Sategna Getting Up to Speed on Whate People Tell Them About Bobby Petrino

Speedy wide receiver getting stronger, hopefully faster to find role in Razorbacks' new offense

Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver Isaiah Sategna at a practice on the indoor field on March 9, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. / Andy Hodges-allHOGS Images

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas wide receiver Isaiah Sategna has heard all the names of the wide receivers under now-offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino in his first swing through Fayetteville 2008-11. Hearing is about all he could do. He was young and not even liveing in the state then.

He may be the right guy at best time. As a freshman in 2022, Sategna was learning college and playing. With new offensive coordinator Dan Enos acting like he was terrified by speed, it almost appeared he was put on a shelf at times.

Petrino, like most coaches, doesn't spend a lot of time on comparisons. It's a hypothetical sports writers love to create all time. But this offense has seen the film from their time under Petrino's offense.

"We watch them about every day," Sategna said after spring practice Saturday. "He really just lets me kind of do me and kind of play my game. I don’t really like to compare myself to other people. I like to watch other people, but I don’t really like to compare. Nobody really plays like me."

In Petrino's offense, he has used crossing routes to bring out that speed in mismatches on opponent's offenses. Also running screens and a lot of other things we haven't seen out of the Razorbacks' offense the past couple of years.

"Speed is a big thing in his offense," Sategna said. "That’s one of my strong suits. This is my fourth OC since I’ve been to Arkansas, so I’m really liking what Bobby has, and man, he’s living up to the hype."

But it's special teams where he loves to shine. It's almost looked for a couple of years like everybody is scared to see what he can do if he really turns it loose on a return. We've heard excuses that essentially amounted to not willing to risk big plays for fear of failure.

"’Im just very fortunate for coach [Scott] Fountain," Sategna said. "He gave me the opportunity last year. I got to just show a little bit of what I can do. I’m feeling more comfortable every day catching the ball and catching the punts in the wind and stuff. I feel like this is going to be a great year in the return game."

The Hogs' spring practice will continue this week before wrapping up with the Red-White game Saturday at noon inside Razorback Stadium. The game will be streamed on SECNetwork+.

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