Improvement From One Razorbacks Unit Puts Pittman in an Interesting Conundrum

Special teams' group will test Hog staff's aggressive nature

Author:
Daniel Shi
Updated:
Aug 19, 2023 5:53 PM EDT
Original:
Aug 19, 2023

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The usage of field goal kicker Cam Little may suggest he lost a little of Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman's attention last season. However, reports out of Saturday's scrimmage appear to have the junior kicker squarely in focus once again.

"I can't believe the guy," Pittman said in reference to the kicking range demonstrated by Little Saturday morning. "He's just an itty-bitty guy."

Little's increased range clearly hasn't gone unnoticed. Following the second scrimmage Saturday, Pittman once again lauded the sheer distance on Little's kicks for the second week in a row.

"The line is moved back now," Pittman said. "We were on the 41 today and I don't know how long he can kick it, but I can guarantee you he can kick it 60 ... He'll be a weapon big time."

Of course, there are zero people at these scrimmages. Even the media are barred from catching even the slightest glimpse. The pressure and adrenaline is incomparable. Little certainly isn't the first kicker to boom 60+ yard kicks when no one's around. Only time will tell whether he joins the ranks of those with Howitzer legs, yet still miss from long range when the lights are on.

Arkansas went for it a lot last year, leading to the fourth fewest field goal attempts in the SEC with 16. After a painful 42-yard miss to cap a heart-wrenching 23-21 loss to Texas A&M, Pittman routinely opted to put the ball in KJ Jefferson's hands in critical fourth down situations. This despite the Hogs' 45% fourth down conversion rate ranking third worst in the conference.

Pittman will still go for it, his unwavering belief in Jefferson's raw ability to make plays happen will still undoubtedly weigh heavily when game-altering decisions are made.

"We're going to put it in [Jefferson's] hands and figure out what he can do," Pittman said. "I have so much in trust in him."

Little is also a frontrunner for kickoff duties. Special teams coach Scott Fountain lauds the improvement and thought process after a solid two years in a Razorback uniform.

"After the miss at Texas A&M, he came right back and got on a streak of six or seven in a row," Fountain said." He's a very strong-minded young man. I like his approach to the game.

You can never have enough tools, and field goals turning into a strength will give the coaching staff pause before rolling the dice. Whatever happens, Little is ready.

"The more attempts the better," Little said. “Whatever Coach Pittman does, I’m backing him 100% because I want our team to succeed.”