Sports Talk With Bo Mattingly's Podcast

Gaby Lopez is one of the best Pro Hogs around. After a standout career at Arkansas that saw her finish as national runner-up, she’s now won three times on the LPGA Tour. The Mexico native wasn’t always a star, though. She routinely was shooting in the 100s when she started playing, and, while she was having fun, something was missing. Her play eventually attracted the interest of Arkansas, where she would learn the skills necessary to have success—both in college and at the next level. And when she won for the first time on the LPGA Tour, it validated all the hard work. In 2021, she earned perhaps her biggest honor to date: Being the flag bearer for Mexico at the Summer Olympics. Gaby Lopez shined bright at Arkansas, and is doing big things as a professional. Her story is one of determination and success. And there’s nobody better to help tell it than Arkansas women’s golf coach Shauna Taylor.

Joe Adams’ football career could be summed up with one word: Electrifying. He returned five career punts for touchdowns—third in SEC history—won national awards and was a first-team All-American. But his time as a Razorback wouldn’t have happened without a last-minute change of heart. The signing day decision to play for his home-state Razorbacks meant the Hogs would be loaded with some all-time greats. But Adams didn’t want to take on the task of stepping into another legend’s number. Adams made No. 3 his own, dazzling fans and opposing defenses alike with his shiftiness and speed as he became one of the best receivers in school history. Now, having been inducted into the Razorbacks’ Hall of Honor, Adams’ spot as an Arkansas legend is secure.

How do you end up going from growing up in Australia to coaching volleyball in the SEC? Ask Jason Watson. It’s been a long journey from Down Under to Arkansas for Watson, who played college volleyball at BYU and spent 11 years as an assistant before finally getting the chance to lead his own program at his alma mater. Along the way, Watson has developed a coaching philosophy that’s helped him guide teams to seven NCAA Tournament appearances and get buy-in from every athlete he coaches. Watch a match and you might not see Watson say a lot. He chooses his words and timing carefully. Watson has turned the Razorback volleyball program around. And though it bothers him that the team hasn’t been selected for an NCAA Tournament yet, he’s happy building a winner in his new home.

In just one season, Cam Little proved to be clutch. It’s not easy being a college kicker, but the sophomore from Oklahoma has embraced the spotlight…and the pressure that comes with it. Little had a remarkable freshman season, connecting on 20-of-24 field goal attempts and hitting all 46 of his extra points en route to being named a Freshman All-American. But Little wants to be known as much for what he’s doing on the field as he is off it. Cam Little is making an impact for the Razorbacks—and for so many others—with every kick. And that’s just the way he likes it.

Trey Knox is a different person than when he first arrived on Arkansas’ campus—literally. He started for the Razorbacks as a freshman wide receiver, and is now a bulked-up tight end and No. 1 on the depth chart. Sometimes, the idea of less playing time or a position change has a player looking elsewhere. But not Knox. He loves Fayetteville and wanted to fight for his place on the team. Knox has emerged as a leader for a Razorback team filled with confidence. And he believes last season’s 9-4 record helped everyone realize there are bigger things to come. Knox wanted to be a Razorback. Now he wants to help lead the Hogs to new heights.

Sam Pittman has restored the pride within Razorback football and around the state. Though it might’ve happened quicker than expected, the turnaround is real. Last season, there was more celebrating than the Razorbacks had seen in a decade. Arkansas won nine games and reached the top 10 for the first time since 2011, and won all three major rivalry trophies for the first time. As the Razorbacks head into Year 3 under Pittman, there’s an excitement in the state that hasn’t been felt in a long time. And fans are hoping to hear the jukebox playing early and often on Saturdays this fall.

When you’re handpicked by Sam Pittman to be his offensive line coach, you must be doing something right. And if you’re Cody Kennedy, the best thing you can do is to watch, listen and learn from one of the best. Originally hired as the tight ends coach at Arkansas, Kennedy was quickly reassigned to the offensive line when the job became available. And he hasn’t looked back. A Broyles Award semifinalist last season and one of the game’s up and coming position coaches, Kennedy has four returning starters along the o-line and says stability will help the Arkansas program take the next step. In this episode, Hogs+ senior contributor Clay Henry sits down with the Razorbacks offensive line coach for a wide-ranging conversation—from building relationships to finding the winning recipe up front.

