. Just hasn’t really practiced a complete practice. We’ll see where he is after today."
Armstrong is the returning leading receiver on the team. He topped the Razorbacks in 2023 with 56 catches for 764 yards and five touchdowns. Freshman Monte Harrison is listed behind him on the depth chart.
Two other close battles are Anton Juncaj and former Maumelle standout Nico Davillier at an end spot on defense and then Hudson Clark and TJ Metcalf at a safety spot.
"Well, we haven’t really talked to the kids exactly, if there’s an ‘or’ on there, who’s going to be that," Pittman said. "But I can be honest with you and tell you both Hud and TJ have played really well, and so has Nico and Anton, which is a good thing. A lot of times you have battles and you’re trying to find one that’s good. Both those battles are between two really good players. They both will play — all four, you understand what I’m saying. But I think we still have another physical practice today and we’ll find out what we’re going to do at that point. But again, who runs out there first is probably more important to the kid, and maybe the media, than it is to us because they’re certainly going to play their reps."
The place kicking also had an "Or". That includes transfers Matthew Shipley and Kyle Ramsey. Shipley was very inconsistent in the spring, but has bounced back with a very strong fall.
"Well, all of them’s ors because we don’t really, we haven’t talked to the kids about it, to be honest with you," Pittman said. "Some of them we still, they’re so close of a battle that we still need to practice two more days before we figure it out. Again, that doesn’t mean that we don’t have confidence in the ors, because we do or they wouldn’t be on there. We haven’t spoke with the kickers yet about who’s won that job. Once we do that, I guess you’ll find out on Thursday. I hate it but we just haven’t, at this time of the media, we haven’t talked to the kickers about who’s won that battle.
"I can say this: They’ve both kicked well. Ramsey was hurt for a week. We shut him down for five days and he was back yesterday and did a really good job on his field goals."
At the cornerback opposite Jaylen Braxton, the Hogs have Jaheim Singletary, Marquise Robinson and Kee'Yon Stewart listed as "Ors". Robinson's nickname is Cuddie.
"I think they're all really good players. Part of that again, when Kyle makes me do this, you know, it's because we're beat up a little bit. You know? So, I'm going, 'Well, when are they coming back?' All this stuff. But Singletary's had a little hamstring that set him back a little bit. And [Kee'yon Stewart] been beat up just a little bit as well. But I think all three of those guys are healthy, and I really like what Cuddie's done. So, we'll see if we get through healthy the next 2 days. I expect for Cuddie to be the guy there."
The Arkansas-UAPB game in War Memorial will kickoff at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and be televised on ESPNU.
Photos Courtesy of Craven Whitlow CW3 Sports Action
