Kelly Bryant would be at Arkansas for just a year, but his impact on the Chad Morris Era could pay dividends for years to come.
It is almost a foregone conclusion that Arkansas would be significantly better next year with the Clemson transfer under center. Does that mean 6 wins, 8 wins or (gulp) better?
That will be determined by the supporting cast.
Can Morris find offensive linemen that can protect? Will Devwah Whaley be healthy or will another running back step up? Can this bumper crop of incoming freshmen wide receivers make an immediate impact?
And the biggest question of all: Can the defense find a group of talented players that can tackle and make big plays?
Bryant can’t block or tackle. That’s out of his control. But, he can make the receivers around him better and help teach rookies learn the offense. After all, he’s run the same system that Morris employs at Cl for four years that Morris employs.
Bryant’s scrambling ability helps the running game and his threat as a passer opens up the running game for whoever fills the running back spot.
Bringing in a player for a one-year stint wouldn’t always make sense, but in this case it’s worth the dice roll. The negative for Morris is at least one of his current quarterbacks and maybe two could be frustrated and leave. That does not include Cole Kelley, who it seems almost certain to transfer.
Junior Ty Storey wouldn’t be happy because his starting QB job would be stripped. It’s a possibility he could transfer. Freshman Connor Noland may not be happy because there’s a chance he would beat out fellow River Valley native Storey and could be a four-year starter if he doesn’t play more than four games this year.
However, that new rule that allows a player to appear in four games and still redshirt will be one of the ways Morris softens the Bryant news to Noland.
He will still have three years to be the starter if Bryant plays and a chance to be the backup next year and see time. That’s not a bad proposition for Noland, who has the brightest future of any of the QBs on campus.
The move makes sense for Bryant because it doesn’t appear he will have the choice of a program primed for a conference or national title run. He has visits scheduled with Oregon and Missouri. A program such as Auburn could make a run with Bryant and its offense is suited for him, too, but the Tigers don’t seem to be a strong candidate at this point.
So, Arkansas has an advantage from the rest because Morris and UA offensive coordinator Joe Craddock are familiar to him as they led Bryant’s recruitment at Clemson when they were members of Coach Dabo Swinney’s Tigers staff.
Bryant trusts them, and believes he can play for them. Throw in the fact they run the same system, and the situation is very attractive. The risk for Bryant is, as I mentioned, there are several unknowns for this Hogs team next year. It wouldn’t be a lot of fun to be the star of a 3-9 team.
But Bryant obviously would rather be a starter than be a backup on this year’s Clemson team that is a National Title contender. He knew, or should have known, the risks when he announced the transfer.
Morris and Craddock have tried to convince him that there is a real chance this team will be much improved and play in a bowl game if he’s under center.
And if Arkansas does appear in a bowl game next year, all of a sudden the 2020 season expectations rise with what Morris hopes brings even more talent and depth on the roster.
Does Morris need Bryant to turn Arkansas around? No. But it will almost certainly will bring excitement and could jumpstart the process.
