Arkansas

Arkansas football positional previews: Explosive Taylen Green is unquestioned QB starter

Published

5 months ago

June 11, 2024

Arkansas football positional previews: Explosive Taylen Green is unquestioned QB starter

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — There are 11 weekends remaining until the return of Arkansas football.

The Razorbacks open the 2024 season in Little Rock against UAPB. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. (ESPNU) on Thursday, Aug. 29.

Arkansas is coming off a disappointing 4-8 campaign that saw offensive coordinator Dan Enos get fired midseason and the eventual departures of KJ Jefferson and Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders, two faces of the program.

In response, the Hogs hired Bobby Petrino and hit the transfer portal, bringing in plenty of newcomers for what feels like an all-important season for head coach Sam Pittman.

More: Taylen Green shines as Arkansas football closes spring with Red-White Game

More: Tyrone Broden caps off sensational spring in Arkansas football’s Red-White Game

Over the next month, the Southwest Times Record will run positional previews twice a week, asking two questions and providing one bold prediction.

Here’s a look at the quarterbacks entering 2024.

Is there a clear starter at quarterback for Arkansas football?

Pittman had fans and media members expecting a wide-open competition this spring, but in reality, the job always belonged to Taylen Green.

The Boise State transfer threw for 3,794 yards and ran for 1,022 across 26 games with the Broncos. He exclusively took reps with Arkansas’ first-team offense this spring and completed 17 of 22 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns in the annual Red-White Game. He was able to blend explosiveness with efficiency and leave a lasting impression heading into the fall.

Green was Bobby Petrino’s top target in the transfer portal, and it’s a safe bet the offense will be catered to the redshirt junior’s strengths. Look for Arkansas to be aggressive hunting big plays and trying to make the intermediate passing game as easy as possible for Green.

Who is next in line?

Pittman and Petrino will hope that Green stays healthy, lives up to expectations and limits the backup quarterbacks to mop-up duty in garbage time this season.

Jacolby Criswell transferred back to North Carolina after spring practices, leaving the No. 2 job to redshirt freshman Malachi Singleton. The former four-star prospect impressed coaches during the spring and usurped Criswell before his eventual transfer.

Singleton will compete with true freshman KJ Jackson to become the Hogs’ next starting quarterback whenever Green leaves the program. Jackson is a dynamic athlete who was a priority recruit during Petrino’s first high school cycle.

Fall practices and any game reps could play a factor in future quarterback competitions, but both players are ideally a year away from making a major impact on the field.

One bold prediction: Green rushes for 700 yards and 10 touchdowns

Lamar Jackson ran for 3,172 yards across his final two seasons under Petrino at Louisville. Green isn’t as dynamic a player as the former Heisman Trophy winner, but he does possess elite athleticism for a quarterback, and Petrino’s shown a willingness to turn his running quarterbacks loose.

KJ Jefferson was a terrific runner, but he never crossed the 700-yard threshold at Arkansas. The most rushing touchdowns Jefferson scored in a season were nine in 2022.

Green didn’t get to show off his abilities in the run game this spring. Pittman and Petrino saw enough on film to withhold that part of the playbook and make sure they avoided any preseason injuries to their most important player.

Come fall, the training wheels will come off, and Green will be one of the top rushers on the team.

What the coaches said this spring

“(Green) has a pro type of mentality the way he goes about his business, and he’s a good person. Let’s just start there and once you go on the field, he runs like a gazelle. He can run, run and he’s throwing the ball, he’s got some accuracy on his throws. Glad he’s on our team, but it starts with the person that he is and the work ethic that he has. Very pleased with what I’ve seen out of him.”
— Defensive coordinator Travis Williams on what it’s like to go against Taylen Green in practice.
Advertisement

Projected depth chart

Taylen Green, redshirt junior
Malachi Singleton, redshirt freshman
KJ Jackson, freshman
Blake Boda, redshirt freshman
Austin Ledbetter, redshirt freshman

Source link

Click to comment

Arkansas

Arkansas football vs Louisiana Tech: Scouting report, prediction for Week 13 game

Published

8 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

Arkansas football vs Louisiana Tech: Scouting report, prediction for Week 13 game

After three weeks standing on the verge of bowl eligibility, Arkansas football has its best opportunity to secure a spot in college football’s postseason this weekend against Louisiana Tech.

