FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — There are 11 weeks left until Arkansas football returns.
The Razorbacks will open the 2024 season in Little Rock against UAPB. Kickoff is scheduled for Thursday, August 29th at 6:30 pm (ESPNU).
Arkansas is coming off a disappointing 4-8 season that saw offensive coordinator Dan Enos fired midseason and the final departures of the team's two faces, KJ Jefferson and Raheim “Rocket” Sanders.
In response, the Hogs hired Bobby Petrino, entered the transfer portal and acquired a slew of new faces for what should be a pivotal season for head coach Sam Pittman.
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Over the next month, the Southwest Times Record will run a twice-weekly position preview, asking two questions and offering one bold prediction.
Here are the quarterbacks entering the class of 2024.
Has the University of Arkansas football starting quarterback been decided?
Coach Pittman had fans and media expecting a tight competition this spring, but the reality was that the position was always going to be Taylen Green's.
The Boise State transfer threw for 3,794 yards and ran for 1,022 in 26 games for the Broncos. He practiced exclusively with Arkansas State's first-team offensive line this spring, completing 17-of-22 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns in the annual Red-White Game. He could combine explosiveness and efficiency to make a lasting impression heading into the fall.
Green was Bobby Petrino's top target in the transfer portal, so the offense will surely look to capitalize on the redshirt junior's strengths. Arkansas will be aggressive in looking for big plays and trying to make the mid-range passing game as easy as possible for Green.
Who's next?
Pittman and Petrino will likely be counting on Green to stay healthy and live up to expectations, limiting their backup quarterback to garbage-time mopping duties this season.
Jacolby Criswell transferred to the University of North Carolina after spring practice, ceding the No. 2 spot to redshirt freshman Malachi Singleton. The former four-star prospect impressed the coaching staff during the spring and took his spot before Criswell transferred.
With Green leaving the program, Singleton will compete with freshman K.J. Jackson for the Hogs' next starting quarterback spot. Jackson is a dynamic athlete and was a priority recruit during Petrino's first high school season.
Fall practices and game time could impact the quarterback competition going forward, but both players will ideally need a year to make a big impact on the field.
Bold prediction: Green rushes for 700 yards and 10 touchdowns
Lamar Jackson rushed for 3,172 yards over his final two seasons under Petrino at Louisville, and while Green isn't as dynamic as the former Heisman Trophy winner, he does have elite athleticism for a quarterback and Petrino has shown a willingness to let his running quarterback run wild.
KJ Jefferson was a great runner, but he never topped 700 yards at Arkansas. The most rushing touchdowns Jefferson recorded in a season was nine in 2022.
Green didn't show his ability in the run game this spring, and Pittman and Petrino have seen enough film to ensure that part of the playbook is removed and their most important player doesn't get injured in the preseason.
Come fall, the training wheels will come off and Green will likely be one of the team's top runners.
Coaches' comments this spring
“[Green]has a professional mentality in the way he works and is a good person. Let's start with that. When he steps on the field, he runs like a gazelle. He runs and he throws the ball and he's good at throwing it. We're happy to have him on our team, but it starts with who he is as a person and his work ethic. We're very happy with his play.”
— Defensive coordinator Travis Williams shares what it was like facing Taylen Green in practice.
Projected Depth Chart
- Taylen Green, redshirt junior
- Malachi Singleton, redshirt freshman
- KJ Jackson, Freshman
- Blake Boda, redshirt freshman
- Austin Leadbetter, redshirt freshman
