Keeping Cam Little Should be Top Priority to Keep

Razorbacks forget about specialists until they need to have one, usually at crucial time

Author:
Andy Hodges
Updated:
Nov 27, 2023 8:42 AM EST
Original:
Nov 26, 2023

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — As Arkansas coach Sam Pittman and his staff begin their end of the year reviews and interviews with players, nobody is really talking much about keeping kicker Cam Little around. Let's hope it's not assumed.

While the transfer portal hasn't officially opened yet, that happens Friday, players are already indicating they are jumping into the portal, giving up whatever eligibility they have left. None have been headliners per se, but there is one key player who could be gone, although not into the portal.

In all this, though, nobody is talking about the kicker. As usually happens, when you're good you get taken for granted. Little's main thing is consistency. Sure, he's had some misses because it happens to every kicker. Most people tend to forget 10 other people have to do their job and two others handle the ball before the kicker does, and sometimes we have no idea what went wrong on misses.

As much as he seems to enjoy his situation here, none of us know what's going on behind the scenes. This is a new world and it's about money now and the going rate for players with Little's charisma and public relations strong points can be valuable a lot of places.

Sam Pittman knows it. If Little doesn't come back it will be because of two things and the portal might not be the biggest. He's eligible for the NFL Draft and on Mel Kiper's ESPN Draft Board for 2024 he is the No. 2 specialist. Redshirt freshman Blake Ford is his back-up. Just saving everyone the time finding a roster to look it up.

It's Pittman's problem to solve, albeit one of a growing pile of important ones. However, it's one he might not want to take for granted like so many others. Having such a consistent kicker can turn an entire season around, and Pittman needs every possible tool if he's going to dig himself out of this one.