Freshman right tackle has tight grip on starting spot

Following the departure of Dalton Wagner as the starting right tackle became a huge hole at the position. Although Coach Sam Pittman and his staff had recruited well along the offensive line the question still remained if they had someone to fill the void.

During Arkansas’ loss to LSU last season, Ty’kieast Crawford earned the start at right tackle in Wagner’s absence. The former Charlotte transfer was simply overmatched in limited duty. However, he is competing for the starting right guard spot instead.

Emerging Star

Second year lineman, Patrick Kutas has quickly become the favorite to win the starting job at RT this fall. According to multiple reports, the 19-year old has all but earned his keep during fall camp.

Offensive line coach, Cody Kennedy was extremely complimentary of the Tennessee native during a press conference on Tuesday.

Kutas’ ceiling is extremely high,” Kennedy said. “He’s still a young kid, a young man, but his weight room numbers and things like that, his strength — He is very, very gifted in that neighborhood. He’s gonna squat over 600 pounds. Very, very strong on bench press. Things like that. His movement patterns he’s a smooth mover.”

Pressing his buttons

“I think the best thing for him in this camp is he’s going up against SEC-caliber defensive ends. With lower-level guys, he can kind of get by on athletic ability, and now any chink in the armor is going to show against top-tier talent. I think that’s what he’s working through and finding out. His whole life he’s been very, very gifted and now he has to hone in on his technique and clean up some things there. But he does some things that are very uncanny for young players as far as the strength category. And only continuing to get better as he learns more in the game and gains more confidence out there on the edge.”

Kutas is commended for being one of the strongest players on the team. He is also one of the more diverse linemen on the roster as he’s lined up at center and the guard positions during his short time in Fayetteville.

According to Pittman, the 6-foot-5, 315 pounder was originally recruited to be a tackle at the collegiate level. The Head Hog is ready to see what he can do this fall.

“Kutas has done really well out there,” Pittman said during spring camp. “I mean, real well. That’s what we recruited him as, a tackle, and of course we hadn’t needed him at that position. I think we’re going to be okay out there.”

Consistency is key

For the younger players that are thrown to the fire in the SEC consistency becomes second nature. The trenches are a different kind of game and Kutas will learn that. Luckily, he faces several defensive ends that have seen plenty of big time football snaps. That should help him more throughout his development.

“He just has to be consistent,” Pittman said Thursday when asked about the lineman’s ceiling. “I mean, when you look at his reps, he’s as good as anybody on that field at certain times. A great player is a consistent player, so he has to be a little more consistent.”

The Razorbacks return to the practice field on Wednesday as they continue to evaluate their rotation at key positions.