REPORTS: The Best-Case Scenario For Arkansas Football In 2024, Offense And Defensive Coordinators

Arkansas football isn’t generating much buzz these days. Following a 4-8 season, the Razorbacks are overshadowed by the arrival of Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC and the dominance of teams like Georgia, who are favorites for another SEC and national championship.

With little national attention, Arkansas fans are left to form their own opinions. Social media sentiment isn’t optimistic, suggesting the Razorbacks might miss a bowl game again. But what are the chances they actually have a good season?

Offensive and Defensive Coordinators

Bobby Petrino

Never count out a team with Bobby Petrino running the offense. Historically, he’s shown his capability, nearly defeating the Razorbacks with an FCS Missouri State team in Fayetteville. His tenure at Texas A&M wasn’t stellar, but he faced limitations on running his offense and dealt with quarterback injuries.

Petrino will maximize his available weapons, creating an offense tailored to his team’s strengths, unlike last year’s coordinator, Dan Enos. Even with Enos at the helm, the Razorbacks were only 17 points away from victories over Alabama, Ole Miss, LSU, and Mississippi State.

Travis Williams

Defensively, last season marked a significant improvement from Barry Odom’s final year. Much of this progress can be attributed to defensive line depth, thanks to coach Deke Adams, and defensive coordinator Travis Williams’ effective schemes.

While score comparisons might not show drastic year-to-year improvement, deeper analysis reveals a different story. Games like those against BYU and Texas A&M saw many points scored due to short fields resulting from special teams errors and offensive turnovers. The defense remained solid until the final two games, where the team’s overall performance faltered.

If Williams can field a defense similar to last year’s, Arkansas could have a decent season. If you believe Bobby Petrino’s offense isn’t worth at least two more wins than Dan Enos’s, then you haven’t been watching the same games as the rest of us.

The Trenches

Offensive Line

One of the most glaring issues with last year’s Arkansas team was the poor performance of the offensive line. Often, the linemen appeared either confused or completely overpowered by SEC defensive fronts. Part of the problem has since left the program, but Arkansas will still have three new starters on the offensive line, including their third center in as many years.

Fortunately, the new unit seems to be coming together well. A standout development is the emergence of San Jose transfer Fernando Carmona as a leader, not just of the offensive line but the entire team. Despite having veterans like Beaux Limmer and Brady Latham, the team lacked a leader of Carmona’s caliber in 2024.

Patrick Kutas is transitioning to a position that better suits his skills. With Michigan State transfer Keyshawn Blackstock at right tackle, Kutas can move inside to fill the open guard position.

Defensive Line

The defensive line has transformed from a historical weakness for the Razorbacks into arguably the strongest unit on the team. Despite a few departures, the defensive line returns many key players, with Landon Jackson being the most notable.

Retaining Jackson was Coach Sam Pittman’s top recruiting accomplishment of the cycle. After Jackson’s stellar performance against Alabama, Mel Kiper ranked the 6-foot-7 wrecking ball as the No. 1 defensive end on his draft board. However, Jackson chose to return to Arkansas to end his college career on a better note than 4-8.

While Jackson is the highlight, the depth of the defensive line makes them particularly formidable. They boast a legitimate five-man rotation inside with Eric Gregory, Cam Ball, Keivie Rose, Ian Geffard, and Danny Saili. At defensive end, they have a solid two-deep lineup with Jackson, Quincey Rhodes, Nico Davillier, and FCS standout Anton Juncaj. Additionally, they can call on former four-star true freshmen Charlie Collins and Kavion Henderson if needed.

New Weapons

Taylen Green

The Razorbacks faced a significant loss when their long-time quarterback, KJ Jefferson, entered the transfer portal. With the offense in need of a new leader, Arkansas had to find a replacement quickly. Fortunately, Bobby Petrino had already been appointed as the new offensive coordinator before Jefferson’s departure, allowing him to select his new quarterback: Taylen Green.

Green, a former Boise State QB, is an outstanding athlete. Standing at 6-foot-7, he is a long strider with deceptive speed, reminiscent of the legendary Arkansas QB Matt Jones, but with superior passing skills.

While Green’s stats at Boise State were inconsistent, his raw talent is undeniable. Despite having only a few weeks of preparation under Petrino, Green displayed All-SEC caliber potential during the spring game. Though he was playing against second-team players, the quality of his throws indicated a high level of skill.