The transfer portal has been good to Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas has used the transfer portal wisely this offseason as they set to prepare for the 2024 football season.

Sam Pittman has four new additions to his coaching staff including Bobby Petrino to run the offense. That is a huge upgrade over last season. Petrino is generally considered one of the elite play callers in college football.

The Razorbacks brought 13 transfers in at midterm. It appeared that eight of them were running first team by the end of spring drills. That doesn’t count kicker Matthew Shipley who came in from Hawaii. He is considered the likely replacement for Cam Little which would actually make nine starters.

The ones not starting are all in position to make an impact as well. Following spring drills, Arkansas has added nine more recruits including one from junior college and eight from transfer portal.

Taylen Green is Arkansas’ starting quarterback. He came in from Boise State. Malachi Singleton, KJ Jackson and newly signed Blake Boda from Coastal Carolina will also be in the mix.

Utah transfer Ja’Quinden Jackson was very impressive all spring. He and Rashod Dubinion were the running backs for the Red team in the spring game. That was considered the starters. True freshman Braylen Russell was very impressive all spring. The Hogs have added Florida State’s Rodney Hill and Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College’s Tyrell Reed in the spring period.

Arkansas added Texas A&M speedster Jordan Anthony in December and South Florida’s Khafre Brown in the April period. Arkansas also has added former four-star and professional baseball player Monte Harrison as a preferred walk-on. The trio will compete with several key returning wide receivers from last season.

Arkansas added Eastern Michigan tight end Andreas Paaske at midterm. Luke Hasz leads the group at tight end. Paaske should help particularly in blocking situations.

The offensive line is where Arkansas also improved tremendously. The Razorbacks added San Jose State’s Fernando Carmona and Michigan State’s Keyshawn Blackstock at offensive tackle along with Tennessee’s Addison Nichols to play center. The arrival of the two offensive tackles allowed Arkansas to move Patrick Kutas inside to play guard. Those four and guard Joshua Braun make up the first unit. In the late portal opening, the Razorbacks have added Syracuse’s versatile Joe More.

At defensive end, the Razorbacks did well landing Albany’s Anton Juncaj. He is from the same school that send Jared Verse to Florida State. This week Deke Adams landed BYU defensive tackle Danny Saili. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Arkansas try to land another defensive tackle in coming days or weeks. Saili will join such players as Cameron Ball, Eric Gregory, Keivie Rose and Ian Geffrard in what should be a very good rotation. Juncaj and Nico Davillier are competing at one end opposite Landon Jackson and Quincy Rhodes Jr.

The Razorbacks have added three linebackers from the transfer portal. All are expected to make a big impact this fall. Georgia’s Xavian Sorey Jr. transferred to Arkansas at midterm. They have added Marshall’s Stephen Dix Jr. and Jacksonville State’s Larry Worth in April portal opening. Those three along with Brad Spence and others should make for a strong position.

Tennessee’s Doneiko Slaughter really made a strong impact in the spring. He’s expected to start in the back end of Arkansas’ secondary. The Hogs also added South Alabama’s Marquise Robinson and Florida’s Miguel Mitchell at midterm. Utah State’s Anthony Switzer can play safety or the Hog spot as well as outside linebacker.

Arkansas’ Portal Additions’

Taylen Green, QB, 6-6, 223, Boise State

Blake Boda, QB, 6-4, 210, Coastal Carolina

Ja’Quinden Jackson, RB, 6-2, 235, Utah

Rodney Hill, RB, 5-10, 190, Florida State

Tyrell Reed, RB, 5-9, 205, Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College

Jordan Anthony, WR, 5-10, 162, Texas A&M

Khafre Brown, WR, 6-0, 195, South Florida

Andreas Paaske, TE, 6-6, 262, Eastern Michigan

Fernando Carmona, OT, 6-5, 324, San Jose State

Keyshawn Blackstock, OT, 6-5, 325, Michigan State

Addison Nichols, C, 6-5, 306, Tennessee

Joe More, OL, 6-5, 307, Syracuse

Anton Juncaj, DE, 6-3, 275, Albany

Danny Saili, DT, 6-2, 360, BYU

Stephen Dix Jr., LB, 6-2, 237, Marshall

Xavian Sorey Jr, LB, 6-3, 224, Georgia

Larry Worth, LB, 6-4, 220, Jacksonville State

Marquise Robinson, CB, 6-1, 195, South Alabama

Miguel Mitchell, S, 6-1, 215, Florida

Doneiko Slaughter, DB, 6-0, 192, Tennessee

Anthony Switzer, S-OLB, 6-0, 210, Utah State

Matthew Shipley, K, 6-1, 195, Hawaii