Tag: Cade Fortin

Arkansas football: 2023 Depth Chart – Quarterbacks

As we near opening kickoff against Western Carolina, here’s where the Arkansas quarterback depth chart stands following fall camp.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

At least, that’s the case with Arkansas football in 2023 as [autotag]KJ Jefferson[/autotag] returns to lead the offense for a third season.

However, Jefferson won’t have a ton of familiarity surrounding him like in years past. He will have to adjust to a new offense under [autotag]Dan Enos[/autotag], who takes the reins as Arkansas offensive coordinator for the second time.

He also has a lot of new targets in the passing game and new faces protecting him at the tackle spots. Right behind him is another new, somewhat familiar to some Arkansas fans, face in junior transfer [autotag]Jacolby Criswell[/autotag].

As we grow ever closer to opening kickoff against Western Carolina, here’s a closer look at the updated depth chart for the Arkansas quarterback room.

Back-up quarterback was a problem for Arkansas last year. In 2023, though?

Arkansas needs KJ Jefferson healthy, but if he isn’t at some point, the Razorbacks feel better about their options in 2023.

The old phrase goes that the most popular player on a football team is the back-up quarterback.

This is especially true in college football. If the starter is struggling, then ‘why not give so-and-so a chance?’ If the starter is playing well, then ‘the future is in good hands with so-and-so.’

Arkansas football fans discovered this wasn’t the case last year. KJ Jefferson was lost for two games in the middle of the season and neither Malik Hornsby, who had been considered by fans to be the heir apparent, nor Cade Fortin were ready. The Razorbacks lost two winnable games against Mississippi State, 40-17, and LSU, 13-10.

Fortin is still on the roster and should be third on the depth chart again, but Hornsby transferred out of the program. Now, the No. 2 job belongs to Jacolby Criswell, a transfer from North Carolina who played his high school football at Morrilton. The future reins currently belong to freshman Malachi Singleton.

The good news is that both players appear to be upgrades over what the Razorbacks ran behind Jefferson last year. As prone as Jefferson is to take off and run, injuries will remain a concern.

Criswell, especially, looks to have solidified the position.

“I feel like he is night and day from where he was in the spring,” coach Sam Pittman said of Criswell. “I felt like he knew what he was doing, then he made some checks and things of that nature that he might not have done in spring ball. Threw the ball well, he’s got a really strong ball.”

Arkansas’ hope is that Jefferson plays all 12 regular-season games. That’s the ideal scenario, but in case he doesn’t, at least his reserves look to have made things easier on the Hogs.

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Arkansas football: Offseason Depth Chart – Quarterbacks

Dan Enos inherits a talented group of signal callers at Arkansas. Here’s a look at the QB depth chart entering the 2023 season.

[autotag]Arkansas football[/autotag] enters the 2023 season with plenty of new faces across the roster and the coaching staff.

One of the biggest shake-ups in the offseason was offensive coordinator Kendal Briles leaving Fayetteville for TCU and being replaced by “quarterback whisperer” [autotag]Dan Enos[/autotag]. Enos, returning for his second stint as Arkansas’ offensive coordinator, inherits one of the better quarterback rooms since [autotag]Sam Pittman[/autotag] took over at Arkansas in 2020.

[autotag]KJ Jefferson[/autotag] is back for one last ride leading the Arkansas offense, but this year he will have some reliable depth behind him. Morrilton (Ark.) native [autotag]Jacolby Criswell[/autotag] returns to the natural state after spending three seasons at North Carolina as a back-up. [autotag]Cade Fortin[/autotag] is the back for another season and true freshman [autotag]Malachi Singleton[/autotag] rounds out a pretty talented quarterback room.

As we head into the summer portion of the Arkansas football’s offseason, here’s a closer look at each quarterback and the projected depth chart for next season.

Arkansas need a healthy KJ Jefferson if they want to beat Ole Miss

It’s no question the Razorbacks need Jefferson to have a chance at beating Ole Miss because the two backups have only contributed 27 total points in two games. 

Twice this season, we got to see how KJ Jefferson’s backup look when they are called upon. And twice, the Arkansas Razorbacks’ offense was non-existent.

Jefferson’s health is again questionable for the late game against Ole Miss, which leaves Razorbacks nation holding their breath. Sam Pittman said earlier in the week they “anticipate” playing Saturday but also acknowledge that could change. That was apparent last week against LSU when Jefferson was scratched just minutes before kickoff, leaving Malik Hornsby as the starter.

Hornsby didn’t finish the game, and Cade Fortin entered the game and threw a touchdown, but the game ended with him being stripped and sacked.

“I think our team and our staff just want to know if [Jefferson] going to be available or not,” Pittman said about his starting quarterback.

“I think our team needs him. Or do we need to go the entire week and say he’s not going to. I think a lot of that will be said today. Cade and Malik will battle for who would play in that second spot if KJ is not able to.”

It’s no question the Razorbacks need Jefferson to have a chance at beating Ole Miss because the two backups have only contributed 27 total points in two games.

Drew Sanders, Pooh Paul headline Arkansas’ Players of the Game vs. LSU

The Arkansas defense led by Drew Sanders and Chris “Pooh” Paul highlight Player of the Game selections.

You couldn’t have asked for a better performance from the Arkansas defense on Saturday. The defensive unit finished with seven sacks, eight tackles-for-loss, and forced two turnovers.

Drew Sanders had another great day, finishing with 12 tackles, a sack and tackle for loss. Chris “Pooh” Paul had his best game of the season, ending the day with five tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss. It’s the first time Paul has received Player of the Game honors in his career. The defense, as a whole, played their best game of the season.

