Andrew Armstrong taking on leadership role with Arkansas football
There are immeasurable differences between playing football in the FCS Southland Conference and the SEC.
Better facilities, a bigger attention to nutrition and crazier fans all welcomed Andrew Armstrong to the Arkansas football program. But the senior transfer from Texas A&M University-Commerce will never forget his first workouts inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
"When we work out in the stadium, just looking around and seeing all those seats," Armstrong said. "I didn't see those seats at my old school."
In a month's time, those seats will be filled by the Razorback faithful, and it feels like a good bet that Armstrong will have them rising in unison to celebrate big plays from the Dallas native.
The Hogs have only had five practices, but Armstrong is standing out inside a deep and inexperienced wide receivers room. More importantly, he's gaining the respect of fellow players and Arkansas' coaches, with both his talent and leadership.
"The main guy that’s stepped up has been Andrew Armstrong," Arkansas wide receivers coach Kenny Guiton said. "He’s been a guy that, like I said, even though he’s been here since January, he’s been in college. He’s an older guy. He understands it, he knows what it takes to be great, so when he sees it not happening, he steps up and is vocal about it."
Guiton spoke with the media after Tuesday's practice and admitted there was a lot of anxiety in January about his position group. Arkansas needed to hit the transfer portal and find some talented freshmen after losing standout receivers Jadon Haselwood and Matt Landers to the NFL. The recruiting pitch, however, was easy with plenty of catches up for grabs and the return of quarterback KJ Jefferson.
Much of that anxiety has since calmed. Guiton sees the hunger from Armstrong and the other transfer wide receivers, Isaac TeSlaa and Tyrone Broden, and their work on the field continues to impress.
More: Why Arkansas running backs coach Jimmy Smith enjoys his snaps challenge
More: Returnees in Arkansas football secondary reflect, look ahead after struggles of 2022
What stands out the most about Armstrong, according to Guiton, is his 'savviness'. At 6-foot-4 and 201 pounds, Armstrong knows how to create separation, find the soft spots in zone coverage and make the right decision on the fly. Armstrong caught 62 passes for a team-high 1,020 yards (16.5 ypc) and a team-best 13 touchdowns last season at TAMUC.
He's also impressed coaches with his athleticism, and Armstrong was a surprise addition to Arkansas' group of players who hit 22 mph at top speed in offseason practice.
"To be honest with you, Coach Guiton didn’t know he was going to run 22. So seeing that, it was awesome," Guiton said.
The final pecking order in the wide receiver rotation is still taking shape. In addition to the transfers, returnees like Isaiah Sategna, Jaedon Wilson and Bryce Stephens are all fighting for snaps. There's also the arrival of freshmen Davion Dozier and Dazmin James.
But earning a spot is a comfort zone for Armstrong, who worked his way to the glamour of SEC football and is now ready to leave his mark.
"When I came in, I didn’t want them to just put me in a starting role," he said. "I wanted to work. I wanted to start from the bottom to show what I can actually do."
Better facilities, a bigger attention to nutrition and crazier fans all welcomed Andrew Armstrong to the Arkansas football program. But the senior transfer from Texas A&M University-Commerce will never forget his first workouts inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
"When we work out in the stadium, just looking around and seeing all those seats," Armstrong said. "I didn't see those seats at my old school."
In a month's time, those seats will be filled by the Razorback faithful, and it feels like a good bet that Armstrong will have them rising in unison to celebrate big plays from the Dallas native.
The Hogs have only had five practices, but Armstrong is standing out inside a deep and inexperienced wide receivers room. More importantly, he's gaining the respect of fellow players and Arkansas' coaches, with both his talent and leadership.
"The main guy that’s stepped up has been Andrew Armstrong," Arkansas wide receivers coach Kenny Guiton said. "He’s been a guy that, like I said, even though he’s been here since January, he’s been in college. He’s an older guy. He understands it, he knows what it takes to be great, so when he sees it not happening, he steps up and is vocal about it."
Guiton spoke with the media after Tuesday's practice and admitted there was a lot of anxiety in January about his position group. Arkansas needed to hit the transfer portal and find some talented freshmen after losing standout receivers Jadon Haselwood and Matt Landers to the NFL. The recruiting pitch, however, was easy with plenty of catches up for grabs and the return of quarterback KJ Jefferson.
Much of that anxiety has since calmed. Guiton sees the hunger from Armstrong and the other transfer wide receivers, Isaac TeSlaa and Tyrone Broden, and their work on the field continues to impress.
