Arkansas Razorbacks coach with thoughts on playing Red Wolves for first time in history and which groups he wasn’t pleased with against Alabama A&M.
Razorbacks’ depth chart for Saturday’s game against Arkansas State
Arkansas Razorbacks Depth Chart — Arkansas State Week
Offense
| Position | 1st Team | 2nd Team | 3rd Team / Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Taylen Green | KJ Jackson | Trever Jackson, Grayson Wilson |
| RB | Mike Washington Jr. | Braylen Russell | Rodney Hill, AJ Green |
| FB | Maddox Lassiter | — | — |
| WR-X | O’Mega Blake | Monte Harrison | Ja’Kayden Ferguson |
| WR-W | CJ Brown | Raylen Sharpe or Kam Shanks | — |
| WR-Z | Jalen Brown | Andy Jean or Courtney Crutchfield | — |
| TE-H | Rohan Jones | — | — |
| TE-Y | Andreas Paaske or Jaden Platt | — | — |
| LT | Corey Robinson II | Kavion Broussard | — |
| LG | Fernando Carmona Jr. | Blake Cherry | — |
| C | Caden Kitler | Kash Courtney | Brooks Edmonson |
| RG | Kobe Branham or E’Marion Harris | Marcus Dumervil | — |
| RT | E’Marion Harris or Shaq McRoy | — | — |
Defense
| Position | 1st Team | 2nd Team | 3rd Team / Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE | Quincy Rhodes Jr. | Charlie Collins | Frank Mulipola |
| DT (interior) | Cam Ball | Keyshawn Blackstock | Kevin Oatis |
| DT (interior) | Ian Geffrard | Danny Saili | — |
| DE | Justus Boone or Phillip Lee | Kavion Henderson | — |
| LB | Stephen Dix Jr. | Bradley Shaw | Wyatt Simmons or Andrew Harris |
| LB | Xavian Sorey Jr. | Trent Whalen | Tavion Wallace |
| HOG (NB) | Jordan Young | Shakur Smalls | — |
| CB | Julian Neal | Selman Bridges or Keshawn Davila | — |
| CB | Kani Walker | Jaheim Singletary | — |
| S | Larry Worth III | Quentavius Scandrett | — |
| S | Miguel Mitchell or Caleb Wooden | — | — |
Special Teams
| Position | 1st Team | 2nd Team | 3rd Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| K | Scott Starzyk | Blake Ford | — |
| P | Devin Bale | Gavin Rush | — |
| H | Devin Bale | Gavin Rush | — |
| LS | Ashton Ngo | Zach Haber | — |
| KO | Blake Ford | — | — |
| KR | Rodney Hill | Markeylin Batton | — |
| PR | Kam Shanks | Raylen Sharpe | — |
Green earns Shrine Bowl QB honor after six-touchdown Arkansas opener
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green opened the 2025 football season with a performance that quickly earned national recognition.
Following a six-touchdown, 322-yard showing in a 52–7 win over Alabama A&M, Green was selected as the East-West Shrine Bowl Monday Morning Quarterback, a weekly honor.
The senior transfer, now entrenched as the Razorbacks’ offensive leader, completed 24 of 31 passes with no interceptions in his first start of the year. He added 41 yards on the ground, showing the dual-threat ability that made him one of the most intriguing quarterbacks entering the season.
“It’s always exciting when you start the year strong, but this was a team win,” Green said. “The guys around me made plays, and we set the tone for what we want to be.”
Receivers set the pace
Much of the credit, Green emphasized, belongs to his wide receivers. He singled out O’Mega Blake and CJ Brown for their work habits and ability to maintain tempo in practice and games.
“I wasn’t surprised,” Green said. “If you see how much work they put in, but at the same time, how fast they practice, especially O’Mega and CJ. Just the way that they work every single day, they could be tired but you wouldn’t know it.”
That chemistry was clear in the opener. Blake hauled in two touchdown passes, while Brown added another, giving Arkansas a versatile passing attack that stretched the field early and often.
Record-setting start
Green’s six touchdown passes tied the second-most in program history, joining former Razorback quarterback Brandon Allen, who threw six against Mississippi in 2015. The mark trails only the school record of seven.
It also marked the most passing touchdowns for an Arkansas quarterback in a season opener. The performance positioned Green among the early national leaders in passing efficiency. His completion rate of 77.4 percent is the highest by a Razorback starter in an opener since the program joined the SEC.
