Sam Pittman’s time at Arkansas has been mixed. In just his second season, he led the Razorbacks to nine wins, but he’s struggled to turn them into consistent SEC contenders.
However, one thing that’s never been in question is his ability to coach the offensive line. Recently, one Arkansas lineman admitted that having such a legendary offensive line coach as his head coach can be a little nerve-wracking.
Arkansas Lineman Admits Sam Pittman’s Reputation Brings Added Pressure
Pittman is widely considered one of the best offensive line coaches in the country. He got his start in 1997 with the Oklahoma Sooners and went on to coach the position at Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia before taking over as Arkansas’s head coach in 2020.
Naturally, during his time with the Razorbacks, he has brought in some elite talent up front, including Fernando Carmona, who transferred from San Jose State ahead of the 2024 season. Carmona is one of the top offensive tackles in the nation, earning preseason All-SEC first-team honors from USA Today heading into 2025.
Despite his talent, he admitted in a recent interview on the “Paul Finebaum Show” that playing for a coach as legendary as Pittman can be a little nerve-wracking, since he wants to make sure he is learning and doing everything exactly the way his head coach wants.
“So, anytime he’s around, you know, it gets a little bit nervous, but it’s great to have him over there cause, you know, you have a mastermind watching you and just to be able to pick out his brain and what kind of steps I need to do or what kind of what I could do to win that block,” Carmona said.
Carmona’s comment might have been funny, but it also shows what it’s really like for a young player to be coached by someone like Pittman. With decades of experience under his belt, the Razorbacks head coach can be a little intimidating, and Carmona admitted it can sometimes make him nervous.
Carmona will have to put those nerves aside as he heads into 2025, which shapes up to be a crucial season for his head coach. Pittman has a 30-31 record in five seasons at Arkansas.
While there have been some solid years, there’s no denying he’s on the hot seat this season. Pittman will need Carmona and the entire team to step up if the Razorbacks want to compete in the SEC.
Arkansas kicks off the year at home against Alabama A&M on Saturday, August 30, which in theory should be a victory. Still, the rest of the season won’t be a cakewalk. The Razorbacks have six teams on their schedule in the preseason AP Poll — No. 24 Ole Miss, No. 7 Notre Dame, No. 19 Tennessee, No. 23 Texas A&M, No. 6 LSU, and No. 3 Texas.
