Arkansas football: 3 way-too-early breakout candidates for 2023
![Dec 28, 2022; Memphis, TN, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver Isaiah Sategna (16) during the fourth quarter against the Kansas Jayhawks in the 2022 Liberty Bowl at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Arkansas won 55-53. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports Dec 28, 2022; Memphis, TN, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver Isaiah Sategna (16) during the fourth quarter against the Kansas Jayhawks in the 2022 Liberty Bowl at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Arkansas won 55-53. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/5ee660ba9689655d138cf8f134f9691bafbcc566c8b067ef3568f5e9e53eea54.jpg)
Sam Pittman has done a great job in a short period of time with Arkansas football. He’s turned Arkansas from an undesirable SEC program into one of the better teams in the conference. No longer is Arkansas a pushover.
With the changing times and drastic improvement come elevated expectations as well as better recruiting classes.
The Razorbacks are bringing in the No. 26 class this year and they have a number of transfers who could have an immediate impact.
If they’re going to compete in the SEC this season, these guys need to have breakout performances.
I reluctantly added Jaylon Braxton to this list. No, not because I don’t think he’s truly a breakout candidate, but because I’m a Michigan State fan and he spurned my Spartans for Arkansas. I was looking forward to seeing Braxton in a Spartan uniform, but he had other ideas.
Braxton is the top signee from the 2023 recruiting class and he should come in as a true freshman and have an impact on that defense.
In fact, I think he’ll crack the two-deep right away.
Braxton has decent size at nearly 6-foot-0 and 175 pounds and he has serious lockdown potential at cornerback. He can also spend the offseason learning from some talented veterans.
Arkansas could use him this season and I wouldn’t even be shocked if he was a starter by the end of the year. He’s going to be that good as a true freshman.