Building off last year’s momentum
Green transferred to Arkansas ahead of the 2024 season after beginning his career at Boise State. In his first season with the Razorbacks, he threw for 3,154 yards and 15 touchdowns while rushing for 602 yards and eight more scores.
His play helped Arkansas close with a Liberty Bowl victory, where he earned Most Valuable Player honors.
That finish set expectations for 2025, when Green was named to preseason watch lists for the Manning Award, honoring the nation’s top quarterback, and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, which recognizes the top offensive player from Texas.
Head coach Sam Pittman noted during camp that Green’s leadership and experience brought consistency to an offense looking to rebound from early struggles a year ago.
“He’s taken command of the huddle and the locker room,” Pittman said last month. “That’s what you want from your quarterback.”
Looking ahead
Arkansas continues its nonconference schedule at Razorback Stadium before diving into SEC play later this month.
The opener against Alabama A&M gave Green and the Razorbacks a chance to test their pace and execution.
National recognition from the Shrine Bowl adds momentum, but Green has stressed that the focus is week-to-week.
“One game doesn’t define a season,” he said. “We’ll celebrate the win, learn from it, and move on to the next challenge.”
If the opener is any indication, Arkansas may have the veteran quarterback capable of guiding the program through a challenging SEC slate.
With Green’s efficiency, a deep receiver group, and an offensive line returning multiple starters, the Razorbacks’ offense appears set for a productive 2025 campaign.
Three Takeaways
• Historic opener: Green tied the second-most passing touchdowns in school history with six.
• Receiver depth: O’Mega Blake and CJ Brown highlighted a receiver group praised for pace and consistency.
• Momentum builder: The Shrine Bowl honor reinforces expectations for Green as Arkansas enters a demanding SEC schedule.
First look at Razorbacks hosting Arkansas State in first-ever matchup at War Memorial
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Razorbacks (1-0, 0-0 SEC) will host the Arkansas State Red Wolves (1-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) on Saturday, Sept. 6, at War Memorial Stadium in what marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. on ESPN+ and SEC Network+. You can also hear the game on ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
Arkansas State, under fifth-year head coach Butch Jones, opens with momentum after a strong season opener against Southeast Missouri State. Quarterback Jaylen Raynor completed 26 of 32 passes for 345 yards and three touchdowns and spread the ball to 10 different receivers, with TDs to three different targets.
The Red Wolves operate a read-based attack heavy on RPOs, with Raynor adept at throwing slants if passing lanes open, or handing off to one of three running backs when the box is light. While not blazing fast at 6-0 and maybe 200 pounds, Raynor is elusive and extends plays when pressured.
Arkansas’ defense must match the scheme’s nuance. The running game runs behind zone blocking, and defenders such as Sorey, Dix, and Shaw must play downhill, maintain discipline, protect mesh points and control rushing lanes.
Quincy Rhodes Jr., Charlie Collins and Phillip Lee are highlighted as players with opportunities to disrupt the ASU offense, should they pressure Raynor, who can tuck and run despite lacking top-end speed.
One of the Red Wolves’ best weapons is senior wide receiver Corey Rucker. He began at Arkansas State in 2020, later transferred to South Carolina, then returned and over the past two seasons caught 105 passes for 1,738 yards.
Against SEMO, Rucker had two catches for 59 yards and a touchdown, and his 3,096 career receiving yards rank seventh in Sun Belt history. TArkansas’ secondary must plan for him, especially if given any cushion.
Defensively, Arkansas State mirrors the Razorbacks’ base 4-2-5, though terminology differs: their “Jack” is akin to Arkansas’ Buck, and a third safety, called the “dollar” sign, replaces a nickel back.
Defensive coordinator Griff McCarley, promoted in February after serving as linebacker coach, emphasizes discipline, drive and physicality.
The group features seven transfer starters and 10 of the 11 starters have at least three years of college experience. Tackles weigh between 274 and 297 pounds and ends are inside the 240-250 range.
The first-ever clash promises a meaningful early-season test for both teams, pitting ASU’s disciplined, precise offense and veteran defense against Arkansas’ depth and SEC-level talent.
Key takeaways:
• The Red Wolves’ read-based RPO offense, led by Jaylen Raynor’s precision and mobility, demands disciplined, gap-controlled defense from Arkansas.
• Corey Rucker is a premier receiving threat and ranks among the Sun Belt’s all-time leaders—Arkansas’ secondary must neutralize his impact.
