The Hog Pod with Bo Mattingly

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135. Mike Neighbors: In the Conversation Nov 03, 2021

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Few coaches are as obsessed with learning and getting better than Mike Neighbors. For proof, look no further than the fact that he keeps track of every mistake he makes in an effort to learn from them. It's that attention to detail that has the Razorbacks on the rise. Arkansas has finished back-to-back seasons above .500 in SEC play for the first time in school history. And now, they're holding their own against the nation's elite. Last season, Neighbors led the program to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015. And despite the early exit in March, a lot of progress was made. That first-round NCAA Tournament loss provides plenty of motivation. And when you combine that with what Neighbors and his staff have been building, you have a chance to take another big step forward. Talent alone doesn't win games. Neighbors knows this. But for a program that has its eyes set on being in the national spotlight, Arkansas is well on its way.

134. Eric Musselman: Year 3 Oct 27, 2021

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Razorback basketball hit high marks last season that hadn't been seen in 25 years. The first Sweet 16 since 1996. The first Elite 8 since 1995. And the program's best winning percentage since the Hogs came within a game of back-to-back national titles. In short, Razorback basketball was fun again. And that's just the way head coach Eric Musselman likes it. Old school or new school—whatever you want to call it—it's working. In just two years, Musselman has revitalized a program. His 45 wins through two seasons are the most by any coach in program history, and his 20 conference wins are tied with Eddie Sutton atop the Razorbacks' all-time coaching list. It's fun to win. But there's a lot of work that goes into it. And it's that grind and a relentless quest to get better that has defined the Razorbacks so far under Musselman. It's elevated Arkansas back among the SEC elite and to national prominence. And as Year 3 of the Musselman Era begins, Hog fans are ready to see what comes next.

133. Brooke Matthews: Home-Grown Star Oct 20, 2021

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As easy as she makes things look on the golf course, you'd think Brooke Matthews was always destined for greatness. But it wasn't always that way. In fact, growing up as a multi-sport athlete, golf was more of an afterthought. But once she decided to focus her full attention on the golf course, the Rogers native starting winning junior events, and caught the eye of her home-state Razorbacks. And while playing for Arkansas was a dream for Brooke, things didn't go as expected in the beginning. On a roster loaded with future pros, she didn't qualify for a single tournament as a freshman. And so, Brooke made the decision to redshirt. That redshirt year and decision to take the more challenging road has paid off. She's won four individual titles since, represented the U.S. in the Curtis Cup, and played in the Augusta National Women's Amateur. And along the way, she shattered the 54-hole NCAA scoring record by a whopping six shots. She's kinda a big deal. And she has big dreams of a future in golf. But none of it would've happened without hard work and a refusal to take the easy way out.

132. KJ Jefferson: QB1 Oct 13, 2021

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For KJ Jefferson, there are two things that have always been intertwined as part of his life: sports and family. That family and the Sardis, Miss., community saw something in KJ: the potential for something more. And they helped him stay on the right path. Eventually, KJ saw that opportunity to escape to better things, and bought into himself. At the center of it all is KJ's relationship with his biggest supporter: His mom. KJ is a self-admitted momma's boy, and she has no problem holding him accountable for what he does on the field. Now, KJ continues to emerge and develop as a big-time player for the Razorback football team. His future looks brighter than ever. And as he continues his football journey, his mom, his family and the whole community back home will be with him every step of the way.

131. Get to Know: Au'Diese Toney Oct 06, 2021

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Positionless basketball is a buzzword in the sport today. Having guys capable of playing any position creates flexibility and matchup nightmares for the opposition. And that's what Eric Musselman is doing at Arkansas. And so Au'Diese Toney, a senior transfer from Pitt, seems like the perfect fit. Last season, he averaged career highs of 14 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists in 16 games before a car crash and a concussion knocked him out for the season. After that disappointing end to his junior season, Toney entered the transfer portal, and was greeted with offers from more than 20 schools. But he chose Arkansas for two reasons: a desire to win at the highest level, and a chance to take his game to the next level with the help of Musselman. As one of the latest transfers to join the Razorback program under Musselman, Toney is ready to make his mark at Arkansas.

