Taylen Green living up to, possibly exceeding, expectations

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ new quarterback Taylen Green has certainly met, and possibly exceeded, all expectations for him this season.

In a 38-31 two-overtime loss to No. 16 Oklahoma State this past Saturday in Stillwater, Okla., Green completed 26 of 45 passes for 416 yards, one touchdown and a pick-6. He also rushed 18 times for 61 yards. In a 70-0 win over UAPB to open the season, Green completed 16 of 23 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns. Green rushed six times for 88 yards and another pair of touchdowns. Sam Pittman is getting what he expected from the standout Boise State transfer.

“I wish I was surprised about his performance,” Pittman said Wednesday. “I’m not. I felt like he would do what he’s doing now. I think he’ll continue to get better as the season progresses, but he just has such great leadership skills. What he does is exudes confidence and therefore it goes completely across the whole entire offense and the football team. But he’s making good decisions. Even the one that was picked, he got hit on it, so that ball fluttered on him. But he’s made some really good decisions.

“He’s good on his run reads. He’s getting the ball out of his hand well and he’s had as good of practices as I’ve seen this week with accuracy of the ball, driving the football. A lot of that goes back to he was a good player, I think he can be a great player with the tutelage of Bobby Petrino. I think that’s helped him, as well.”

At Boise State in 2023, Green completed 121 of 212 yards 1,752 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also rushed 78 times for 436 yards and nine touchdowns. He was named the MVP of the Mountain West Championship Game. In a win over UNLV, he completed 12 of 15 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 90 yards and another pair of touchdowns on eight carries.

Pittman was asked on Monday if he’s learned anything about Green that he didn’t already know after two games.

“Well, he’s playing his tail off,” Pittman said. “I think when we talked about it, especially offensively, when we’re in there, and Bobby said it probably the best in that those guys [Oklahoma State] know about their team. They’ve got 18 guys that’s been back. And he said we’re still learning about ours. As we’re sitting there talking about, I thought about, it makes a lot of sense. There’s a lot of new guys, Ja’Quinden (Jackson), and just a lot, you know, our O-line. So we’re learning a little bit about each one of them. But Taylen, I think going into that environment- I wish we had, like, one more game before we went and played Oklahoma State, to be perfectly honest with you.

“The first one, we really didn’t get tested at all. And then if we had a little bit better- maybe if we, you know- but I think we’d have learned a little bit more, maybe been able- but I think Taylen, I think what you think about him. He’s really a good player. Can make things happen that maybe not are there. Throws the ball well. I think he also got tired, and it might have showed on some of the throws there later and trying to get away from pressure that he might have earlier thrown that ball away, but he’s just a fantastic player. I wouldn’t trade him for anybody out there that somebody wants to trade. I’m not trading.”

It seems at times that Green can just throw it up and his receivers go get it.

“Taylen at times, we expect him to complete every pass,” Pittman said. “You know, the NFL guys don’t do that. But he completes a bunch, and some of his throws are fantastic. Like I say, I wouldn’t trade either one of them though, but I’m not going to trade a trade quarterback. We’re about 650 yards a game, and he’s really done a nice job and knows where to throw the football.”

Running back Ja’Quinden Jackson and Green had the read option going early against OSU. Jackson feels the two can expand that game even more.

“I mean, we’ve got probably the best backfield in the country right now, in my opinion,” Jackson said. “Like he can run, he can throw, I can run, semi-throw, I guess. I mean, it’s gonna be one hell of a year with him back there. Like I said, we’re just gonna have fun and just keep building on the days.”

Following the game on Saturday, Pittman immediately praised Green to the media.

“He’s a warrior,” Pittman said. “He works awful hard. It’s unfortunate, on the pick-six he got hit. He got hit and it wobbled out there and the kid, the young man made a nice interception and returned it. He’s our guy and obviously I’m sure he’d like to have some throws back, he’s like to have some decisions that he made back, but to have 500 yards against a good football team, I think we’ve got a good one there and he’ll continue to get better. And we’ve got to get better around him.”

Green was also available on Saturday following the tough loss.

“I feel like our effort was extremely (good),” Green said. “I’m proud of how everybody fought in just the different situations that we were put in, you know, but we have a lot to work on, as you can see, and cut out the mental mistakes. Focus in on what our assignment is, and just be consistent on that.”

Green and the Hogs will host UAB on Saturday with kickoff set for 3:15 p.m. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.