QUARTERBACK

Arkansas entered the spring practice period with what coach Sam Pittman dubbed an open competition for the starting quarterback spot. While Taylen Green wasn’ t officially declared the victor until offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino’ s spring media availability, he was long the presumed favorite.

The Boise State transfer enters the QB1 fray at a frantic time, stepping in for KJ Jefferson, who has since transferred to Central Florida. Green is a dynamic runner who has worked on his passing game as opposed to relying too heavily on his legs. Part of the Mountain West-winning Broncos team of last season, he enters the Southeastern Conference with both Pittman’ s and Petrino’ s backing.

With the running prevalence of a Petrino offense, the hope would be to utilize Green’ s strength both as a runner and passer in order to improve upon Arkansas’ 4-8 finish from last season.

The next men up are Malachi Singleton and KJ Jackson. Pittman declared the battle for QB2 open at the start of fall practice, with Singleton running with the 2s and Jackson with the 3s. Neither has played a college snap, with Singleton being a redshirt freshman and Jackson being a true freshman, which calls the immediate experience and depth behind Green into question. Pittman said Singleton looked good at the start of fall camp.

RUNNING BACK

The Razorbacks lost their top two running backs— Raheim“ Rocket” Sanders( South Carolina) and AJ Green( Oklahoma State)— from last season to the NCAA transfer portal. Isaiah Augustave and Dominique Johnson also departed, leaving the Arkansas running room thin.

In addition to those departures, former running backs coach Jimmy Smith departed for the same role at TCU. The Razorbacks replaced him with Kolby Smith, who worked under Petrino at Louisville.

Pittman turned to Utah transfer Ja’ Quinden Jackson, who impressed in the spring, and returner Rashod Dubinion to fill those top-rusher voids and be the successors to the backfield. Jackson brings a power-conference level of experience to the Razorbacks while Dubinion is the only returning scholarship running back from last season.

True freshman Braylen Russell( Benton) turned heads with his spring performances as an early enrollee and could play a contributing role. Pittman has also stated that he’ s happy with Florida State transfer Rodney Hill and Hutchinson Community College transfer Tyrell Reed.

Jackson and Dubinion will likely be the leading running backs, the Arkansas holds hope for depth to rise in the backfield. Petrino is working on

implementing a strong running game to pair with Taylen Green’ s abilities under center, and the running back room may provide some of that.

WIDE RECEIVER

Petrino’ s return could spark an improvement for Arkansas’ receiver group this season. Reuniting with position coach Ronnie Fouch, who worked for Petrino at Missouri State, could help the unit reach the desired results.

Two players who transferred to Arkansas ahead of last season, Tyrone Broden and Andrew Armstrong, are expected to take a leap forward. Armstrong led the Razorbacks in receiving yards( 764), receptions( 56) and touchdowns( 5) last season and turned down the opportunity to enter the NFL Draft in favor of returning to Fayetteville, while Broden added 109 yards and three touchdowns.

Those two, along with slot receiver Isaiah Sategna, are expected to be the starting wideouts.

Arkansas’ 187.5 receiving yards per game last season ranked 12th in the SEC but may have been hampered by the poor play of the offensive line. Even so, there’ s still much to learn about the Razorbacks’ receiving corps.

Jaedon Wilson provides another option in the slot while Jordan Anthony’ s blistering speed— as seen with the Arkansas track team— will be a valuable asset. Freshman CJ Brown( Bentonville) was utilized more than expected in the spring and impressed and Khafre Brown is“ a speed guy,” Pittman said. Pittman also said the Razorbacks need to find a way to use Isaac Teslaa more consistently.

Andrew Armstrong Arkansas Wide Receiver File Photo

TIGHT END

The tight end spot, at least on paper, may be Arkansas’ strongest position group, should they remain healthy.

The Razorbacks return a strong trio of Luke Hasz, Ty Washington and Var’ keyes Gumms while adding Eastern Michigan transfer Andreas Paaske. Redshirt freshman Shamar Easter returns after not seeing action last season.

Hasz, who was named to The Athletic’ s Midseason Freshman All-American team, and Washington missed significant time with injuries last season. Hasz only played in four games last season due to a broken collarbone while Washington spent much of the spring recovering from injury.

Despite missing a quarter of last season, Hasz finished with Arkansas’ second-most touchdown receptions, including two in a 116-yard performance against LSU.

Paaske is known for his physicality as a blocker. Gumms, who spent last season at Arkansas after transferring from North Texas, has become one of the more reliable targets after taking a leap during spring practices.

There are plenty of questions regarding the Razorbacks’ offense, but the tight ends have the starting quality and depth to make an impact in the SEC— particularly with offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino’ s knack for developing a passing game. Coach Sam Pittman has sung praises for the group through the spring and fall camps, particularly highlighting Hasz and his potential to be an offensive leader for the Razorbacks.

OFFENSIVE LINE

The offensive line was one of Arkansas’ main problem areas last season. Quarterback KJ Jefferson, who has since transferred to Central Florida, was under constant pressure when dropping back and was forced into errant passes and more scrambles than would be advisable.

Those struggles are why the Razorbacks went heavily into the NCAA transfer portal and looked to reload on men in the trenches. A new-look line, along with a new position coach in Eric Mateos, brings hope for an improved showing in 2024.

Of last season’ s starting linemen, only Patrick Kutas and Josh Brown are returning for this year following Beaux Limmer’ s and Brady Latham’ s departures for the professional ranks and a transfer exodus. Ty’ Kieast Crawford returns after playing a large role last season, starting in four games and also being a big backup piece.

San Jose State transfer Fernando Carmona is the standout newcomer. He’ s embraced facing defensive lineman Landon Jackson, a projected first-round NFL Draft pick, in practice and has taken command of the offensive line. Keyshawn Blackstock

Anthony Switzer Arkansas Linebacker File Photo

( Michigan State) and Addison Nichols( Tennessee) are the favorites to fill out the starting spots with Kutas, Brown and Carmona.

Should the Razorbacks see their new-look offense improve, particularly with a quarterback who can run in Taylen Green under center, the linemen need to be at the forefront of that growth.

DEFENSIVE LINE

In a team of new-look positions and coaches, the defensive line offers continuity from last season. Deke Adams is the first defensive line coach to last more than one season during coach Sam Pittman’ s Arkansas tenure.

Led by potential first-round NFL Draft prospect Landon Jackson, the Razorbacks return three of four starting defensive linemen from last season— Jackson, Eric Gregory and Cam Ball. Jackson likely would have been selected in the draft this year, making his return a crucial piece for a team in need of professional-quality players.

Jackson led Arkansas in both sacks and tackles for loss a year ago.

Two defensive linemen transferred— Taurean Carter( Colorado) and Anthony Booker( SMU).

For the one vacated starting spot, Nico Devillier is expected to step in. He’ s waited and practiced for