130. Bumper Pool: More Than a Name Sep 29, 2021

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Despite what he may say, Bumper Pool is unique. There's the name: Bumper, which began as a nickname but is now his legal first name. There's the fact that he chose to live out his dream at Arkansas over so many top programs. And there's the fact that he's the latest in a line of great Arkansas linebackers from Texas. None of that would matter, though, if it wasn't for his high school coach convincing him to give up playing quarterback and make the move to defense. Since then, Bumper has enjoyed tremendous success on a personal level. He's been an SEC and national defensive player of the week, an All-SEC selection, and finished in the top 10 nationally in total tackles last season. But the wins weren't there. And for a guy who cares so much about turning this program around, that mattered. And that's where Sam Pittman comes in. Two wins over ranked teams and a top-10 national ranking later, it seems like Bumper Pool is well on his way to making sure he leaves a mark—on opposing offenses AND the Razorback program.

129. Brett Goode: Finding a Role Sep 22, 2021

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According to the NCAA, only 3 percent of high school football players make it to Division 1. And of those players, less than 2 percent make it to the NFL. Getting there is hard enough. Locking down one of only 32 long snapper spots seems impossible. So how did Brett Goode go from snapping against the goal posts in high school to walking on at Arkansas, lasting a decade in the NFL and winning a Super Bowl title? To him, it was just hard work and a determination to live out a life-long dream. And along the way, he got to be a part of some incredible moments at Arkansas, and was a part of some incredible teams. That helped prepare him for the NFL: His first game was Aaron Rodgers' debut with the Packers on Monday Night Football. That game was the first of 152 in the NFL for Goode, who won a Super Bowl along the way. It's a storybook career for a guy who found a niche in high school and worked hard to become one of the 32 best in the world.

128. Hayden Henry: Family Ties Sep 17, 2021

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Hayden Henry understands that he's probably not the first member of the Henry family that comes to your mind. You might think of his older brother, Hunter, a tight end for the New England Patriots. Or Hudson, his younger brother and tight end for the Razorbacks. Or maybe even his dad, Mark, a pastor in Little Rock and former Razorback himself. But now, Hayden is making a name all on his own. And when he hears his name called, he's reminded his final season as a Hog almost never happened. When you want something bad enough, you're going to put in the work. And Hayden has done that, going from walk-on, to scholarship player, to SEC Defensive Player of the Week. But perhaps most importantly, he has the trust of his teammates. Playing for Arkansas has been a source of pride for the Henry family. And now Hayden is making the Razorback family proud.

127. Trelon Smith: The Right Path Sep 08, 2021

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Arkansas running back Trelon Smith is on a path to be a big-time playmaker for the Razorbacks. But if it wasn't for football, his life might've taken a different turn. A Texas high school football standout, the sport gave him the opportunity he wanted. But after a couple of seasons at Arizona State, Smith entered the transfer portal—landing him an Arkansas offer he was quick to accept. It might not have been that easy at first. He had to sit out a year due to transfer rules. And he was behind Rakeem Boyd on the depth chart. But he knew he'd get his chance. And when the chance came, Smith was ready, piling up 710 yards on just 134 carries in 2020. Had football not kept Smith on the right path, Arkansas may never have been in the picture. Now, he's looking to become the next Razorback 1,000-yard rusher.

126. Sam Pittman: Year 2 Sep 01, 2021

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Make no mistake: Sam Pittman is fired up to be Arkansas' head coach. And that passion for the Razorbacks has united the state behind the Head Hog, led to T-shirts and catch phrases, and has Razorback fans excited to see what's next after a solid debut season. While it's refreshing—and incredibly important—to have a head coach who embraces the state and relates to the people the way Pittman has, it's not the only thing that matters. This is a proud program that wants to win games. And Pittman knows it. As he continues to revive a program—and a fan base—that's starving for success, Year 2 can be a major step in the right direction.

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