Tag: Arkansas football roster

Report: These super seniors are expected to return to Arkansas football in 2024

According to reports, Arkansas football is expected to return these nine super seniors for 2024. Here’s a closer look at each of them.

Arkansas football is expected to return nine super seniors for the 2024 season. Best of Arkansas Sports’ Andrew Hutchinson first broke the news on Thursday Morning.

Of those nine, four are on the offensive side of the ball and five are on the defensive side. For the Razorback offense, wide receivers [autotag]Andrew Armstrong[/autotag], [autotag]Isaac TeSlaa[/autotag] and [autotag]Tyrone Broden[/autotag] are set to return. Offensive lineman [autotag]Ty’Kieast Crawford[/autotag] is also returning to the Hogs.

On the defensive side of the ball, defensive backs [autotag]Hudson Clark[/autotag] and [autotag]Kee’yon Stewart [/autotag]are set to return, as are defensive linemen [autotag]Eric Gregory[/autotag], [autotag]Keivie Rose[/autotag], and [autotag]Jashaud Stewart[/autotag]. It’s worth noting that Stewart is still indefinitely suspended from the program following an arrest in December. Because of this, his status is still technically undecided despite the expectation being that Stewart will return.

There are currently only three super seniors who haven’t announced a decision, but will not be returning to the Hogs in 2024. Offensive lineman Brady Latham has NFL Draft aspirations, while tight end Francis Sherman and defensive tackle Marcus Miller are moving on after each spent one season at Arkansas.

According to Hutchinson, the Razorbacks are at 83 scholarship players for 2024. The roster limit is 85, so there should be more movement as we get closer to spring practices.

For now, let’s take a closer look at the nine super seniors expected to return next season.

Arkansas football all-time roster: Coaches, kickers and specialists

See which coaching and special teams legends made the cut in our all-time Arkansas football roster.

We have come to the conclusion.

Here at Razorbacks Wire, we spent this last full week before the season opener giving our picks for the All-Time Arkansas Roster. We picked starters and reserves on the offense and starters and reserves on the defense earlier this week

Now it’s time for special teams and the coaching staff.

Make no mistake, this was not an easy task (except for picking the head coach, of course). Weeks were spent in preparation. Sixteen of them, in fact. And, yes, we could hear arguments for moving some our listed back-ups to starters, adding a player for another here and there. We aren’t perfect.

But it isn’t about being perfect. It’s about re-living the greatness. It’s about talking again about the careers of Hogs from the recent past and, in some cases, the not-so-recent past.

See Arkansas’ all-time offense and all-time defense. 

Check out our other College Wire all-time lineups: Alabama / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Nebraska / North Carolina / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin

Ty’Kieast Crawford looks like the future of the offensive line

Even at 360ish pounds, Arkansas offensive lineman Ty’Kieast Crawford is all athlete.

Ty’Kieast Crawford has a little old-school and a little new-school to him.

At 6-foot-5 and 347 pounds, Crawford, a junior on the Arkansas offensive line, doesn’t quite stake claim to being the biggest player on the Hogs front, but he’s not far from it. The era of size-over-all on football offensive lines has passed a bit as teams shifted more to the run-pass-option game, which requires blocker who are fleet of foot.

But don’t think for a second that Crawford can’t move. It’s his footwork that has made him Arkansas’ No. 1 reserve on the line this fall. And not just at one position, but four.

“I can play any position they want me to play,” Crawford said. “‘ll go out there and do it for them,” Crawford said. “I’ll be on any side they want me to. I’m comfortable. I get in there and do my job. Do my assignment. That’s it.”

The Texas native worked his way into a reserve spot last year, but with a couple players ahead of him in the hierarchy, he didn’t see the field often. But as the top back-up this year, he’s likely to get plenty of time. Whether it’s swapping in on series to give guys a break – something that is also more common now than it used to be – or filling in for an injured player, Crawford should have plenty of opportunity to prep himself for a starting role next year.

His teammates know he can do it. Dalton Wagner, a three-year starter at tackle, sees it every day.

“He’s taken a much more veteran mentality approach to this stuff,” Wagner said. “He’s not going into it, I don’t know, not lackadaisical, but he’s going into it with a lot more fire than he had before. And intent. Yeah, that’s a better word for it. Intent. And he’s done a really great job all camp so far.”

