Arkansas Brings in Larry Smith to Spearhead Wide Receiver Group Under Petrino's New Offense

Well, the news is finally official out of Fayetteville! The Arkansas Razorbacks have formally announced the addition of Larry Smith to their coaching staff, bringing him aboard to take the reins of the wide receiver group. It's a move that's been anticipated by many, especially as Head Coach Sam Pittman continues to fine-tune the offensive staff under the much-talked-about return of Bobby Petrino.

Smith steps into a pretty crucial role, don't you think? He's now tasked with shaping and refining the Razorbacks' pass-catchers, preparing them to excel within the intricacies of the revamped offense spearheaded by coordinator Bobby Petrino. Given Petrino's historical prowess with aerial attacks, the wide receivers are certainly going to be a focal point, and Smith's expertise will be key to unlocking their full potential.

Now, let's talk a bit about Smith's own journey. Before stepping into coaching, he actually walked the path his players now dream of. He spent time in the NFL, catching passes for teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars, the storied Green Bay Packers, and the Chicago Bears between 2007 and 2010. His collegiate career was equally impressive, starring at Florida A&M where he wasn't just a participant, but led the Rattlers in receiving for a solid two seasons back in 2005 and 2006. That kind of firsthand experience? Invaluable, truly.

His coaching journey kicked off as a graduate assistant at Alabama State back in 2011. From there, he made a pretty significant jump, heading to Texas A&M. He spent three seasons, from 2012 to 2014, as an offensive quality control assistant with the Aggies – a role that really grounds you in the finer details of an offensive scheme.

The step up to a full-time position coach came for Smith at Jacksonville State, where he first got to put his stamp on a wide receiver room from 2015 to 2016. But perhaps his most notable stint before Fayetteville was at UCF. From 2017 through 2021, he coached the Knights' wide receivers, and what a run it was! He was instrumental in their back-to-back AAC Championships in 2017 and 2018, not to mention that truly unforgettable undefeated season in 2017. More recently, he spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons coaching at Louisville, gaining even more valuable experience at a high level. You can see a clear trajectory here, can't you?

Head Coach Sam Pittman, clearly thrilled with the hire, echoed these sentiments in the official press release. "Larry is simply a great coach and, perhaps more importantly, a great person," Pittman stated, his confidence shining through. "He’s lived and breathed this position at the highest level, playing in the NFL, and he’s coached it exceptionally well at various top-tier collegiate programs. He truly understands what it takes to succeed in this game. His depth of experience and extensive knowledge will be an immense asset to our entire staff, and particularly a huge boost for our wide receivers and, by extension, our offense as a whole." It's clear Pittman sees him as a key piece of the puzzle.

So, as the Razorbacks look ahead to a fresh season and a dynamic new offensive scheme, the arrival of Larry Smith feels like a really strong piece of the puzzle. Fans will certainly be eager to see how he elevates the wide receiver corps under the bright lights of Petrino's system. Exciting times indeed for the Hogs!