First spring practice is behind the Hogs now

By Jason Pattyson

FAYETTEVILLE — The storyline in the Arkansas Razorbacks’ spring practices over the next six weeks will be how well the new additions to wide receiver, tight end, and quarterback will blend in. Let’s unpack the observations from the first day of practice. 

Quarterbacks

Taylen Green looks to have added good weight over the last couple of months. You can notice a little more bulk in his overall physique, and if that continues, fans could see the best version of Green this fall. There were apparent lingering effects of his knee injury over the off-season. 

“I would say my confidence level is higher because it’s my second year in the offense, and just where I was just last year, my eyes was like, ‘Oh,’ with the offense and getting on the same page with (Bobby) Petrino and the different plays in the run game and different responsibilities I had to do,” quarterback Taylen Green said about his second year in the offense. “So I would say my confidence level is higher, but at the same time, I’ve got a lot to get better at, and that’s what I’m really focused on. I’m not really content. Especially, you know, the year I had last year was good, but I could have done way better, and Coach Petrino is the first one to say that.”

His timing looked better on crossing routes, and his passes were, for the most part, ahead and shoulder level on day one of spring. The one noticeable trend was the receivers were catching everything thrown at them. It seems fans are holding on to the old stats of previous signal callers under Petrino, the offensive coordinator, in year two of his system fare better than year one. 

The key to another bowl game for the Hogs starts in spring practice, and it looked like day one of fall camp last year, in a good way. The quarterbacks looked more polished than in August, and there was no regression in timing and footwork. Green and Petrino identified and found ways to work on taking care of the ball and executing. 

“I would say there’s really two big things. Like I said, taking care of the ball, the fumbles and interceptions, and my ability to focus all four quarters,” Green said. “Especially when I get tired. I’ve seen my ability to think about the read or think about everything that I have to go through, that’s a really big thing that I have to get better at. Whether it’s you’re tired fourth quarte,r or I just had, like, a 60-yard run, and I’ve got to be able to audible or call a different play. So that’s a really big thing I’m stressing is to get my stamina up and mental toughness.” 

Really, the only story out of this room is who will be number two on the depth chart come late August. The backup spot is for Sophomore KJ Jackson to lose, but he has some competition with freshman Madden Iamaleava. Don’t get me wrong, Jackson’s accuracy has improved since last fall, but the ball just sails off of Iamaleava’s hand. The real deciding factor could be timing. That will favor Jackson due to his time on campus and having a better handle on the speed of the game. Jackson did have an interception early in Monday’s practice when Jabrae Shaw picked off the pass. Grayson Wilson is the other freshman quarterback.

Wide Receivers  

What an offseason can do to a room. The room has 17 players on the roster and only four of them logged minutes on the field in ‘24. Monte Harrison, Jordan Anthony, Krosse Johnson, and CJ Brown.  Raylen Sharp and Kam Shanks look like the prototypical Petrino slot receivers, small, fast, and could create problems in space. Courtney Crutchfield and O’Mega Blake are SEC-ready on day one. Shamar Easter moving from tight end to receiver might be the steal of the day. He had a couple of catches that caught some eyes. Harrison had another beautiful over-the-shoulder catch along with Ismael Cisse, the transfer from Stanford. Harrison also made a nice diving reception from Green early in Monday’s practice.

Green used this offseason to master the playbook in his second year and help the new guys, this could lead to better chemistry in the fall.

“It’s been really good. Like you said, just seeing all new faces and trying to get chemistry with everybody,” Green said about creating a rapport with the new faces. “The different routes, and you know, really testing me on how much I know the offense because I’ve got to be… Coaches aren’t out there when we’re throwing, so I’ve got to tell them the depth and when to cut, and even with the new quarterbacks.”

Tight Ends

Jaden Platt, the transfer from Texas A&M looks the part, heck most of the transfers Pittman and crew have brought in look the part, and if he can produce that a big step in the right direction. Last year was a dud, plain and simple from the production standpoint in this room, and it took a career day at Mississippi St. for the group to have a returning TD pass catcher from last year.

“I feel like everybody’s going to see the versatility that the tight end room has,” Green said about the tight ends. “Of course, you’ve got Andreas (Paaske), he’s coming back, and his role, you can see him leading the tight ends and being mature and leading the freshmen. Rohan (Jones) and Jaden, how they stepped in.”

The lone returning player that caught a touchdown is Andreas Paaske but he will have some help. Along with Platt, Rohan Jones looked smooth going against the DBs in scrimmage Monday. This room looks to be in a better place than a year ago. Tight ends coach Morgan Turner was teaching more technique than fundamentals, a difference from a year ago with everyone learning a new offense. Despite the turnover, the group is handling the calls and coaching well. 

The Razorbacks return to the field Tuesday for a practice open to the media. Wednesday’s practice is closed to the media. Be sure to check back as updates are provided.