Malik Chavis – Syndication Server

Arkansas defensive back Malik Chavis to transfer portal

Chavis, an Arkansas native, had tackles in every one of his five seasons with the Razorbacks, but never quite became a regular starter.

Arkansas defensive back and Rison High graduate Malik Chavis has likely played his last football with the Razorbacks.

Chavis was the first player Wednesday from Arkansas to enter the transfer portal. Overall, Chavis is the sixth defensive player from last season’s roster to declare intent for the portal and 10th overall.

Chavis, who played nickel, cornerback and safety over his five seasons with the Hogs, had tackles in each year he played. His best seasons were in 2021 and 2022 when he logged 15 tackles in each.

Chavis played in eight games in 2023 and registered five tackles as he saw his playing time dwindle, though he also battled a hand injury most of the year, as well.

The RHS grad has one season of eligibility left, his sixth.

Report: Two Arkansas defensive backs to miss season opener

Arkansas will be without safety Malik Chavis (hand injury) and corner Kee’yon Stewart (arrest) for Saturday’s game vs. Western Carolina.

Arkansas will be without two key depth pieces in the secondary as they open the season against Western Carolina.

According to reports, redshirt seniors [autotag]Malik Chavis[/autotag] (safety) and [autotag]Kee’yon Stewart[/autotag] (cornerback) did not make the trip to Little Rock for Saturday’s game. The reason for each player missing the game is vastly different, though.

Chavis was added to the injury list earlier this week and has apparently been battling a hand injury. He stayed behind in Fayetteville to not risk further injury, but no timetable has been given for his return.

As for Stewart, it’s being reported that he was arrested in Fayetteville early Friday morning for speeding and reckless driving. The TCU transfer was booked in Washington County at 10:18 a.m. Friday morning and released later that evening at 9:44 p.m. There has been no word from Sam Pittman or the team at this time regarding the matter.

The absence of both Chavis and Stewart will likely open much more playing time for some of the younger second and third-team guys. Kickoff against Western Carolina is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on ESPN+ and SEC Network+.

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Wide receiver or cornerback, freshman Quincey McAdoo is ready to help Arkansas

Quincey McAdoo arrived to Arkansas as a wide receiver. He’s too athletic to keep off the field though and may start at cornerback Saturday.

Quincey McAdoo is one of the best high-school wide receivers in the state of Arkansas last year. He was recruited to be a Razorback and play the position.

Arkansas’ depth at the spot, however, has left limited opportunities for him and fellow freshman Samuel Mbake on the offensive side of the talent. But as the phrase goes, talent plays. McAdoo and Mbake have found themselves on the other side of the ball more often in recent weeks during practice as defensive coordinator Barry Odom needed some bodies.

Now, one, or both could see significant game action. McAdoo, especially, has been mentioned by coach Sam Pittman as a possible option when No. 23 Liberty heads to Fayetteville on Saturday.

“It’s time we get him out there,” Pittman said.

McAdoo has been so good at cornerback in recent weeks, he has challenged for a starting role come Saturday. Arkansas has been beat up in the secondary all year and recently moved Hudson Clark, who started most of the last two years at corner, to safety.

Malik Chavis, who has missed the last few games because of injury, is McAdoo’s primary competition. Chavis arrived to Arkansas as a defensive back already. McAdoo, not exactly.

“He’s a good player and we’ve moved him over there for a reason and (not playing DB yet) has nothing to do with athletic ability, because he’s as talented as anybody over there,” Pittman said.

Hogs Depth Chart: Multiple corners vying for the two starting pots

Newly hired secondary and defensive coach Dominique Bowman says the cornerback room is very competitive.

Four players compete for the two starting positions and contribute to the Razorbacks’ pass coverage. Last season the Hogs finished in the middle of the pack in the country for passing defense despite having one of the worst pass rushes in the conference.

The Razorbacks’ secondary lost players, multi-year starter Montaric Brown going to the NFL, and Greg Brooks Jr — who was expected to be one of the projected starters — transferred to LSU earlier this year. However, Sam Pittman and Bowman are confident in the current group.

“You have Hud and certainly have Malik Chavis. Those two guys are running most of the time out there with the 1s,” Pittman said. “Dwight McGlothern, and then you got Day Day (Bishop). Those guys are right there, and who knows what’s going to happen in the next 21 days.”

The Hogs still bring back a group that can create opportunities in the secondary. However, we will likely see four players rotating in the starting roles.

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.