The same can’t be said for the offense, as they were only able to put up 10 points and had another rough outing.

The three Razorbacks Wire staffers – editor E. Wayne and contributors Connor Goodson and Kendall Hilton – were able to put together five deserving Hogs for Player of the Game honors despite the tough loss.

Here’s more details and their complete list of player selections below.

Photo Gallery: Best images from Arkansas vs LSU

Arkansas may want to forget Saturday’s game against LSU happened, but re-living the game can be cathartic.

Arkansas playing the No. 7 team in the nation was little consolation Saturday. In fact, it may make things worse.

Arkansas lost its third game of the year by single digits, falling to LSU, 13-10, on Saturday in Fayetteville.

The Razorbacks had a chance on their final drive, but Harold Perkins Jr. strip-sacked Cade Fortin and the Tigers recovered to all but end the game. Perkins had four sacks and two forced fumbles.

Fortin, Arkansas’ third-string quarterback, replaced Malik Hornsby in the third quarter. He threw a touchdown pass to Matt Landers with 13:12 left to trim LSU’s lead to three points.

Arkansas’ defense limited LSU to 284 yards, but Josh Williams’ 1-yard touchdown run in third quarter proved enough of a difference. Williams had 117 yards along with his touchdown.

Harold Perkins Jr. will haunt Arkansas dreams as LSU holds on

Cade Fortin nearly rallied Arkansas to an upset, but No. 7 LSU held on Saturday from Fayetteville.

Arkansas’ season is more of the hand-grenade variety than the horseshoe one.

The Razorbacks lost their third game of the year by single digits on Saturday, falling to No. 7 LSU, 13-10, in the penultimate game at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas remains a game away from bowl eligibility.

Cade Fortin, who replaced starter Malik Hornsby because of ineffectiveness in the third quarter, threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Matt Landers with 13:12 left to pull Arkansas within three points, 13-10.

But one Arkansas’ last offensive series, starting deep in its own territory, Fortin was sacked and stripped by LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. with 1:14 left. The Tigers recovered and kneeled on their final drive to clinch the win.

Fortin played well in his quarter-and-a-half, finishing 8 of 13 for 92 yards with the touchdown, but Arkansas’ offense missed KJ Jefferson badly. Hornsby had his first career start, but completed just two passes in the first half. Arkansas had just 91 yards of total offense in the first two quarters and finished with 249 total.

The Razorbacks host Ole Miss in in Week 12.

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Sam Pittman breaks down decision to start Cade Fortin

Cade Fortin didn’t make it past the first quarter in Arkansas’s 40-17 loss to Mississippi State.

Malik Hornsby played well against Mississippi State, throwing for 234 yards and rushing for 114 yards, but it doesn’t count as a start.

Instead, Cade Fortin was named the starter, but his 5th career start ended with only six passing attempts and a lot of confusion about why he was in the starting lineup from the Arkansas fan base and media after the Razorbacks lost to Mississippi State, 40-17, on Saturday.

“Fortin basically in practice had won that job,” head coach Sam Pittman said about the quarterback decision. “(He) Had a really good week. Certainly, there’s a difference between playing somebody’s first team and our scout team. Our scout team is a little depleted right now with all our injuries.”

The offense looked lost when Fortin was on the field, and once Hornsby made the big run in the first quarter, it left Pittman and the rest of his staff no choice but to make the switch.

“We weren’t disappointed in Cade,” Pittman said. “Malik had brought us a spark throwing and running. That was the decision going into that before the game.”

KJ Jefferson was suited up but only as a decoy, never once looking like he would enter the game. Pittman decided to keep the details of his injury disclosed, and we’re not sure if he will be available for next week’s trips to BYU though Pittman said he hoped to get his starter cleared as soon as Sunday.

If Jefferson is unavailable, it will be interesting to see if Hornsby gets the nod as the starter during the week.

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WATCH: Jadon Haselwood hurt after big play setting up Rocket Sanders touchdown

Arkansas is banged up already and becoming moreso against Mississippi State.

Rocket Sanders went in for the score, the first of Arkansas’ day, but the Hogs’ first scoring drive was about the play that came before.

Jadon Haselwood found himself wide open on the sideline around midfield and quarterback Malik Hornsby, after rolling out, found him. Haselwood hauled down the right sideline before being taken out 68 yards later at the Mississippi State 3.

Sanders scored on the next play, his 11th carry for 45 total yards in the first half for the SEC’s leading rusher.

Arkansas’ offense has had much more going for it with Hornsby in the game than starter Cade Fortin. Offensive coordinator Kendal Briles has largely spent the game alternating between the two.

Expect that to stop after halftime.

Twitter reacts: Malik Hornsby sparks life with first touch against Mississippi State, gets hurt

Malik Hornsby excited for a play then exited with injury for Arkansas in the first quarter.

The fans were clamoring for it. And Malik Hornsby wasted zero time showing why.

Arkansas’ third-string quarterback entered on the Hogs’ second drive of the game after back-up Cade Fortin, who started for injured KJ Jefferson, was ineffective in his first drive.

Horsnby went around the right side for 52 yards with a burst speed no one has seen this year on the Razorbacks roster. Arkansas was into the red zone, at the Mississippi State 20 immediately.

Three plays later, Horsnby was gone.

He took a shot to the head on a five-yard run up the middle and exited to the injury tent. Fortin re-entered. Arkansas turned the ball over on downs at the Mississippi State 8.

It might be a long day in Starkville.