Preseason Previews: Game #1 - Arkansas Razorbacks

                                             

Throughout this preseason, we will preview all of  Western Carolina's 2023 football opponents. For the 2023 season's first game, the Catamounts travel to War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas to face the Arkansas Razorbacks of the Southeast Conference (SEC) 

The Razorbacks finished the 2022 season in fifth place in the West Division of the SEC with a 7-6 overall record.

Game #1 - 

    Arkansas Razorbacks 

When: Saturday, September 2, 2023

Time: 3:00 pm
Where:  War Memorial Stadium  (54,120), Little Rock, Ark.
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
  -Play-by-Play:  Gary Ayers

TV/video:  SECN+ / ESPN+
   -Play-by-Play - Dave O’Brien (play-by-play), Dan Mullen (analyst)

Conference:  Southeastern Conference (SEC)

Enrollment: 29,608

Nickname: Razorbacks

Colors: Cardinal and White

Arkansas Message Board:  Hogville

The Series: This will be the first meeting between the two trams on the gridiron.   

Head Coach: Sam Pittman - Sam Pittman, was named the 34th head coach in Razorback history prior to the 2020 season and has led one of the most remarkable program turnarounds in college football over the last three years. 

Pittman's Record at Arkansas: 19-17 overall (3 seasons), and  10-16 SEC

Pittman's record vs. Western Carolina: 0-0
Kerwin Bell's record vs. Arkansan: 0-0

Last Season's Record - (2022): 7-6 overall, 4-3 home, 2-2 away, 1-1 neutral,  3-5 SEC

Letter Winners Returning/Lost Total: 37/33 (14 returning starters) 

Offense: 16/12 (4 returning starters) 

Defense: 18/18 (7 returning starters)

This season, expectations are high once again for the Razorbacks, with quarterback KJ Jefferson leading the way as one of the better players in the SEC. With the Razorbacks coming off a 7-6 season in 2022, and new coordinators Dan Enos (offense) and Travis Williams (defense) joining the team Sam Pittman is all smiles going into the first game of the season, facing Western Carolina.

After three years with former offensive coordinator Kendal Briles running the offense, head coach Sam Pittman has a new face calling plays for 2023. Dan Enos was hired and this is the second time he's filled the shoes of offensive coordinator for the Razorbacks. Enos came to Arkansas after spending the two previous years as Maryland's OC, and he was the Razorbacks' OC from 2015-17.

Quarterback KJ Jefferson and RB Raheim Sanders are still around, Sanders ran for 1,443 yards and ten touchdowns last season, and Jefferson is one of the toughest running quarterbacks in the SEC. He was injured and missed a few games last season, but he still hit 68% of his throws for close to 2,700 yards and 24 touchdowns, and five picks, and he also ran for 640 yards and nine scores.

On Defense, they gave up over 30 points per game, and losing linebackers Drew Sanders and Bumper Pool hurts, but there’s a good group of sophomores - particularly Chris Paul Jr. - ready to fill in the gaps.  Up front, tackle Taurean Carter returns from injury to pair with Cameron Ball and combo man Eric Gregory, along with ends Jashaud Stewart and Zach Williams. They’re joined by transfers Trajan Jeffcoat, Anthony Booker, and John Morgan III.

2022 Arkansas Statistics (13 games)
Rushing Offense: 2961 yards
Yards per game: 227.8
Yards per rush: 5 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 162
TDs rushing: 1726
Passing Offense: 2781 yards or 213.9 yards per gamePassing 1st downs: 104
Passing Att-Comp-Int: 205-314-5
TDs Passing: 22
Total Offense: 5742 yards or 441.7 yards per game
Fumbles - Lost: 22 - 6
3d Down Conversions: 64 of 174 (37%)
4th Down Conversions: 123 of 29 (63%)
Field goal attempts: 20 - 24
PAT-Attempts: 46 of 46
Red Zone Scores: 46 of 52 (88%)
Red Zone Touchdowns: 33 of 52 (63%)
On-Side Kicks: 0 - 0
Penalties-Yards: 104 - 819