3 Thoughts about Arkansas’ spring football

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas will begin spring drills on Monday, March 10, as they prepare for the 2025 season.

Sam Pittman’s Hogs will face a very difficult schedule this fall with non-conference games against Notre Dame, at Memphis and Arkansas State in Little Rock. The SEC portion of the schedule is always difficult, but the non-conference is more dangerous than usual. Last year the Razorbacks finished 3-1 against non-SEC teams losing only at Oklahoma State.

Here’s three thoughts surrounding the spring drills.

Who Will Be Starting Running Back?

With Ja’Quinden Jackson off to the NFL Draft Arkansas now must find a starting running back and decide who will be in the rotation there. Not like Kolby Smith doesn’t have options available to choose from. Rodney Hill started the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. The redshirt junior rushed 28 times for 184 yards and two touchdowns last season. He caught eight passes for 68 yards. The leading returning rusher who played running back is sophomore Braylen Russell. The former Benton standout rushed 67 times for 354 yards and three touchdowns. He caught three passes for 18 yards. The Hogs signed New Mexico State senior Mike Washington Jr. from the transfer portal. Washington, like Russell, has good size and speed. Washington was second on the team last season rushing 158 times for 713 yards and eight touchdowns. He also caught nine passes for 74 yards and a touchdown. Maybe the most interesting running back is former Razorback AJ Green who returned to the team after transferring to Oklahoma State last year. The redshirt senior played three years at Arkansas from 2021-23. In 2022, he carried 87 times for 414 yards and three touchdowns. In addition, Green grabbed six passes for 75 yards. He also returned eight kickoffs for 127 yards. Smith has other options, but it seems these four may top the depth chart at this time.

Can Taylen Green Cut Down On Turnovers?

Taylen Green returns for his second season with the Razorbacks. In 2024, Green completed 230 of 381 passes for 3,154 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He was second on the team behind Jackson in rushing with 156 carries for 607 yards and eight touchdowns. Green, even at Boise State, suffered several interceptions and also fumbled the ball some. It’s important for Green and the rest of the Razorbacks to cut down on turnovers. The turnovers proved very costly in losses to Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Texas and Missouri. Green has a lot of talent. He can turn a busted play into a great one with his athleticism. But turnovers were a thorn in Arkansas’ side last year. Green and Jackson both suffered more than a coach would want. If Green can cut down on the turnovers and continue to make big plays the Hogs will be much tougher to defend.

Can Offensive Line Be Improved?

The offensive line lost several players to the transfer portal, but kept two key linemen in Fernando Carmona and E’Marion Harris. Eric Mateos and Sam Pittman also did a very good job recruiting from the transfer portal. Carmona was the left tackle last season, but he may move inside to guard this year. The reason is the Hogs added Georgia Tech left tackle Corey Robinson II. In the offseason, a source indicated to Hogville that Robinson has spent a lot of time at left tackle and Carmona left guard. The same source said Kobe Branham and Keyshawn Blackstock are working at right guard. Harris is still at right tackle. Redshirt junior Caden Kitler transferred in from UCF and has taken over at center. Carmona is also playing some tackle according to the source. It could be possible that Carmona takes over at right tackle and Harris left guard. Mateos also signed Marcus Dumervil (Maryland), Shaq McRoy (Oregon) and Kavion Broussard (Ole Miss) from the transfer portal. Bubba Craig came over from junior college. Brooks Edmonson started the bowl game at center. The Hogs also have an impressive freshman class coming in. Mateos won’t be lacking for options.

The spring game is Saturday, April 19, at 1 p.m.