Bea Franklin has settled in nicely at Arkansas. The senior transferred from Notre Dame prior to last season, and helped guide the Razorbacks to a third-straight SEC title and the program’s first ever trip to the Elite 8—thanks to a win over her former school in the Sweet 16. Franklin has found a home in Arkansas and with the Razorbacks, and gives credit to the culture that head coach Colby Hale has built. A self-described serial hobbyist, Franklin is interested in a little bit of everything—from snow skiing to serving as Arkansas’ Student-Athlete Advisory Council president. Franklin feels like she’s gotten a second chance at Arkansas, and so far, she’s taking full advantage of it.

He might just be the next big WWE star, but Dalton Wagner is perfectly comfortable on the football field right now. Wagner, a 24-year-old super senior, is the elder statesman for the Razorback offense. He’s been a model of consistency, starting in each of the past four seasons and improving throughout. It’s no surprise the WWE came calling with an NIL deal. After all, at 6-foot-9, Wagner looks the part. But for now, he’s focused on football. And with four returning starters along the offensive line and KJ Jefferson back at quarterback, Wagner looks at last season’s 9-4 mark as the baseline. In this episode...Hogs+ senior contributor Clay Henry visits with Wagner and gets to the bottom of what’s in store for him this season and how he ended up becoming one of the longest-tenured Razorbacks.

After a standout junior season that saw him earn All-SEC honors, Ricky Stromberg had a decision to make: move on to the NFL, or come back for one final season with the Hogs. Stromberg anchored Arkansas’ offensive line at center, blocking for an offense that led all Power 5 schools in rushing at nearly 230 yards per game. It’s no wonder that Head Hog Sam Pittman is excited to have him back. And Pittman isn’t the only one who’s fired up. Stromberg, a preseason All-American pick, is ready to go to work with the guys up front. The senior from Tulsa isn’t shying away from high expectations, either. Not for himself, or for this team. In this episode, former Razorback and NFL offensive lineman Travis Swanson sits down with Stromberg to talk about why he came back to the Hogs, his goals for his senior season, and the attention he’s getting from preseason watch lists.

If you were building a Mount Rushmore of important figures in Arkansas football history, there’s no doubt that Frank Broyles would be on there. But right there with him would be Harold Horton. Horton’s ties to the Razorbacks—and the state of Arkansas—run deep. He was part of three Southwest Conference championship teams in the early ‘60s under Frank Broyles, who then hired him as an assistant coach—a position he would hold for 13 years. After an unceremonious end to his time as a Razorback assistant and two years in the business sector, Horton was hired as the head coach at Central Arkansas, where he would win two NAIA national championships in eight seasons. He would return to Arkansas in 1990, working in football operations, before eventually serving as the president of the Razorback Foundation. All told, Horton had a major impact on the Hog football program for nearly 40 years. In this episode, Hogs+ senior contributor Clay Henry tells the story of Razorback great Harold Horton, with help from former Arkan

Britton Wilson is having the time of her life. The standout hurdler for the Razorback women’s track team set nine school records in 2022, was named SEC Outdoor Runner of the Year, won a national championship, and is competing for Team USA at the World Championships. But the success hasn’t come easy. Britton struggled to find her way as a freshman in college, and decided that she needed to make a change. And that change was transferring to Arkansas. Her decision to join the Razorbacks has been life changing. Had she not made the change, Britton knows what her life might’ve been like. Wilson is glad she didn’t quit. So, too, are the Razorbacks. And as she continues her record-setting pace, she has dreams of representing the U.S. in the Olympics. Dreams that are close to becoming reality.

Jalen Catalon is one of the best defensive backs Arkansas has seen in quite some time. He’s the first Razorback DB to make First Team All-SEC since Chris Houston in 2006. And he’s already joined Ken Hamlin and Kenoy Kennedy as the only Hog safeties to ever be named an All-American. But his fight to bounce back from injury is just as important as his quest to be one of the all-time greats. Catalon missed the Hogs’ final seven games—including the Outback Bowl win over Penn State—in what was shaping up to be a stellar sophomore season. But Catalon knows what it takes to bounce back. He’s dealt with injury and disappointment before, tearing his ACL and missing nearly his entire senior season at Mansfield Legacy High School in Texas. In this episode, Hogs Plus senior contributor Clay Henry talks to Catalon about his recovery from injury, working to get better, and how he hopes to take his place alongside some of the all-time Razorback greats.