More: Why Arkansas running backs coach Jimmy Smith enjoys his snaps challenge
More: Returnees in Arkansas football secondary reflect, look ahead after struggles of 2022
What stands out the most about Armstrong, according to Guiton, is his 'savviness'. At 6-foot-4 and 201 pounds, Armstrong knows how to create separation, find the soft spots in zone coverage and make the right decision on the fly. Armstrong caught 62 passes for a team-high 1,020 yards (16.5 ypc) and a team-best 13 touchdowns last season at TAMUC.
He's also impressed coaches with his athleticism, and Armstrong was a surprise addition to Arkansas' group of players who hit 22 mph at top speed in offseason practice.
"To be honest with you, Coach Guiton didn’t know he was going to run 22. So seeing that, it was awesome," Guiton said.
The final pecking order in the wide receiver rotation is still taking shape. In addition to the transfers, returnees like Isaiah Sategna, Jaedon Wilson and Bryce Stephens are all fighting for snaps. There's also the arrival of freshmen Davion Dozier and Dazmin James.
But earning a spot is a comfort zone for Armstrong, who worked his way to the glamour of SEC football and is now ready to leave his mark.
"When I came in, I didn’t want them to just put me in a starting role," he said. "I wanted to work. I wanted to start from the bottom to show what I can actually do."
Players mentioned in this article
Andrew Armstrong
Aaron Armstrong
Kenny Guiton
Jadon Haselwood
Matt Landers
Isaac TeSlaa
Tyrone Broden
Jimmy Smith
Isaiah Sategna
Jaedon Wilson
Bryce Stephens
Recent Stories
How a Wisconsin legend got his German protégé into Badgers pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Marlon Werthmann put his life on hold for the opportunity in front of him Friday at the McClain Center.Werthmann — a 6-foot-4, 290-pound offensive ...
Why former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 at pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Braelon Allen’s sweat covered his shirt and dripped off his beard as he approached a group of reporters Friday.The former University of Wisconsin football ...
How can UW recruit its best class ever? It starts with these five prospects
By Andy Yamashita
Seattle Times staff reporter
Jedd Fisch has lofty recruiting goals at Washington. He didn’t waste any time laying out his expectations to “do ...
Texas football kicks off spring practice Tuesday. We answer 24 questions for the 2024 team
Things certainly look fresh for the 2024 college football season, especially on the Texas campus.There’s a new conference for the Longhorns, if you haven’t heard. ...
College Football Playoff: Conferences solve their differences (for now) and agree on general framework for 2026 and beyond
The FBS conferences and Notre Dame agreed on Friday to continue the College Football Playoff beyond the 2025 season, signing a memorandum of understanding that paves ...
Latest Player Notes
How a Wisconsin legend got his German protégé into Badgers pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Marlon Werthmann put his life on hold for the opportunity in front of him Friday at the McClain Center.Werthmann ...
Why former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 at pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Braelon Allen’s sweat covered his shirt and dripped off his beard as he approached a group of reporters Friday.The ...
How can UW recruit its best class ever? It starts with these five prospects
By Andy Yamashita
Seattle Times staff reporter
Jedd Fisch has lofty recruiting goals at Washington. He didn’t waste any ...
Texas football kicks off spring practice Tuesday. We answer 24 questions for the 2024 team
Things certainly look fresh for the 2024 college football season, especially on the Texas campus.There’s a new conference ...
College Football Playoff: Conferences solve their differences (for now) and agree on general framework for 2026 and beyond
The FBS conferences and Notre Dame agreed on Friday to continue the College Football Playoff beyond the 2025 season, signing ...
Ball security, leadership key as Aztecs look to identify starting quarterback
San Diego State seemingly auditions a new starting quarterback on an annual basis.In the past 12 years, the Aztecs have opened ...
Results and more: A look at what happened at Penn State football’s Pro Day inside Holuba Hall
Most of those at Penn State’s Pro Day Friday were relatively quiet throughout the afternoon’s workouts, but there was one ...
Defense dominates first two weeks of Oregon State spring practice as Beavers ready for 2-week breather
CORVALLIS – Oregon State hit the break of spring practices Saturday, not exactly the midpoint but a good place to assess ...
Dillon Gabriel to have similar input, autonomy as Bo Nix had in Oregon’s offense
Published Mar. 16, 2024, 6:26 p.m.By James CrepeaEUGENE — Dillon Gabriel will have much of the same autonomy as Bo Nix did ...
Two transfers, one underclassman who impressed in Missouri football's spring game
With that, spring camp’s a wrap.Missouri football held its Black & Gold spring game Saturday in front of a healthy crowd ...