• ASU’s defensive unit is experienced, physical and versatile under Griff McCarley, with multiple transfer starters and heavy positional consistency.
Hog Reaction: Arkansas Takes Care of Business vs ALA A&M
Derek Ruscin and Colton Little host the postgame reaction show after the Razorbacks win their season-opener against Alabama A&M.
Don’t miss Hog Reaction ONE HOUR after EVERY Razorback Football Game this fall!
Green’s six touchdowns lead Razorbacks past Alabama A&M in season opener
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Taylen Green threw six touchdown passes, tying for the second most in a single game in Arkansas history, as the Razorbacks opened season with a 52-7 win over Alabama A&M on Saturday at Razorback Stadium.
Green, a transfer quarterback, completed 19 of 28 passes for 322 yards. He connected with five different receivers for scores, three of whom were not on the Arkansas roster last year. CJ Brown caught four passes, including two for touchdowns. O’Mega Blake, a transfer from Charlotte, led the Razorbacks with seven catches for 121 yards and a touchdown. Raylen Sharpe, Andreas Paaske and Jalen Brown each had a touchdown catch as well.
Arkansas lost 94% of its receiving yards from the 2024 season, making it crucial to involve new players early, Hogs coach Sam Pittman said. Ten different Razorbacks caught a pass in the win.
“I was proud that we were able to throw the ball to a lot of different people, get them involved,” Pittman said. “I think that’s going to help us in the future.”
Alabama A&M, a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), scored on its opening drive to tie the game after Green’s first touchdown pass to Brown. The Bulldogs’ seven-play, 75-yard drive ended in a rushing touchdown by Maurice Edwards IV. That was the bulk of Alabama A&M’s offense, as the team managed only 160 yards for the remainder of the game.
Green exited after his sixth touchdown pass late in the third quarter, which gave Arkansas a 45-7 lead. Backup quarterback KJ Jackson entered the game and threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to running back Mike Washington Jr. on his third play from scrimmage. Washington led Arkansas with 79 rushing yards on nine carries, in addition to his receiving score.
Blake, in his first game with the Razorbacks, answered questions about his adjustment to the Southeastern Conference with a standout performance.
“Seven balls for 121, I don’t know if you can sustain that. I’d like for him to,” Pittman said. “Did I want him to do that? Yes. Did I know he could do that? Yes. If that’s the case, yes, we’ll expect that.”
Arkansas has played an FCS opponent every season since 2005, except for the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. Five of the last seven have come against SWAC teams. The Razorbacks have won those games by a combined score of 268-27.
Arkansas’ offense appeared capable of finishing among the top 10 in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) for a second consecutive season, though Pittman acknowledged the test will become tougher when the Razorbacks face power-conference opponents in mid-September.
Alabama A&M will host Alcorn State next Saturday. Arkansas will face Arkansas State next Saturday in Little Rock.
PETE’S PICKS: Razorbacks’ opener game even average pickers will hit
Ask every Razorback football fan what their expectations are for 2025, and you will get mixed results. The fact are very few people with any confidence this team will be successful, but, then again, that depends on how you measure success.
Some have predicted Arkansas will only win three games this season. Others have been more optimistic and have them at seven. A few have set forth a dream season with eight wins.
Again, I ask, how do you measure success? With the recent mediocrity in Fayetteville, many fans (and possibly the athletic department) will label six wins and a bowl appearance a satisfying season. Others might only settle for seven or eight. And some of us seem to think anything less than the College Football Playoffs is a complete failure and a waste of a season.
I like Arkansas coach Sam Pittman, but he is in the hot seat, at least from the outside looking in. Many feel Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek will ride out the storm with Pittman until the latter decides to retire. That may be the case, but I do admire Hunter’s loyalty to his hire. Pittman took the job when no one else wanted it. That has to count for something.
And Pittman has had his share of triumph on The Hill. The problem is the past two seasons have not fulfilled neither the hopes nor the expectation of Hog fans. In fact, the once storied program has felt like it needs an asterisk label of “has been” attached to most seasons in recent history just so we can retain a little bit of our pride.
Pittman and his staff know they have to build on the momentum regained from last season and improve their record. They will get that first step out of the way when they host the Alabama A&M Bulldogs in Fayetteville Saturday. No disrespect to our visitors, but the hope from fans is this is a cupcake game blowout. With Arkansas having question marks at many key positions, the hope is this will be more of a glorified scrimmage enabling our offense, defense, and special teams to evaluate any weaknesses and fix them before the season heats up against a non-conference powerhouse and the 8-game SEC schedule.