KJ Jefferson isn’t sneaking up on anybody. After a standout season in which Jefferson amassed more than 3,300 total yards and 27 touchdowns, the secret is out: Arkansas’ QB1 is a big-time player. But, despite leading the Razorbacks to its first nine-win season in a decade, it wasn’t always easy. After a 4-0 start to the season, Arkansas lost three straight. The team—and its captain, Jefferson—vowed to turn things around. Arkansas won four of its final five games in the regular season, with the only loss being a close call at Alabama. And Jefferson starred throughout. In this episode, Razorback radio analyst and former star quarterback Quinn Grovey talks to Jefferson about dedicating the offseason to taking his game to the next level and being ready for whatever opposing defenses throw at him.

For Barry Odom, Arkansas—and coaching alongside Sam Pittman—is the place to be. Odom has helped Pittman engineer an incredible turnaround at Arkansas, and has helped a once-maligned defense turn into one of the better units in the country. After the Razorbacks gave up more than 30 points per game for five straight seasons, Odom’s 2021 group allowed less than 23 a game to rank in the top half of the SEC. And perhaps no game showcased the improvement more than the win over Texas, when the Razorbacks smashed the Longhorns all over the field. The Razorbacks bookended that performance with a second-half shutout of Penn State in the Outback Bowl, setting the stage for more to come. In this episode, Arkansas radio analyst Quinn Grovey sits down with the Hogs’ DC to talk about his unit’s improvement, working alongside Sam Pittman, and why the Razorbacks are a destination in college football.

Dave Van Horn leads by example. His quiet confidence comes from being one of the best at what he does. His work ethic is second to none. And he has a burning desire to bring Arkansas baseball its first national championship—something he promised Razorback fans in his introductory press conference. That level of passion has been there in every team he's coached, but something changed at the end of this season and it's a big reason why Arkansas was able to punch their ticket for a return to Omaha. In this exclusive conversation with Dave Van Horn, Phil Elson—the Voice of Razorback Baseball—sits down with the skipper and talks about the team's growth over the course of the season, how players and coaches feed off of one of the most passionate fan bases in the country, and what he sees in this squad that makes him believe this is the year he can fulfill that press conference promise he made nearly two decades ago.

When you think about the fact that Evan Taylor grew up in Florence, Alabama, as a big Crimson Tide football fan, you wonder how he ended up a Razorback. But that’s the national pull this program has under Dave Van Horn. When you’re consistently one of the top programs in the country, that’s what happens. And Taylor became enamored with the Razorbacks during their 2018 College World Series run. But it’s not easy to join a top program. Taylor struggled early, pitching fewer than 15 innings in his first three seasons combined. That led to a conversation with DVH that helped turn his career around. This season, Taylor has turned into one of the most reliable arms in the Razorback bullpen, posting a 3.38 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 37 1/3 innings. The struggles—and the worries that came with them—are a thing of the past.

If it wasn’t for today’s transfer market, Michael Turner would likely have never been a Razorback. After four years at Kent State, where he earned All-MAC honors, the Ohio native decided to put his name in the transfer portal. There were other options closer to home … then he heard from the No. 1 team in the country. And Turner has been blown away by his experience at Arkansas, likening the fan support and atmosphere to what he’s only experienced at college football games up north. Turner has emerged as one of the best hitters on the team, with a .298 batting average and a career-high seven home runs. And even though the regular season didn’t end the way these Razorbacks had hoped, they’re ready for the challenge of the postseason.

Linnie Malkin loves hitting bombs. That approach worked for Malkin, who led the SEC and was top-10 nationally in homers in her senior season. At Arkansas, she found happiness on and off the field. It was a journey to get here, featuring a complicated relationship with her dad, and a trip from Colorado to get noticed. But head coach Courtney Deifel and the Razorbacks have Malkin living her best life. And there was plenty of good this season for Malkin and Arkansas, including a first-ever SEC Tournament title.

KB Sides is a lot of things. Kendall Beth. Razorback. SEC Player of the Year. And, most importantly: Herself. But her journey to figure that out hasn’t been a straight line. After her career at Alabama came to an unexpected end, Sides debating giving up the sport before deciding to seek a new home. And a phone call with Arkansas coach Courtney Defiel changed everything. Sides and Arkansas have been a perfect match. Her 28 steals this season were 24 more than the Razorbacks had all last year. And she’s the latest example of the Razorbacks becoming a destination for the nation’s best. KB Sides took a chance on Arkansas and rediscovered her love for the game—and herself—in the process. And as the SEC Player of the Year, she’s going out on top.