The Arkansas Razorbacks entered the offseason in desperate need of impact offensive lineman, and the Hogs quickly filled that need with three outstanding signees made possible by the NCAA transfer portal.
It’s easy to say that Eric Mateos, the offensive line coach hired on December 3, has made a quick start.
“I think getting the right guys was the most important thing in the transfer portal,” Mateos stated on Wednesday. “I wish to stay away from FOMO. Hey, we need to fill all of these positions immediately.
“I believe the most crucial factor was having players who could play and make an immediate impact. Guys with interior compositions that were right. possess the ideal mindset and makeup.Items that match the circumstances and the program. That’s precisely what we accomplished.”
Watch Eric Mateos, the offensive line coach for Arkansas, during his news conference.
Addison Nichols, a Tennessee transfer, is the most recent addition to Arkansas’ trench corps. Nichols played 116 snaps as a redshirt freshman for the Volunteers, and he concluded the 2023 campaign with an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 61.3 at guard.
Nichols is “very, very athletic,” Pittman remarked on Wednesday. “I simply believe that he is a really talented athlete who is That’s the term, I suppose. He’s athletic. really accurate with his hands. I simply adore him.
“After that, we required a center. However, I worked out at Georgia and made him an offer that day, Addison Nichols. extraordinarily gifted. However, we required someone to break the ball.We needed someone to snap the ball, regardless of whether you call it a guard-center or a center-guard. He’ll enter, and we’ll start by examining him at the middle.”
The 327-pound, 6-foot-5 transfer player also had a 68.1 PFF pass block grade and a 58.7 run block grade at the end of the 2023 campaign.
Mateos stated, “Center just starts everything.” “It sets the tone. The smartest person in the room is usually at the center. The first person to rush inside a blazing building must be Center. He must be the one who is eager to take the initiative, take the lead, and speak loudly. For the other males, that sets the tone.
“Although I am prejudiced because I played the position, I believe it sets a very positive tone for your offense. The only two players that touch the ball every play are the center and the quarterback.”
Related: 2024 Roster Tracker for Arkansas Football
Fernando Carmona Jr., a transfer from San Jose State, is arguably the Razorbacks’ most noteworthy signing to date. Carmona, a redshirt sophomore tackle for the Spartans, played 765 snaps overall and concluded the 2023 campaign with an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 81.5.
The 6-foot-5, 325-pound transfer Carmona also got a run block rating of 78.9 and a PFF pass block grade of 81.0.
Mateos remarked, “I think the athleticism jumps off.” “I believe you have a chance if you have both physical prowess and a desire to harm people. He is incredibly powerful. He has only played football for four years, having started during his junior year of high school. His father has been a
head coach, coach of the offensive line. That harshness is ingrained in him. The family is just like that.”
On November 20, tackle Keyshawn Blackstock decided to commit to Arkansas, becoming the first offensive lineman through the transfer portal to do so.
“Our initial goal was to locate tackles,” stated Pittman. That, after all, was our main concern. We thought that, at least four weeks ago, we really hit it big with Blackstock.”
Despite only playing 74 snaps in 2023, the Michigan State transfer was formerly a four-star prospect coming out of the JUCO levels.
“Keyshawn (Blackstock) obviously already was in the mix here,” added Mateos. “At Baylor, I attempted to recruit him but was unsuccessful. That was a pleasant surprise for me when I arrived.
Pittman isn’t done signing players through the transfer portal, even though those three additions will significantly increase the Razorbacks’ chances of success moving forward on the offensive line.
“The next individual we wish to pursue is aguard who is capable of making a football snap,” Pittman remarked. “All right, let’s get over there. We’re going to go one more, but we might go two more.”
