Razorbacks wide receiver Isaiah Sategna during last spring practice Saturday inside Razorback Stadium. — (Walt Beazley / Arkansas Communications)

Hard to Find Highlights, but Isaiah Sategna Was Big One

Redshirt freshman finally catching up to speed at SEC level, coach Sam Pittman thinks

Author:
Andy Hodges
Publish date:
Apr 15, 2023 7:44 PM EDT

In this story:

Arkansas Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Finding highlights in Arkansas' final spring practice Saturday was a little tough.

Redshirt freshman Isaiah Sategna didn't have a bad day, though. No stats were kept and

If nothing else, he showed us he can get open and catch passes against the Razorbacks' backup defenders.

There is absolutely no clue how that will translate once SEC play starts.

Some folks showed up expecting a game-type atmosphere and got maybe an expanded practice format with some plays put in to give the fans a little extra something to cheer.

The redshirt freshman wide receiver from Fayetteville was the fastest athlete in the state for a few years. He stood out for the Bulldogs, but struggled as a freshman with the Hogs.

The light may have come on this spring and Saturday showed it.

"He’s playing with a lot of confidence," coach Sam Pittman said later.

The stats weren't exactly eye-popping. Just three catches for 95 yards doesn't exactly leap out, but with his speed you expect a playmaker.

That's what it was in this final practice Saturday with a pair of touchdown catches.

Especially his first catch, a 65-yarder from quarterback KJ Jefferson.

Sategna took advantage of a favorable matchup against South Florida transfer linebacker Antonio Grier and flew down the field for a 65-yard touchdown.

"I had seen (Lorando Johnson) tucked in a little bit," Sategna said. "It looked like he was going to maybe blitz, which was the nickel. I knew that it was going to be 1-on-1 with the MIKE linebacker, which was Grier and stuff, so I had cleared him. I was looking for the ball then saw it coming. I had to make the catch and then go score."

The next score was a 17-yard touchdown catch in the back left portion of the end zone on a well-thrown pass from Cade Fortin. He added a 13-yard reception two plays prior to round out his stats for the day.

"He’s much bigger if you look at him," Pittman said. "He’s much thicker than what he was. His confidence is way up. It’s one thing to have confidence in high school and it’s another one to get here and ... the game is so fast. Y’all see it out there. The closer you get to the game it’s fast."

It's the biggest adjustment every player has to figure out with each progression playing the sport. The ones that figure it out fastest have success earlier.

Maybe it just took him getting over some injuries and figuring it out.

"He’s made great strides this spring," Jefferson said. "He’s really embraced it. That whole receiver room has really embraced the competition level. They come in each and every day ready to work."

Saturday's practice wrapped up spring practice as the team will have a meeting Monday, then more individual and group meetings next week before recruiting starts in earnest next weekend.

The next time the Hogs will be on the practice field will be at preseason camp in August before the season opener Sept. 2 against Western Carolina in Little Rock.