Maybe Razorbacks Have Figured Out How to Use Speed

Hogs' wide receiver Isaiah Sategna hopefully set tone for future with TD against Alabama

Author:
Andy Hodges
Updated:
Oct 19, 2023 7:16 AM EDT
Original:
Oct 18, 2023

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — It's been interesting that speed is so important, but Arkansas hasn't figured out exactly how to incorporate the fastest guy on the team into an offense that needs consistency. Maybe they have figured it out now and we see Isaiah Sategna do something besides return kicks and punts.

"I've been waiting for this opportunity for a long time," the redshirt freshman from Fayetteville said Tuesday evening. "I’ve been here a year and a half, and I’m finally just seeing everything that I’ve been working hard for coming in front of me."

After having just four catches coming into Alabama game last week, Sategna had four catches for 21 yards. Against the Crimson Tide, Sategna caught both of his targets for 19 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown reception from KJ Jefferson as the Hogs tried to mount a comeback.

"They just called me in, and I knew what I had to do," Sategna said. "The ball was thrown to me, and I had to come down with it and do whatever I needed to. It finally happened and it was just one of the best moments of my life. I finally saw what a year and a half of hard work has done for me. It was just very rewarding."

When asked earlier in the year about Sategna not seeing the field much, coach Sam Pittman indicated he needed to improve his blocking. That raised the interesting question of curiosity about recruiting somebody that can run like him being counted on to block. Everybody wants speed or is chasing it in losses and Sategna was the fastest high school player in the state.

With the Hogs desperate and on a surprising five-game losing streak, the Razorbacks now have to win four of the last five games to qualify for a bowl game. Considering some of the teams left that could be a very tall hill to climb. It starts Saturday back at Razorback Stadium for the first time in a month against Mississippi State.

"(Offensive coordinator Dan) Enos, best play caller in the country right now," Sategna said "I really like what he has to do. I really like what he’s implementing for this week. I feel like we’re going to light it up. We’re at home this week, and we’ve missed being home. We had a long stretch, so we’re just happy to be back in our own stadium."

Maybe now we can start seeing some of that speed on the field. Nobody will be paying much attention to how well he blocks anybody, which probably never should have mattered in the first place.

Kickoff Saturday against Mississippi State is set for 11 a.m. on ESPN and fuboTV. You can also listen online at HitThatLine or on the radio at ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs or 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.