It’s almost like everyone forgot about Ketron Jackson Jr.

Arkansas sophomore wideout Ketron Jackson Jr. looks like he may be the Hogs’ No. 1 this year.

Rocket Sanders had his chance quickly. AJ Green’s year was dotted with opportunities. Now it’s Ketron Jackson Jr.’s turn.

Green and Sanders were the No. 2 and No. 3 members of Arkansas’ 2021 recruiting class and established themselves as immediate, in Sanders’ case, regulars and future, in Green’s case, ones. Jackson, the wide receiver from Royse City, Texas, caught four passes and never truly cracked the regular rotation.

That’s almost certainly going to change in 2022.

Jackson has been arguably the brightest spot in the receiving corps during fall camp, the primary player who has stood out among a group coach Sam Pittman called the most improved on the team.

That’s scary news for Arkansas opponents, who are hoping the Razorbacks offense stumbles with the loss of first-round pick Treylon Burks to the NFL and No. 2 receiver Tyson Morris to exhausted eligibility. In fact, only two of the team’s top six pass-catchers last year return in Warren Thompson and tight end Trey Knox.

Jackson caught five passes, one for a score, for 97 yards last year. But coaches raved about his potential in last year’s camp and he showed flashes of it in-game, too.

Now, he’s taken the next step as an all-but-guaranteed starter when the Hogs open the season against Cincinnati on September 3.

Arkansas defensive lineman Eric Gregory could hold the key to Hogs’ front

Arkansas defensive lineman Eric Gregory isn’t just versatile, but talented and perhaps maybe both the best end and tackle both on the team.

Eric Gregory is a ‘tweener.

Twenty years ago that would have meant he was a defensive end and outside linebacker hybrid, an edge rusher who could play with his hand on the ground or standing up on the outside.

But in Arkansas’ defense in 2021 and likely again in 2022, Gregory is a ‘tweener of another sort: he’s a defensive tackle and defensive end and equally adept at either spot.

“We’re moving him around a good bit,” said defensive line coach Deke Adams. “The more versatile you are, the better you are as a group. And as a person, your value (increases) to the team.”

Gregory showed his worth to the squad last year as a sophomore, so it isn’t a question about what he brings to the table. He had 27 tackles, including one for loss, and three quarterback hurries splitting his time behind John Ridgeway on the inside and Tre Williams on the outside.

Right now, it’s been enough to get him reps as a first-teamer on both the three-man and four-man defensive fronts Arkansas has run this fall. Joining him at the other end most often has been Zach Williams, Arkansas’ leading returner sack artist.

The two together could provide the Razorbacks with their best pass rush in years.

“He can be on the edge, he can be inside,” Williams said. “He knows the plays. He can be put anywhere on the line, and that’s really good to see.”

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Could Warren Thompson be Arkansas’ breakout player on offense?

Arkansas wide receiver Warren Thompson is often overlooked when it comes to the Hogs wideout hierarchy. He shouldn’t be.

Not often are redshirt seniors considered one of the most likely players to have a breakout season on their team.

But Warren Thompson hasn’t exactly had the most normal careers.

The Florida native started his career with Florida State where had 11 total catches in his first two seasons. He transferred to Arkansas but joined the team as a walk-on initially. His 19 grabs last year – which make him the leading returner on the team at wide receiver – have led him to being a fixture on the Razorbacks top crew this fall.

“He’s always been very talented, but he’s catching a contested ball and catching some where you go, ‘Man, how’d he catch that one?'” Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said.

At 6-foot-3, Thompson can be a possession receiver and possibly more in 2022. His 19 catches last year went for 304 yards. Two of them were touchdowns.

His comfort level a year later has improved. Pittman said Thompson took some time adjusting to life outside of his home state upon arrival.

“I think he’s in a really good space,” Pittman said. “I think he’s comfortable. I think he went through a year last year where he didn’t know if he wanted to be here, go home, who’s my friends?”

That isn’t the case anymore and Jefferson, Pittman and the whole Arkansas offense are reaping the benefits.

