It ended up being a winning season for Arkansas, after a thrilling 55-53, 3OT victory over Kansas in the Liberty Bowl left the Razorbacks with a 7-6 record. But it certainly wasn’t the kind of season they were hoping for. Not when you consider that head coach Sam Pittman, in his 3rd season, had elevated the program to 9 wins in 2021, up from 3 the previous season.

Under Pittman, the Hogs had improved, record-wise, over his first 2 years. But they stumbled in 2022, losing defensive leader Jalen Catalon to injury while quarterback KJ Jefferson played with nagging injuries. Those aren’t excuses, but they did factor into a subpar season that raised questions about the trajectory of the program.

Here are 10 burning questions facing Arkansas as it heads into the offseason.

1. Has Pittman reached his ceiling with the program?

Is the honeymoon officially over? Has Pittman already used up all the equity built from a 9-win season just a year ago? Was that as good as we can expect from the Arkansas program with him as coach?

Those are questions that only time can answer, but from the looks of the 2022 season, it appears that “yes” could very well be the answer to all those questions. The number of players jumping off the bandwagon a.k.a. transfer portal might also back up that assertion.

2. Is Jefferson as good as he’s going to be?

Like Pittman, it would certainly appear that Jefferson has reached his ceiling. His numbers were nearly a carbon copy (Google it) of last year’s. But consider he racked up those numbers in just 11 games this season as opposed to 13 last year.

Based on that, one would have to conclude that the improvement was evident, though perhaps fractional. Will 2023 be the year he rises above the rest in the SEC? The help he has around him will play a huge factor, and that may be even the bigger question.

3. Is Arkansas destined to be a middle-of-the-pack SEC team?

This may be an overreaction, but the dropoff from a 9-4 season in 2021 raises the question. The Razorbacks haven’t recorded double-digit wins in a season since Bobby Petrino’s squads went back-to-back (2010-11) and before that, Houston Nutt guided the Hogs to 10 wins in 2006.

Arkansas has won 10-plus games just 4 times since 1989, and it hasn’t had a winning record in SEC games since the 2015 season and only twice since 2011. So the answer, until proven otherwise, appears to be “yes.”

4. Who fills in at LB?

The linebacker position will look very different next season. Arkansas’ all-time tackles leader (441) with the coolest name (Bumper Pool), and All-American transfer from Alabama Drew Sanders are gone. The pair combined for 195 tackles this season, including 18 for loss and 11.5 sacks. That was instrumental in Arkansas setting the school record for sacks (42) this season.

That’s a lot of production to replace. Freshman Chris Paul Jr. could help provide some answers. He turned in his first double-digit tackle performance (12) in the Liberty Bowl.

5. Who will stabilize the WR corps?

Pittman pulled a couple of key receivers from the transfer portal last year, and it appears he’ll have to do it again in order to fill in for those 2. Both Jadon Haselwood and Matt Landers are gone. So are TE Trey Knox and WR Ketron Jackson Jr. That’s a group that made up the Razorbacks’ top 4 receivers.

AJ Green and Jaedon Wilson were among the top targets for Jefferson in the Liberty Bowl, and that may or may not be where Pittman starts to rebuild the position.

6. How will the new DC fit in?

With Barry Odom leaving to become head coach at UNLV, Pittman tabbed former UCF DC Travis Williams as the new guy at Arkansas. A former linebacker at Auburn, Williams will be tasked with rebuilding the Hogs’ defense.

He has big shoes to fill, and it remains to be seen what kind of influence he’ll have.

7. What will the OL look like?

A strength and no doubt an area of particular pride for Pittman, a longtime OL coach, will be a question mark heading into 2023. Gone are veterans Ricky Stromberg, Dalton Wagner and Luke Jones.

But the cupboard isn’t bare. Beaux Limmer, Brady Latham and Ty’Kieast Crawford have experience. And Pittman has already brought in Florida transfer Josh Braun. Others may follow.

8. Can they bolster the secondary?

A lack of depth has been an issue, and now with both Catalon and Myles Slusher in the transfer portal, this is an area of concern. LSU transfer Dwight McGlothern and Quincey McAdoo played well in the bowl game and will be called upon to lead the way in 2023.

9. Can Fletcher handle punter duties?

Punter Reid Bauer has transferred to Memphis, opening the door for freshman Max Fletcher to take over full time. Fletcher appeared in 9 games this season and punted 38 times with an average of 37.5 yards per boot. He’ll need to up his game in order to help the Razorbacks in the field position department.

10. Who will back up Jefferson?

With as much as Jefferson runs the football, getting banged up over the past 2 seasons has been a concern. Backup Malik Hornsby is in the transfer portal after playing 15 games over the past couple of seasons. Arkansas must have a capable backup to help out over a grueling SEC schedule.

Pittman has plucked 4-star QB Jacolby Criswell out of the transfer portal from North Carolina. The 6-1, 225-pounder may be the answer. He played in 15 games over 3 seasons as a Tar Heel, where he threw for 204 yards, completing 18 of 31 passes with 1 TD and a pick. He also rushed 20 times for 133 yards and a touchdown.