The Razorbacks (5-5) will host the Bulldogs (4-6) on Saturday (3 p.m., SECN+). Twenty players are projected to take part in Senior Day festivities as Arkansas closes out its home schedule in 2024.

The Hogs are coming off back-to-back losses inside Reynolds Razorback Stadium, most recently falling to Texas 20-10. Arkansas’ offense couldn’t muster enough production across the first two quarters as a comeback bid fell short against the Longhorns.

Louisiana Tech, meanwhile, is coming off its biggest win of the season. The Bulldogs beat conference rival Western Kentucky 12-7, knocking the Hilltoppers out of first place in Conference USA.

Here are four things to watch and a score prediction for Saturday’s contest between Arkansas and Louisiana Tech.

Arkansas football must get off to a fast start

The best way to prevent an upset is to eliminate any hope. Arkansas didn’t do that against UAB in September, and the Razorbacks came out of the gates slow last year in this same spot against FIU. They eventually won both games, but the final scores were closer than desired.

“We’re trying to live up to the Arkansas standard, and that results in executing on the field. And if we don’t live up to that, then we’re going to see a similar slow start,” Arkansas offensive lineman Josh Braun said. “So that’s what we’re focused on this week, just starting fast and playing our brand of football.”

Take care of the football

This is arguably the biggest key for Arkansas every weekend. The Razorbacks are 0-5 when they lose the turnover battle this season, and two costly giveaways spoiled any chance at an upset last week against Texas.

Fortunately for Arkansas, Louisiana Tech ranks 111th in the country in turnover margin. The Bulldogs are averaging nearly two turnovers a game, so this might be an opportune matchup for the Hogs’ defense.

Control the running game on both sides

The Bulldogs have struggled on the ground all season, and they’ve won both games in which they rushed for more than 150 yards. By contrast, they are 2-6 when held under that mark.

Arkansas’ running defense has been strong throughout the year. Only two opponents have averaged more than 4 yards per carry, and the Razorbacks should be able to keep Louisiana Tech running backs Omiri Wiggins and Amani Givens in check.

On the flip side, Arkansas needs to commit to running the football early and stay vigilant with Ja’Quinden Jackson. Relying on the pass too heavily proved a mistake in the first half against Texas, and look for Bobby Petrino to adjust.

All eyes on Tru Edwards

Edwards, a senior wide receiver, is by far Louisiana Tech’s most dangerous weapon. He has four games this season with more than 100 yards receiving and leads the team with six touchdowns.

He’s a big-play threat who will require the full focus of the Arkansas defense. The Razorbacks’ secondary will try to maintain its momentum after holding Quinn Ewers and Isaiah Bond in check last week.

Prediction

Louisiana Tech is better than its record indicates, but there is still a gulf in talent between the two rosters. If Arkansas handles its own business and avoids sloppy turnovers, it should have no problem securing bowl eligibility Saturday. An upset loss would be unacceptable. Arkansas 38, Louisiana Tech 13.

Source link

Arkansas

Calipari Faces at Arkansas He Must Learn He Will Never Defeat

Published

16 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

Calipari Faces at Arkansas He Must Learn He Will Never Defeat

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A lot has been made of the poor a attendance at Arkansas Razorbacks basketball games this season.

However, while it’s been somewhat embarrassing at times, it’s not entirely on Razorbacks fans. It’s not anyone’s fault technically. It’s more of a case of a schedule having to be made hastily before there was an opportunity to get to know the nuances of The Natural State.

One thing that is hard for the people of Arkansas to realize without moving away for some extended period of time is how unique the especially close relationship with the local church and the commitment this state’s citizens have to it actually is.

Scheduling the rest of life around church as a non-negotiable is expected. Playing organized sports on Sundays is still still frowned upon in much of the state, as are hunting and fishing in some cases.

Church comes first, whether it be Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night or revival week. Youth league coaches can find themselves pariahs for scheduling practices on Wednesday nights for this very reason.

That’s why excessively low attendance for Wednesday night games shouldn’t be as shocking to those who live here as opposed to people looking from the outside in.

See, one of the biggest adjustments to living outside of Arkansas is the extreme lack of Wednesday night church services. Same goes for revivals.

They’re just not a thing throughout much of the rest of the country, even in states that claim to really be into God. It’s even hard to find legitimate Sunday night services.

At best, there will be a youth program parents use as an excuse for a quick date night. So, that’s why it’s not surprising a coaching staff that didn’t grow up here might think nothing of lining up games on Wednesday nights expecting to get decent weeknight crowds.

