Tag: Taylen Green

All Hogs: ‘Petrino must be licking his chops’ over facing Texas

One Arkansas writer could have misplaced confidence in the Razorbacks exploiting the Longhorns secondary.

The Southwest Conference’s longtime rivalry between the Texas Longhorns and Arkansas Razorbacks resumes in the Southeastern Conference in 2024. One Arkansas writer is confident in the Razorbacks exploiting the Longhorns’ secondary.

All Hogs’ Kent Smith shared the following thoughts on new Arkansas offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino attacking the Texas secondary he saw in the Orange-White game.

“Despite the vanilla nature of what the starters are being asked to do, (Bobby) Petrino must be licking his chops because there are weaknesses all over the secondary that can be exploited no matter what Texas does to try to cover it up.”

It’s worth noting how mightily Arkansas’ secondary struggled against Boise State transfer Taylen Green, but the Texas defensive backfield is a cause for concern in its own right. The Longhorns have work to do in the transfer portal and in bringing current defensive backs up to par.

In spite of the bravado coming from Smith, Arkansas probably isn’t the team to exploit Texas. Petrino might relish the opportunity to face Texas, but it’s doubtful the Razorbacks have the firepower to get it done.

Much of the misplaced Razorback confidence comes from starting quarterback Taylen Green’s spring game. He has something to prove.

Green completed 57.1% of his passes last season with 1,752 yards and 11 touchdowns to nine interceptions. Perhaps in 2024 he transforms into a good quarterback.

Green will be asked to lift one of the worst offenses in the country into the top half of college football. Last season with a more proven KJ Jefferson at quarterback, Arkansas averaged 326.5 yards per game with a 187.5 yard average through the air.

The first two series of the Orange-White game are probably more indicative of what Texas will look like in the secondary in the upcoming season. Arkansas would be wise not to throw at Longhorns starter Malik Muhammad. Nickel corner Jahdae Barron, Clemson safety transfer Andrew Mukuba and the winner of the other starting spot at safety between Michael Taaffe and Derek Williams can be counted on as dependable starters next season.

It’s uncertain if reserve cornerback Gavin Holmes will be asked to start or if Texas will fill the other starting cornerback role with a portal addition, but whoever it plays should be able to slow down the Arkansas passing attack.

In contrast, the late season matchup will reveal if the Razorback defense can keep up with the Longhorns’ speed at receiver. Judging by the team’s own lack of speed, the Razorbacks might not be getting many stops of their own.

Not much of a competition for Arkansas’ starting QB job this spring

The job is Taylen Green’s until he gets hurt, basically.

Mostly, it was just the angry, proverbial haters that wanted an in-depth, thorough rehaul of the quarterback position for Arkansas during spring drills. They were loud enough, though, Joe Average may have thought a legitimate competition would be underway for the Razorbacks’ starting gig.

Such hopes have not come to fruition.

Former Boise State quarterback Taylen Green was recruited out of the transfer to be Arkansas’ starter in the fall and through his first couple weeks of practice, he’s shown he doesn’t plan on losing that job any time soon.

Green, who was a part-time starter for the Broncos last year, is a dual-threat type in a different mold than the man he’s replacing, KJ Jefferson. Jefferson would much rather have run people over and was a bear to bring down in the backfield. Green gallops, a la Matt Jones in the early 2000s, and shocks defenders with his speed.

Such traits were on display earlier this week when Arkansas returned to practice after spring break. His expected starting backfield mate, Utah transfer Ja’Quinden Jackson, was blown away.

“I’ve never seen anybody that tall that can run.”

“That dude can move,” defensive end Landon Jackson has said. “When it comes down to it, if he really needs to, he’s going to use his feet and get those yards.”

Jacolby Criswell, last year’s back-up to Jefferson, redshirt freshman Malachi Singleton and freshman KJ Jackson are also, technically, in the running for the starting job. Nothing has suggested yet, though, that the competition is mostly lip service.

With spring football just starting, Arkansas looks to replace RB coach

After four years at Arkansas, running backs coach Jimmy Smith has decided to take TCU job.

Just two days into spring football practice and there is already more turnover on the Arkansas coaching staff.

Jimmy Smith, who has coached the Razorbacks’ running backs since Head Coach Sam Pittman hired him in 2020, has announced that he is leaving for the same position at TCU.

With the obvious connected between Smith and former Arkansas offensive coordinator Kendall Briles, who departed Fayetteville to fill the Horned Frogs’ OC position before last season, the move is understandable.

The loss of Smith is a setback for a Razorbacks program that went just 4-8 last season. But, expectation for an improved offense are rising heading into the 2024 season, as former head coach Bobby Petrino returned to Fayetteville as the offensive coordinator, and hand-picked 6-foot-6 Boise State transfer quarterback Taylen Green out of the portal.