Word is Taylen Green has improved under Bobby Petrino’s offense for the second year. Travis Williams’s defense has been solid and consistent, and that will have to continue to offset some of the key offensive NIL transfers out we had following 2024. And, as mentioned, a few questions remain at the skill positions. How good is our backfield at not only rushing but blocking? And who will step up in the wide receiver corps to catch both the long ball and the hot routes from Green? Monte Harrison has been a name tossed about for having really stepped up and showing his athletic prowess. Is he enough?
I have no doubt we have talent on this team, and I have even wondered if Pittman and his staff have done a good job of keeping it hidden to stay low on the radar of our opponents for the early part of the season. I HOPE that is the case. If not, we might win this game but still be in for a long season.
Arkansas 54, Alabama A&M 10
Be certain to listen to the game Saturday at 3:15 P.M. via HitThatLine.com and on the air at ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs, and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
Random Thoughts
For those of you who are new to my writing, I generally create opinion pieces, thus I use the words “I” and “my” in my prose. These are not academic papers I construct here. They are about Arkansas Razorbacks Football, and when I am watching, I am not thinking academically. I appreciate you reading.
TRIVIA QUESTION: In how many national championship games has Arkansas Special Teams Coordinator Scott Fountain coached?
This season could turn out to be exciting if everyone can get on the same page and care about the success of the team and the program.
TRIVIA ANSWER: Four: 1997, 2010, 2013, and 2017. There is a numerical pattern there showing he is about three years overdue. It’s time.
I am not certain what is more insufferable: a losing football season or a stranger online assuming my politics when I stated a pro-QB hangs onto the ball too long. It’s sports, guys. Let’s just enjoy it.
SEC Picks for Week 1
Andy Hodges and I compete each year for what I call the ‘HitThatLine.com Picks Cup’. And, each year, like clockwork, Andy sends a text message with some detrimental remark to try to get into my head. He seems to have forgotten recent history, and I think this season we should make it a little more interesting. I am thinking the loser’s head needs to be shaved, but I am open to other ideas. I do not want to run the risk of his hair not growing back.
UCA at Missouri – The Sugar Bears will travel up north to visit the Tigers, and one has to wonder how much smack Eli Drinkwitz will talk against their far lesser opponent. I hate to bash on the head Tiger right out of the gate in 2025, but Eli seems to draw the worst out of himself and others, myself included. Missouri by 52.
Auburn at Baylor – This could be an interesting match-up between two historically talented programs who have both been on the downside as of late, one more than the other. I am looking right at you, War Eagles. Playing in Waco may be the difference giving the Bears the advantage and the win. Baylor by 5.
PETE’S SEC GAME OF THE WEEK
(1) Texas at (3) Ohio State – Right as I was about to put my thoughts together for this game, my friend Phillip Booher gave me a call to discuss an unrelated business idea.
It was not long before he said to me, “You have to go big or go home.” And that, my friends, is what the schedulers for this game did not too many years ago.
Putting two powerful programs on the same field on opening day was a lock to kick 2025 off with a bang and to get ESPN’s Gameday crew onto campus.
A lot of the big boys are giving the ‘W’ to the Buckeyes, most likely because they are the host for this Top 5 battle. Maybe some are not sold on Arch Manning being the official starter on the road.
Whatever their reasoning, as long as one team does not make a lot of early blunders, this should be a shootout throughout the entirety. One loss will not destroy the season for either team, but it will make a sounding statement for the winner and possibly lessen the fear from other teams for the loser.
The difference will come down to a special teams play at some point, possibly early in the second half. Ohio State will make the most of the home crowd and Lee Corso’s mojo. Buckeyes by 3.
Syracuse at (24) Tennessee – Vols coach Josh Heupel and new quarterback Joey Aguilar might have a mild test navigating the post-Nico Iamaleava era in the first half against the Orange. Confidence is they will work out the early kinks, and pull away at halftime. Tennessee fans should be grateful they have a recent tradition of opening the season against a softer opponent. Vols by 24.
Mississippi State at Southern Miss – Flip a coin on this one. The Bulldogs return in 2025 hoping to build a better resume than their two-win season in 2024. None of those wins were in the SEC. Starting on the road versus the Golden Eagles would normally not seem like such a scary idea; however, the bell ringers in Starkville are probably not taking anything for granted. State will get to the halfway count of their win total from last year. MSU by 14.
