FAYETTEVILLE- Arkansas opened the season last Saturday in Little Rock with a 56-13 win over Western Carolina. This week, the Hogs return to Fayetteville for their on-campus opener against Kent State. The Hogs will be in Fayetteville for the next two weekends, hosting Kent State this Saturday, and BYU on September 16.
Here are notes on this Saturday’s game with the Golden Flashes as provided by the University of Arkansas:
KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
AP/Coaches: NR/NR
Head Coach: Kenni Burns (Indiana, ‘06)
Career Record: 0-1 (1st season)
Record at Kent State: Same
• Arkansas returns to the friendly confines of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium for the first time in 2023 to play Kent State on Saturday, Sept. 9. Kickoff between the Hogs and Golden Flashes is set for 3 p.m. on SEC Network.
• With a win against Kent State, Arkansas would start 2-0 for the third consecutive season under head coach Sam Pittman. The Razorbacks have not started 2-0 in three consecutive seasons since 1998-2000 under Houston Nutt.
• Arkansas opened its year with a convincing 56-13 win over Western Carolina at War Memorial Stadium. The Hogs’ 43-point margin of victory is their largest under Pittman.
• QB KJ Jefferson began the 2023 campaign with a stellar four-touchdown showing in the Razorbacks’ win over the Catamounts, throwing for three scores and adding another one on the ground. Jefferson, who has thrown and rushed for a touchdown in a game 11 times in his career, moved up to second on Arkansas’ career touchdown responsibility list (71) following his strong season-opening performance.
• RB Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders ran for a pair of scores in Arkansas’ season-opening win against Western Carolina. Sanders, who is coming off one of the greatest seasons by an Arkansas running back in recent memory after rushing for 10 touchdowns and 1,443 yards — fourth-most in a single season in school history — in 2022, has now run for multiple touchdowns in a game six times in his career.
• WR Andrew Armstrong, making his Razorback debut, caught a team-leading five passes for 78 yards and a touchdown in the Razorbacks’ season opener against Western Carolina. The transfer from Texas A&M-Commerce has recorded at least one reception in 17 consecutive games dating back to his 2021 season.
• LB Jaheim Thomas, a Cincinnati transfer, racked up a team-leading eight stops, including 1.5 tackles for loss, as well as one pass breakup in the Hogs’ season-opening win over Western Carolina. Thomas was one of nine Razorback defenders to record a tackle for loss in the opener.
• DB Jayden Johnson posted five tackles along with a forced fumble and an interception in the season opener against Western Carolina. Johnson was the only SEC defender — and one of just four FBS defenders — to intercept a pass and force a fumble in a Week 1 contest.
Kickoff on Saturday is set for 3 p.m. on Saturday at Donald W. Reynolds Razorbacks Stadium.
RNN Sports will be in Fayetteville to bring you coverage and action photos from the Hogs’ second non-conference game of the year. Stay with us at residentnewsnetwork.com, and on social media at Resident News Network and Team Press Pass on Facebook.
Note to Our Readers: Portions of this story were sourced directly from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Kyle Parkinson.