However, what happens instead is much smaller crowds that make Hogs fans look disinterested at best. That’s just not likely the case.

They’re interested. Just not until the devotional has been read, the sermon has been preached and the invitation has been sung.

As soon as they get in the parking lot, the first thing they do is turn on the radio and try to catch up with what they have missed. It might seem strange to those from other states, but the priorities are right.

It may look bad on TV, but God, family and then the Razorbacks is the correct order

It’s a minor mistake in scheduling that is easily forgiven and eventually rectified. After all, the seats are still sold out and there are more important things involved in life.

• Indications are Texas may have played with its food against Arkansas

• Razorbacks might have played role as playoff spoiler

• Does Petrino offense still work for Razorbacks? | 4th and 5

• Razorbacks still looking forward to potential bowl, sending seniors off right

• Calipari remains confident with seven Hogs’ rotation players

• Subscribe and follow us on YouTube
• Follow HogsSI on X and Facebook

Source link

Arkansas

Arkansas (AAA) high school football playoffs: 2024 brackets, Round 2 matchups, game times

Published

23 hours ago

November 20, 2024

Press Room

Arkansas (AAA) high school football playoffs: 2024 brackets, Round 2 matchups, game times

The Arkansas high school football playoffs are on to Round 2, where several teams will start their postseason quest for a state championship after earning Round 1 byes.

The postseason in Class 2A through 7A plus the 8-man division started last week.

Bryant, Fayetteville, Bentonville and Conway are the 7A teams that will kick off their playoff run in Round 2 this week.

>>Arkansas high school football playoff brackets

Stick with High School on SI for all of the matchups, game times and scores throughout the 2024 Arkansas (AAA) football playoffs.

Here are the Arkansas high school football playoff brackets, with matchups and game times, plus second-round matchups:

Second-round matchups

Bryant vs. Cabot

7 p.m. Friday

Pulaski Academy vs. Fayetteville

7 p.m. Friday

Bentonville vs. Bentonville West

7 p.m. Friday

Rogers vs. Conway

7 p.m. Friday

2024 AAA Class 7A high school football bracket

Second-round matchups

El Dorado vs. Greenwood

7 p.m. Friday

Mountain Home vs. Catholic

7 p.m. Friday

Lake Hamilton vs. Benton

7 p.m. Friday

Shiloh Christian vs. Van Buren

7 p.m. Friday

2024 AAA Class 6A high school football bracket

Second-round matchups

Valley View vs. Morrilton

7 p.m. Friday

Parkview vs. Maumelle

7 p.m. Friday

Robinson vs. Lakeside

7 p.m. Friday

Farmington vs. Camden Fairview

7 p.m. Friday

2024 AAA Class 5A high school football bracket

Second-round matchups

Dardanelle vs. Prairie Grove

7 p.m. Friday

Arkadelphia vs. Gentry

7 p.m. Friday

Heber Springs vs. Southside

7 p.m. Friday

Monticello vs. Hamburg

7 p.m. Friday

Clinton vs. Mills University

7 p.m. Friday

Warren vs. Pocahontas

7 p.m. Friday

Elkins vs. Mena

7 p.m. Friday

Malvern vs. Highland

7 p.m. Friday

2024 AAA Class 4A high school football bracket

Second-round matchups

Bismarck vs. Atkins

7 p.m. Friday

Osceola vs. Charleston

7 p.m. Friday

Fordyce vs. Jessieville

7 p.m. Friday

Booneville vs. Mayflower

7 p.m. Friday

Glen Rose vs. Dumas

7 p.m. Friday

Mansfield vs. Newport

7 p.m. Friday

Salem vs. Prescott

7 p.m. Friday

Rivercrest vs. Rison

7 p.m. Friday

2024 AAA Class 3A high school football bracket

Second-round matchups

Murfreesboro vs. Mount Ida

7 p.m. Friday

East Poinsett County vs. Bigelow

7 p.m. Friday

Conway Christian vs. Des Arc

7 p.m. Friday

Carlisle vs. Junction City

7 p.m. Friday

2024 AAA Class 2A high school football bracket

2024 AAA 8-man high school football bracket

—

To get live updates on your phone — as well as follow your favorite teams and top games — you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App | Download Android App

— Mike Swanson | swanson@scorebooklive | @sblivesports

Source link