Arkansas Football: 3 storylines to follow in spring 2021

Sam Pittman and Arkansas football are gearing up for a big spring with plenty of storylines and questions. Which storylines should take center stage?

Arkansas is coming off their best season in years as Sam Pittman led the Razorbacks to three SEC wins (almost a couple more) in his first year as head coach after the program was winless in conference play under Chad Morris.

With some attrition at key positions, including quarterback, the Razorbacks will have their work cut out for them if they want to be relevant in the SEC in 2021.

Which storylines catch my eye heading into spring ball?

3. Sam Pittman’s effect on the offensive line

It’s hard to believe, but this is Sam Pittman’s first spring with Arkansas after getting hired last offseason and not being able to really see his team with COVID-19 spreading throughout the country. Spring ball was cancelled at a lot of schools and first-year coaches had very little time to get acclimated with their guys in the fall.

Did that have something to do with the offensive line’s struggles? Arkansas surrendered 34 sacks last season and Feleipe Franks was running for his life more often than not.

You would have to think that the fact that Pittman wasn’t able to get everyone gelled in the trenches in the spring that it had a negative effect on the line during the season. It’ll be interesting to see if he can get those guys up front improved enough to ensure that the next starting quarterback isn’t taking unnecessary hits which could lead to injuries.

Every starter should be back up front and Pittman already has a relationship with these guys, so let’s see if the comfortability and the first real spring in two years will have a positive effect.