2023 Record: 4-8

AP Ranking: NR

Head Coach: Sam Pittman

Sam Pittman is fighting for his job this season. He’s only one of two coaches in the SEC I am concerned about job safety going into the season. On paper, this program should have had one of the best rushing attacks in the country last season. Pittman is an offensive line coach who has always emphasized the run game. KJ Jefferson and Rocket Sanders combined for over 2,000 rushing yards in 2022. However, injuries to Sanders and the offensive line forced this offense into playing behind the sticks too often and led the SEC in sacks allowed. 

If Pittman is going to right this ship, they need to get their identity back. Arkansas does not have the talent to push the ball down their field, but their rushing attack will be the route to overwhelm opponents. The offensive line will be bolstered by some key transfers and projects to be one of the stronger units in the SEC. It’ll be up to the two transfers in the backfield to take advantage of the opportunity. RB Ja’Quinden Jackson from Utah and QB Taylen Green from Boise State are the clear cut starters in the room and now have to find chemistry quickly to get the Razorbacks back on track. 

Green brings in a different rushing approach from that in which we saw from KJ Jefferson. He is a little more lateral versus the 6’6 downhill kind running that KJ boasts. This should help an offense that likes to get the offensive line moving and uses motion to confuse defenses.

🎯How will Arkansas QB Taylen Green do in 2024??

Quick notes⬇️

*Arm Strength=✅
*Mobility=✅
*Ability to stretch field with arm & legs=✅

Can he be consistent? Has shown flashes, but can it be turned into consistency?Can Petrino maximize his ability?

Thoughts?? pic.twitter.com/7NFqqVrHa6

— QB Spotlight (@QBspotlight) August 15, 2024

The offense isn’t the largest concern unfortunately. Defensively, they lost their top two tacklers in the front seven. They do return All-American edge, Landon Jackson, who is surrounded by solid depth across the defensive line. The secondary returns a lot of depth, but this is still a unit that allowed 30+ points six times last season. They need to find creative ways to generate pressure and play well enough to put the offense in a place to succeed. Teams with great offensive lines play better as the game goes on, the Razorbacks’ opponents should be cautious of keeping games close.

Projected Record: 5-7