FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas will return to the practice fields today with two more remaining this spring afterward.
The Razorbacks will also practice Thursday then hold the spring game on Saturday at 1 p.m. Arkansas also held a scrimmage this past Saturday and on Tuesday Sam Pittman reflected back on it and what needs to be better this week.
"Consistency," Pittman said. "You know some things, No. 1 I thought we talked well defensively. Of course that was probably No. 5 where we’ve had some portion of practice where we’ve tackled to the ground. They would have 12 reps maybe at practice, 18 and probably averaged around 50, 52 apiece on Saturday. I thought we punted the ball well. We did have a block on the twos. But Devin Bale has continued to punt the ball really well. I think we have some dynamic returners. I think (Kam) Shanks is a really good return guy.
"Defensively I thought we flew around to the ball well and like I said I thought we tackled well. Offensively I thought KJ (Jackson) played really well. Madden (Iamaleava) played well at quarterback and Rodney Hill had a really good game. I say we tackled well but he broke a couple of tackles and had over 100 yards. We were pretty competitive, which I like. You know as a head coach uou don’t root one way or the other. You’d like to see some really good things on both sides of the ball and that’s what I felt like we did. We are a physical team.
"I think … we finally got Corey Robinson back. He had been hurt a little bit. He played, got him back so that was good to see there. Other than that, our bigs on the D-line we either had some weddings -- one had a wedding to attend — and then we’ve had some injuries there so we’re not getting to see everybody that we’d like to on the D-line. We’ve got good linebackers. Our O-line is playing better and I think we’re starting to develop some wide receivers that we believe in as well. So I was pleased with it. Not a lot of penalties. Maybe four total for that 104-play scrimmage. We did not play the threes. We did not have enough, in all honesty, D-linemen to get to that so we’re going to scrimmage them a little bit today at the end of practice."
Iamaleava has made great strides this spring. On Saturday, he completed 8 of 12 passes for 126 yards. He also rushed three times for 30 yards.
"Isn’t that something?," Pittman said of Iamleava's improvement. "I mean, he’s done really well, especially coming off of — he didn’t play his senior year. Very mature, well-coached out of high school. But yeah, I think he’s made a ton of improvement. I think you’ll see that throughout the rest of the spring and the summer and fall camp."
Linebacker Brad Shaw played some as a true freshman in 2024, but is in line for a much bigger role this season.
"If we end up playing a lot of three-down front, I think Brad… You decide, is your fourth d-lineman physical?," Pittman said. "Is he more valuable than having Brad Shaw on the field? We’ve looked at that. We looked at it Saturday in the scrimmage, as well. Brad Shaw is a really good player that can run, so he’ll play a ton of football for us. How much will depend, really on where we feel about are we going to be in that odd front with a big standing on the outside, or are we going to be in that odd front with Brad Shaw playing that edge?"
True freshman linebacker Tavion Wallace enrolled in January and has turned some heads. Pittman likes what he has seen from the four-star standout who chose the Hogs over Georgia, Florida State and others.
"I really like him," Pittman said. "I like him a lot. He can run. Shelton is another guy that’s playing the Hog. Those are two young guys that have shown up. But I really like Wallace. Has done some really good things. I think he’ll help us in a lot of ways, but I know he’ll help us on special teams, and that’s how a lot of guys get their start. They get on the field, they make plays and next thing you know, they’re playing on defense."
A player who was among the standouts on Saturday was junior defensive end Quincy Rhodes Jr. Pittman praised him on Tuesday.
"Yeah, he did," Pittman said. "That's one going in- The great thing about coaching, and it doesn't matter whether it's high school, junior high, whatever, you've got a guy and you're going, 'Oh man, he's got talent, but I don't see him making plays,' or whatever it may be. And there was really those three guys with Ian Geffrard and Danny (Saili) and Quincy Rhodes. Those guys we're going, 'Man, they're very talented. When are they going to let it turn loose?' And all three of those guys have. Really, really excited about those guys. But I love Quincy. He came in here, he's easy to deal with, good family, and he's talented. When he walks by, you're going, 'Okay, that's an SEC defensive end or tight end or something. That's a hell of a good looking player.' And now his motor and his knowledge, Deke's done a really good job with him, is paying off for him. And I'm glad you mentioned him, because I've been really excited about him."
A freshman who absolutely delivered the biggest hit on Saturday was JJ Shelton. His hit on an offensive player was heard throughout the stadium.
“I am," Pittman said. "And the other thing, too, he's a linebacker, and you know, we moved him out to the Hog position and so you're dealing with a lot more space. You're not dealing with a nickel Willie — I mean, he's played that, obviously — but in college it's a little bit different position. It's not your third linebacker, let's say that, it's a guy that can do both. But I'd say he gets better all the time, and I think he's going to be a really, really good player for us. And you're right: He had a hell of a lick on Saturday.”
The spring game will be Saturday at 1 p.m.