But the value of Smith will be tough to replace, especially with his close ties to Georgia, where the Razorbacks have found success in recruiting the past four years. He is credited with bringing in the Hogs’ likely starting tailback, Rashod Dubinion, a 4-Star recruit out of Ellenwood (Ga.) Cedar Grove High School.

Smith also helped land two more 4-Star tailbacks, in redshirt-freshman Florida-native Isaiah Augustave, as well as the recently departed A.J. Green, out of Oklahoma. He was also key in helping develop former Razorback Raheem “Rocket” Sanders into one of the SEC’s top ball-carriers.

Pittman gave Smith his first Power 5 job, after he served one season as the running backs coach at Georgia State. He had previously been the head coach at Cedar Grove High School.

Arkansas will begin an immediate search for Smith’s replacement.

Taylen Green begins as Arkansas starting quarterback at first spring practice

Green is the front-runner for the gig, though Jacolby Criswell has a legit shot, as well.

KJ Jefferson had been a staple on the Arkansas football team for the last five years. His transfer left the Razorbacks with the biggest hole they have, arguably, ever had the position.

On Thursday, at Arkansas’ first spring practice without Jefferson since the Chad Morris era, Taylen Green took first-team reps. The Boise State transfer is one of four players vying for the starting gig this spring and the one with the most experience.

Green threw for more than 1,752 yards mostly as a starter for the Broncos last year, though he played off the bench during a stretch in the middle of the season. His 11 passing touchdowns led the team, but he also threw nine interceptions.

His biggest competition for the job at Arkansas is Jacolby Criswell, a Morrilton High grad. Criswell transferred from North Carolina the season before last and spent the 2023 campaign as Jefferson’s back-up.

Freshman KJ Jackson and redshirt freshman Malachi Jackson are also in the mix, though Jackson is largely expected to redshirt.

Whoever wins the job will have a bevy of options to whom he can throw. All of Arkansas’ top six receivers from last year returned. Jefferson, who left as Arkansas’ all-time leading passer, threw for more than 2,100 yards with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions last year. He transferred to Central Florida over the winter.

The Razorbacks will continue spring practices during the first week on Friday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.

SEC quarterback rankings ahead of 2024 spring football

Where does Jackson Arnold rank among SEC quarterbacks heading into spring ball?

As the SEC expands to 16 teams in 2024, the conference is stacked at the quarterback position. From former five-star prospects to 2024 Heisman contenders to intriguing transfer additions, there will be some fantastic quarterback play on display this fall in the SEC.

Seven of the last nine Heisman winners have come from Oklahoma and the SEC. Two of those seven were non-quarterbacks, DeVonta Smith and Derrick Henry.

Much of what will determine which teams emerge as SEC title and College Football Playoff contenders will be on the shoulders of the quarterbacks who will lead their team in 2024.

There are some quarterback competitions that need to take place, but here’s our pre-spring ball SEC quarterback rankings.

 

Ranking Taylen Green and/or KJ Jefferson’s targets for 2024

Nearly everyone will be back for Arkansas at wide receiver and tight end. Is that a good thing for the Hogs?

This list very well could change by fall camp.

But with a majority of Arkansas’ wide receivers and tight ends having already announced their return from 2023 into 2024, the two primary positions that will line up for passes from KJ Jefferson, Taylen Green or Jacolby Criswell next year for the Razorbacks appear to be the most stable in during the crazy season that is transfer portal time.

Arkansas landed Green, a transfer from Boise State, on Monday evening, providing for some competition under center when the spring rolls around. It remains to be seen if Green’s addition is an indicator of Jefferson’s status. Arkansas’ all-time leading passer was not expected to return to the team in 2024 for a super-senior season, but as each day has passed without his official entry to the portal, the question of that status grows.

But whether it’s Jefferson, Green or Criswell, who played well in garbage-time duty for the Hogs in the fall, throwing passes, the corps catching them is almost all set. Or close to it.

The Razorbacks could land another wideout or two via the portal, but as of now, they have a full complement of players at the spot. And, frankly, it doesn’t look much different than last year’s.

Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing depends on perspective. For now, let’s rank them, regardless of position, when it comes to likelihood they will be big-time targets for whoever is tossing them balls next regular season.

Boise State transfer quarterback Taylen Green commits to Arkansas

Boise State quarterback Taylen Green elected to transfer to Arkansas on Monday, as he announced on his social media.

Arkansas may have found its 2024 signal caller.

Taylen Green, a 6-foot-6, 221-pounder, decided to make his transfer to the Razorbacks official on Monday.

