Details Starting to Emerge on How Razorbacks Messed Up Getting QB

How Sam Pittman, Kendal Briles ruined chance to sign 4-star legacy in Little Rock

Author:
Andy Hodges
Publish date:
Dec 20, 2023 5:10 PM EST

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — There have been a lot of eyeballs looking at stories of how Arkansas is letting good football players go out of state. There hasn't been a fence around the state for awhile and Sam Pittman isn't getting holes filled quickly.

On the same day the Razorbacks lost Courtney Crutchfield to Auburn, they let a four-star quarterback at Little Rock Christian go to Auburn. It's a strange plan to overlook guys like Walker White, who had family that were Razorbacks.

Interview with 4-Star Quarterback Walker White and Why Razorbacks Never Really Were Big Factor at SB Live Arkansas.

It appears a lot of it was blowing evaluations by former offensive coordinator Kendal Briles and Pittman. White went into details after he signed to play for the Tigers on Wednesday in Little Rock.

You can see the complete interview on SB Live Arkansas with Nate Olson. Earlier this year, four-star Bryant defensive end T.J. Lindsey, who transferred to IMG Academy for his senior year, announced he is headed to Auburn with White.

Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman on the sidelines against Alabama

Pittman isn't going to talk about it, which is probably the only thing he can publicly say. Briles apparently didn't think he could play here and ended up not being around to find out or see White's senior season. Dan Enos came in for a few months and tried to make up ground, but didn't get anywhere.

Rightly so, Pittman's going to talk about the guys who are here, not the ones he never landed or left. But it is part of a problem with the Hogs. In the last 60 years, success has come for the Hogs with over-achieving players that the fourth quarter meant a little extra and great coaching.

It comes down to relationships with high school coaches and building a brand that wins the state first. The national branding probably isn't going to happen anytime soon with the current mindset, despite having one of the most unique brands. Maybe this is a good recruiting class. The problem is they needed a great class.