FAYETTEVILLE On Thursday during a Zoom conference, Sam Pittman talked about how the quarterbacks and offensive line have looked thus far.

The Razorbacks started five quarterbacks last season. This season, they have seniors Feleipe Franks and Jack Lindsey, sophomore John Stephen Jones, redshirt freshman KJ Jefferson and true freshman Malik Hornsby competing for the job. Franks brings obvious experience to the competition following a very good career at Florida. He was asked about how the quarterbacks are looking so far.

Well, we havent been able to anything full speed, were not allowed to do there, Pittman said. Im not positive how theyre throwing the football, but how theyre running the offense, all of them have done a really good job. Ive been really pleased with how KJ Jefferson has picked up the offense and sees where hes supposed to go with the ball and things of that nature. Of course, were happy Feleipe Franks is here. Hes doing a really good job. You look at Malik and John, I think were doing pretty good up there, and Jack Lindsey. Kendal Briles offense is not that hard to learn, its just fast. You have to know the ins and outs of everything, because hes going to snap the football and you need to understand where youre supposed to go pretty fast.

Pittman talked about how Franks has approached the practices so far.

Hes approaching it like a guy whos been an SEC starter for two-plus years, Pittman said. Hes a grown man. Hes mature. Hes approaching it like hes been there before. I think thats very important for us, especially because we didnt have spring ball. But we have a guy on our football team thats played a lot of football at quarterback and won a New Years Day bowl as the starting quarterback. We have a veteran guy and I think thats important. I didnt not just say that hes won the starting job. How can do you do that in walk-throughs? But I did say that were awful glad that hes on our football team.

Some have speculated Franks could get another year at Arkansas if he applied for it though some sources have indicated to this reporter its very unlikely he tries for that.

Possibly. I think if he has a good year, which we anticipate him doing, that hell be gone, Pittman said. In all honesty, Im planning on him, if he wins the starting job, to have such a good year that we cant keep him. Thats my plan.

As far as the offensive line, Pittman did offer an interesting scenario possibly unfolding at center. Sophomore Ricky Stromberg started at offensive guard last season, but is competing with senior Ty Clary at center right now as well.

Tys playing center for us, and we havent put the pads on, so, Pittman said. Were trying to put the five best players on the offensive line, and then number six and number seven, all that. But you cant have your third- or second-best player playing behind your best player just because he plays left tackle. I mean, doesnt make any sense. So, were trying to find our five best, and the hardest place to play on the O-line is center, so were trying to develop at least three centers. If we can get more in the top 10, we would do that too, but were trying to at least be able to travel and three deep at center. Therefore, we started looking at Ricky at center, and hes played a lot of it in these walk-throughs for us. And Ty obviously has played center, as well. So, Im sure if that was the case that they both would stay at center, and theyd have a competitive battle there, and then youd have to see if the one who didnt win the center spot, is he in our top five to play for us.

Pittman was asked about a timeline for knowing who the five best on the offensive line are and then the next five?

Well, with your first five, youd probably like to do that no later than two and a half weeks before your first game, Pittman said. The other guys, 6, 7, 8, theyll always swing. Until you can get 10 good offensive linemen, youll have your third tackle and youll have your third guard and youll have your second center-guard combination. All those things. Id like to settle in maybe two, two-and-a-half weeks before the first game with exactly what were going to do. And of course you know injuries disrupt all that. So therefore you have to have your third-best tackle that can play both sides and etc. I hope I answered your question.

Pittman did have praise for two offensive linemen who redshirted last year. Noah Gatlin tore his ACL on the first day of preseason drills and Luke Jones transferred in from Notre Dame.

Gatlin has done well, Pittman said. Ive been impressed with Luke Jones. I dont know if he redshirted; I think he was more of a transfer. He redshirted, he transferred.

Pittman did say junior Dalton Wagner and senior Myron Cunningham have been good leaders on the offensive line.

See the original post:

Arkansas Quarterbacks, Offensive Line Making Progress According to Sam Pittman - KNWA