Kicking game

For the first time, the Razorbacks will have a dedicated special teams coordinator in Scott Fountain, who is also assistant head coach.

The Razorbacks lose placekicking ace Connor Limpert, the school’s new leader in all-time field goal percentage, but bring back return specialists De’Vion Warren and Treylon Burks, deep snapper Jordan Silver, holder Jack Lindsey, and punters Sam Loy and Reid Bauer, who split time last year.

“First thing, we’ve got to come in and sell special teams here,” Fountain said. “It all starts with the head coach and him believing in special teams. That’s why I’m here, because I believe he does. I think he’ll set the foundation.

“And for me, being a guy that just focuses on special teams, it’s gonna be big. It’s gonna be big for our kicker, our punter and our long snapper. They’re going to get coaching on and off the field, in the meeting rooms, etc., but also it gives me the opportunity to sell it to our offensive and defensive players.”

The Razorbacks added four kickers and kickoff men during the last year. AJ Reed is a graduate transfer from Duke who made 15 of 18 field goals and 34 of 34 extra points last season and is immediately eligible. Jared Sackett of TexasSan Antonio transferred last winter and sat out in 2019. Cabot freshman Rhett Thurman enrolled in January, and Vito Calvaruso — a kickoff specialist from Jefferson City (Mo.) Helias Catholic — has also committed.