Toledo at Kentucky – My guess is this will be a low-scoring ballgame, and it will not be the most enticing game on the slate to watch this weekend. That said, it could be fun to tune in for the fourth quarter as it should come down to the wire. Wildcats by 7.
Marshall at (5) Georgia – The boys from Marshall may be a Thundering Herd, but they will not much more than a peep in Sanford Stadium. Bulldogs by 48.
(8) Alabama at Florida State – What happened to the Seminoles in 2024 after the success they had in 2023. Was the annihilation given to them by Georgia in the Orange Bowl simply a confidence breaker, or did they simply have a mass exodus with graduates and transfers? Regardless, they will need to play nearly perfectly to beat an Alabama program that is no longer at its peak. An upset is possible, but it will not happen. Tide by 18.
Alabama A&M at Arkansas – If the Razorbacks want to make a bowl game this season, a win over the Bulldogs is a must. Hogs by 44.
Illinois State at (18) Oklahoma – Two words to describe OU football: “Over” and “Ranked”… but at least they are the latter. Sooners by 24.
UTSA at (19) Texas A&M – I have had a soft spot in my heart since Jeff Traylor took the helm in San Antonio. They have even found some recent success under his tutelage despite a lackluster 2024. The Aggies may be too strong of an opening week opponent to begin another winning streak like they had in 2021 and 2022. I guess I should say something about the SEC team in this contest.
“Good Grief Game”
LIU at (15) Florida – For those of you who may not recall or are simply unfamiliar, legendary storyteller Andy Hodges was once asked to predict the outcome of No. 1 Alabama versus some school likened to Podunk U, and Andy’s first response was, “Good grief.” So, in a nod to him, each week I try to designate a “We are here to collect a paycheck game as the “Good Grief Game”. In this season’s opener, when I saw LIU was playing at Florida, my first thought was, “Who is LIU?” I generally pride myself on knowing the abbreviations for most football playing colleges and universities, but, as of press time, with a few guesses under my belt, I still am uncertain who LIU truly is. Lee Iacocca University has been the leader out of the clubhouse for me, and the shark mascot would add up since he was such a shrewd businessman. Regardless, they will get their big check, and Florida will get their rent-a-win. Gators by 62.
Charleston Southern at Vanderbilt – Nice little season opener for the Commodores who have showed some promise in the early part of each season as of late. Vandy by 28.
(9) LSU at (4) Clemson – I have already seen one mention to where LSU fans will be calling for Brian Kelly’s head if they drop the season opener to the orange-clad Tigers near the East Coast. The fans in Death Valley are hard to please…. both sets of them. Clemson will have the advantage playing at home, so we will probably know the reaction of the fans to Kelly. And, as I wrote this, I suddenly felt a change in my heart. We will not know the LSU fans’ reactions to a loss. They pull off the win on the road. LSU by 8.
Georgia State at (21) Ole Miss – Well, the Rebels better win this game. That’s the take. Ole Miss by 32.
Virginia Tech at (13) South Carolina – South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer looks to avoid a poor showing in Week 1 this season after his past two season openers have shown a horrible loss to North Carolina and a squeaker win against Old Dominion. Bret Bielema’s best buddy is looking to lead his Gamecocks into the College Football Playoffs in 2025. I do not see that happening, but they will beat his dad Frank’s school where the elder served as head coach for 29-years and is currently a special assistant to the athletic director. Shane grew up close to the Hokies campus and will no doubt have his emotions on his sleeve for this game. Gamecocks by 10.
That is it for now. You all enjoy the major opening weekend, and hold your family close. Even if this season does not pan out on the football field, make it a fun ride with them. I want to tell mine how much I love them and appreciate their support.
Go HOGS!!!
Razorbacks legend Darren McFadden on Halftime reliving memories
Maybe best of top trio of running backs playing for Arkansas at same time with memories 20 years after they proved unstoppable at times.
Former Razorbacks Felix Jones, Peyton Hillis at fan event on ESPN Arkansas
Part of best trio of running backs playing for Arkansas at same time with memories, still surprised it’s been 20 years since those days.
Eastside Liquor🍺 Half🕛time Podcast 8.29.25
Phil and Matt are LIVE at Rally House in Fayetteville with Darren McFadden!