“He had a lot of things going on, I think, last year. You’d have to talk to him. But I think he’s in a good space,” Pittman said.

Arkansas depth chart: Expect the best season from Arkansas tight ends in a long time

Arkansas has both natural pass-catchers and natural blockers at the tight end spot this year.

Tight end has been a staple position at Arkansas for the better part of the last 20 years.

Hunter Henry and DJ Williams were naturals for the spot as soon as they arrived in Fayetteville. Others were converts. AJ Derby. Chris Gragg.

In 2022, Arkansas will have both at the top of its depth chart as the Razorbacks look to return to the position to its pass-catching glory of the last decade.

Arkansas coach Sam Pittman and tight ends coach Dowell Loggains aren’t short on bodies. The Hogs are loaded with potential both young and old at the unit and given the changes some of the returners made, it could be group’s most successful season in the last several.

This is how the tight end hierarchy shakes out this season.

Speed to burn: Matt Landers brings something different at wideout for Arkansas

Ex-Georgia and Toledo wideout Matt Landers is staking a claim to start at wide receiver for Arkansas.

If you haven’t been paying attention to Arkansas’ fall camp, you’d be forgiven for not knowing who Matt Landers is.

The former wide receiver at Georgia then Toledo didn’t arrive to the Razorbacks program with the same amount of exaltation as fellow transfer Jadon Haselwood did when he announced in the spring he was coming from Oklahoma.

But if you have been paying attention to the first several days of Arkansas football practices, Landers should be on your radar. He’s certainly on that for his defensive teammates.

“Speed, speed. He can run and he can catch. So the deep ball, the 50-50 ball, yeah, I like Matt,” Arkansas cornerback Malik Chavis said.

The deep ball is a specialty. Landers caught just 20 passes at Toledo last year, fourth on the team. But they went for 514 yards, which was only 29 yards off the team leader, who, by the way, made his yardage off 38 catches.

At 6-foot-5 and not even 200 pounds, Landers is a matchup nightmare. Small corners have difficulty because of the height. Tall ones likely can’t match his speed. If camp continues to progress the way it has so far, expect Landers to crack his way into the Arkansas rotation sooner rather than later on the outside.

 

“Countless” injuries force Arkansas TE Dax Courtney to retire

An Arkansas native from Clarendon, Dax Courtney suffered multiple knee injuries in high school and has chosen to retire.

Dax Courtney is going to focus on his health.

Arkansas’ freshman tight end from Clarendon announced his retirement from football on Twitter on Monday.

“Football has been my life for as long as I can remember and will always be my number one story piece, but due to countless (injuries) I have sustained I have to start thinking about life after football,” Courtney wrote on Twitter.

He suffered a dislocated knee during his junior season and torn his ACL in the first game of his senior season. Courtney was with the Razorbacks on campus during spring practice, but did not play.

Courtney was a three-star recruit from Clarendon and one of two tight ends in Arkansas’ Class of 2022. The other, Tyrus Washington, could be Arkansas’ No. 3 tight end this season in his freshman year.

The Razorbacks return Trey Knox (20 receptions in 2021) and Hudson Henry (four receptions in 2021) at the top two spots at tight end.

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Arkansas expecting big things from a bigger Trey Knox

A bigger Trey Knox means a badder Trey Knox this year for Arkansas.

Trey Knox went from the doghouse to coach Sam Pittman’s favorite when he made the shift from wide receiver to tight end last year.

The senior made the shift from out wide two seasons ago to the inside last year. He was a good player on the outside for Arkansas his freshman when he had 28 grabs for three touchdowns but he took a step back his sophomore season when he had only seven catches for 70 yards.

Pittman and the Arkansas coaching staff asked if he wanted to change positions. Considering his place in the depth chart, Knox jumped at the chance. In his first year at tight end, he had 20 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown.

Going into his fourth year, Knox has bulked up. The 6-foot-5 inch former wide receiver is up to 233 pounds per the Arkansas media guide. That size can only help as he continues to adjust to the position.

With his return and those 20 receptions, Knox is the most experienced pass-catcher on the whole roster. The Razorbacks lost Treylon Burks to the first round of the NFL draft and No. 2 wideout Tyson Morris to exhausted eligibility.