Green started all of 2023 for Boise State, as the Broncos went 8-5 but upset Barry Odom’s UNLV Rebels to win the Mountain West Conference title.

He was 121 of 212 passing for 1,752 yards and 11 touchdowns this past season to go along with 9 interceptions. Green also carried the ball 77 times for 434 yards and 9 touchdowns.

His best game was the UNLV one, where he completed 12 of 15 passes for 226 and two touchdowns and ran for two more scores to go along with 90 yards rushing.

Bobby Petrino probably envisions him being in the type of role Lamar Jackson played for him at Louisville during his second stint with the Cardinals.

He joins a quarterback room that still has KJ Jefferson, Jacolby Criswell, Malachi Singleton and will add freshman KJ Jackson.

UNLV Rebels Fell to Boise State 44-20 in Mountain West Championship

The UNLV Rebels hosted the Boise State Broncos in the Mountain West Conference Championship

The UNLV Rebels hosted the Boise State Broncos in the Mountain West Conference Championship. There were 31,473 fans in attendance, but that did not matter to the Broncos as they beat the Rebels 44-20.

The early part of the game was a back-and-forth, and both teams scored 14 points in the first quarter. UNLV’s touchdowns came on a five-yard rush from Vincent Davis Jr. and then a thrilling 47-yard interception return by linebacker Fred Thompkins to even things up.

However, Boise State converted two Rebel turnovers into 10 points en route to taking a 31-17 halftime lead, limiting the hosts to three points after the break, and never looking back after that, outscoring UNLV 13-3 in the second half.

Unable to Stop the Run

The Rebels’ run defense could not stop the Broncos rushing attack, as they rushed for 301 yards. Ashton Jeanty led Boise State with 153 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown. George Holani added 76 yards, along with quarterback Taylen Green rushing for 90 yards and two touchdowns. One of Green’s touchdowns was a 70-yard run. It is hard to win games, giving up 301 rushing yards and 5.9 yards per carry.

Turnovers

Rebels quarterback Jayden Maiava had a tough day at the office, turning the ball over three times (two interceptions and a loss fumble). He passed for 166 yards but threw no touchdowns.

Unable to Run the Ball

It was a tough day for the Rebels as the Broncos took away their rushing attack. UNLV rushed for 81 yards on 28 rush attempts, which is suitable for 2.9 yards per carry. Vincent Davis Jr. led the team in rushing with 55 yards and a touchdown.

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Ultimately, the Broncos had an old-school football mentality: run the ball and stop the run, and they executed it well. They also had efficient quarterback play, while Green only threw 15 times; he did complete 12 of those attempts. Green also threw two touchdown passes.

Boise State Football: Taylen Green Is MWwire’s 2023 Preseason Offensive Player Of The Year

After a sterling redshirt freshman season, the Broncos quarterback won a tight vote to be picked as the conference’s top offensive standout.

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Boise State Football: Taylen Green Is Mountain West Wire’s 2023 Preseason Offensive Player Of The Year

After a sterling redshirt freshman season, the Broncos quarterback won a tight vote to be picked as the conference’s top offensive standout.

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

Good luck, defenses.

Mountain West Wire’s 2023 preseason honors:

All-Conference Teams | Offensive Player of the Year | Defensive Player of the Year | Special Teams Player of the Year | Freshman of the Year | Newcomer of the Year | Coach of the Year | Coordinator of the Year

The Boise State Broncos have had a number of gifted quarterbacks throughout their two-decade-plus run of success but they’ve never had a signal-caller quite like our pick as the Mountain West’s preseason offensive player of the year, Taylen Green.

After a brief two-game stint 2021, Green entered last fall as the backup to incumbent starter Hank Bachmeier. When Bachmeier struggled in non-conference play, however, the Broncos gave Green an extended audition, first in relief in the season opener against Oregon State and then by handing him the keys to the offense a month later. The change worked and, when the season was finished, Green had completed 61% of his throws for 2,042 yards, 14 touchdowns, and a 2.2% interception rate while also running for 586 yards and ten more scores.

Now, there’s no question to whom the Boise State offense belongs and he should be one of the conference’s best players, period, for the foreseeable future.

Also received votes: Doug Brumfield, QB, UNLV; Chevan Cordeiro, QB, San Jose State; John Lee Eldridge III, RB, Air Force; Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State; George Holani, RB, Boise State; Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State; Mikey Keene, QB, Fresno State; Jalen Mayden, QB, San Diego State; Harrison Waylee, RB, Wyoming

Previous preseason OPoY honorees: 2022: Jake Haener, Fresno State | 2021: Carson Strong, Nevada | 2020: Warren Jackson, Colorado State | 2019: Jordan Love, Utah State

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