FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas will open its season on Thursday night against UAPB in Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium in a very important season for Sam Pittman and the Hogs.
Arkansas is coming off a 4-8 season in 2023. UAPB was 2-9 last season. The two teams met once previously. Arkansas defeated UAPB 45-3 on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. Sam Pittman is looking forward to the 2024 season and among the changes this season is restricting in-season media access to practice.
"Well, guys, it's a really critical year for us," Pittman said. "I mean, it is. It's a big year for us and I just wanted to keep as much as we could, everything in-house. A lot of times in all honesty, a lot of times from our observing practice, there's some information that I don't want out, that gets out. It's just a big year and that's no negative towards anybody. It's just human nature. 'So-and-so is not starting today.' 'They moved this guy to this.' ...
"I’m not saying you can’t find that out anyway because we can call people, right? It’s a big year for us and we just wanted to keep everything in house as much as we possibly could. Now, we also understand that you have a job to do and that media is part of our family. Sometimes we like it, sometimes we don't, but you are a part of Hog and a part of our family. We understand that too. We’re trying to find as good of a togetherness as we possibly can have. To be honest with you, I’d like to see where it goes and then we’ll decide in the future. We do not want to shut you out of what is going on. There were just too many things I felt like going on that people knew about our program that I didn’t necessarily want them to."
UAPB has named Mechi Hagens its starter at quarterback. Pittman talked about that and other things at UAPB with a brief scouting report.
"Quickly on them offensively," Pittman said. "We've got to stop the stretch play. The quarterback is athletic, so he can throw and pass. They have a wide— they don't have a lot of guys coming back. I like their left tackle. They have a center and left tackle. Their left tackle, Christian Love, he's a good player. I like that. Schematically, they're going to throw the bubble; they're going to run their quarterback. I expect some RPO-type situations out of them. They've got good team speed, and we've got to, like I say, we've got to stop the bubble screen and we’ve got to stop the stretch. And that's what they did, I thought, very well last year.
"Defensively, haven't seen a lot of pressure out of them. Now, whether they change or not, obviously I'm talking about Grambling, what their coordinator did at Grambling, their offensive coordinator last year, that's what he did. Defensively, they have the same coordinator back. They base out of a four-man line, a field under G. Not a ton of movement. I expect to see more movement. Not a ton of blitzing, I expect to see more of that. We are taking what we saw from them last year and amping it up. We're very rarely running anything against the base front, because we're expecting some type of movement. Zone team, not a lot of man courage out of them. And, but very, very well coached and they play extremely hard."
Edge Landon Jackson was asked about the strengths of UAPB's offense?
"Yeah, I think they’re biggest strength is their quarterback," Jackson said. "They have a really talented quarterback. He has a good deep ball, big guy, can move well. So, I think that’s definitely their biggest strength on their offense."
Left tackle Fernando Carmona expects UAPB's defense to be more aggressive than seen on film. If so, he feels the Hogs are ready for it.
"Yeah, of course," Carmona said. "You always have to work on those things. Those are always huge going into games, you never want to let up a blitz. So, kind of going into this game, we don’t really know what they’re going to throw at us. So, we’re kind of preparing for everything and we’re just trying to sharpen our tools on all ends."
Regardless of the schemes used by UAPB, Carmona is just thankful he will be going against someone other than Jackson and teammates.
"I think it's really exciting, man," Carmona said. "I go up against Landon. I've been going up for him about eight months now. I'm excited to see a new opponent, get somebody fresh, somebody that doesn't really know me, and just kind of go out there and just perform. I'm excited just to show what we've been working on all summer, all spring and all fall and just kind of put it on for people to see."
Jackson echoed what Carmona had to say in regards to facing another opponent.
"Yeah, a lot like he said, really just excited to hit somebody that isn't own team, you know," Jackson said. "It's been a long time coming. Think it's gonna be a big year for all of us. We've looked really good throughout fall camp, throughout spring, and now it's time to show the fan base."
Arkansas is a 49.5-point favorite. Jackson said the team puts no stock into that.
"I mean, really don't look into it too much, you know?" Jackson said. "I mean, if you looked any of those games last week, I don't think any of them were correct. So you can't take any opponent lightly. You've got to go out there and play the same like you play any other team."
This will be the first game in War Memorial Stadium for Carmona, a transfer from San Jose State, but Jackson has played previous games there.
"Yeah, I mean it’s great," Jackson said. "Get a lot of the more southern state fans, being able to come get a home game experience without having to travel five, six hours up to Fayetteville. So, I think it’s great for the fan base. I think it’s a cool experience to kind of get a different home game vibe. So, I’m excited for it. I’m ready to get after it and ready to have fun."
Pittman praised Love at left tackle for UAPB, Jackson was asked what he has seen from him?
"He actually played a different position last year," Jackson said. "I think he was pretty good at his position last year. Haven’t seen a lot of his tape at left tackle, so, I mean, not going to say (I’m) going into it blind, because I know how he is when he was playing at guard. But, honestly kind of seeing a different version of him. Because, I mean, every player is different. For example, E’Marion (Harris), when he was at tackle I don’t think he’s as good of a tackle as he is a guard, and they moved him inside to guard and that’s his natural position. You never know, I mean I’ve seen his guard film but never really seen him play a whole lot of tackle."
Carmona does have a warning for the UAPB defense as far as new Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green.
"He’s going to drop bombs," Carmona said. "You can best believe that. I think the confidence he’s gained through the fall camp and just kind of reaching this peak of we’re hitting on all cylinders right now, the offense is flowing, we’re out there having fun, we’re scoring, so you guys are going to see an exciting show coming this Thursday and a lot of deep balls."
Green is pleased to not have the protective jersey on him this game.
"I’m extremely excited to be live, to run and make people miss," Green said. "I’m also excited that I don’t have to go against him, you know, making my job harder than what I’m used to. I’m glad every single day that I get to face Brad (Spence) and this great defense. I mean, they make my job hard. They make us work for it. That’s what I always tell the defense. We don’t have any easy way out."
The kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. and televised on ESPNU.
Photos Courtesy of Craven Whitlow CW3 Sports Action
