While quarterback spot stable for Hogs, rest of offense looking for multiple answers before big media week in Atlanta.
Ruscin & Zach July 8
We visit with Appalachian State head football coach Dowell Loggains, hear about Zach’s complaints about Ruscin and Bill plus recruiting talk!
Ball, Green, Sorey to join Pittman at SEC Media Days in Atlanta
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas will be represented by defensive lineman Cam Ball, quarterback Taylen Green and linebacker Xavian Sorey Jr. alongside coach Sam Pittman at SEC Media Days next week in Atlanta.
Ball goes to the event as one of Arkansas’ most experienced players, having played in 39 games with 20 starts during his collegiate career.
In 2024, Ball started all 13 games as a redshirt junior, recording a career-high 47 tackles, four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also contributed two quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery.
Ball made five tackles and registered a quarterback hurry in Arkansas’ Liberty Bowl win over Texas Tech on Dec. 27, and posted a career-high seven tackles, including one for loss, in the regular-season finale at Missouri on Nov. 30.
He also played a significant role in the team’s 58-25 win at Mississippi State on Oct. 26, recovering a fumble and tallying three tackles with an assisted sack.
Quarterback Taylen Green will look to build on an impressive 2024 season.
Green accumulated 3,756 yards of total offense (602 rushing and 3,154 passing) with 23 total touchdowns, the second-most in a single season in Arkansas program history, trailing only Ryan Mallett’s 3,795-yard mark.
Green’s season included just the seventh 3,000-yard passing season in school history.
He ranked 13th nationally in total offense per game with 288.9 yards, 14th in passing yards per completion at 13.71, and 21st in total passing yards.
Green was named Liberty Bowl MVP after completing 11 of 21 passes for a bowl-record 341 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 81 yards and a touchdown in the 39-26 win over Texas Tech.
He became the first Arkansas quarterback to surpass 300 passing yards in a bowl game since 2016 and threw for more than 300 yards in three games during the 2024 season, highlighted by a career-high 416 yards at Oklahoma State on Sept. 7.
Sorey Jr. distinguished himself as one of the SEC’s top linebackers in 2024. In his first season as a Razorback, Sorey started all 13 games and led the team with 99 total tackles, including 40 solo stops and 59 assists.
He tied for the team lead with 9.5 tackles for loss and added two sacks, an interception, a pass breakup, and three quarterback hurries. Sorey ranked sixth in the SEC in tackles per game at 7.6 and led Arkansas in tackles in five of its 13 games.
For Pittman, this marks his fifth appearance at SEC Media Days. He enters his sixth season as Arkansas’ coach and is coming off his third straight bowl victory, making him the only coach in program history to win each of his first three bowl games.
Pittman’s tenure ties Ken Hatfield for length, as only five coaches have served longer in the program’s 131-year history.
Arkansas opens the 2025 season on Saturday, Aug. 30, hosting Alabama A&M at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:15 p.m. on SEC Network.
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: 7-8-25
How can Arkansas Football overcome low expectations and support from the fanbase? Chuck E. Cheese memories, Ranking SEC QB’s.
Guests: Bruce Stanton (Pradco)
Razorbacks add Southern for November, bolstering non-conference schedule
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas will host Southern University on Nov. 3 at Bud Walton Arena, adding another mid-major opponent to the Razorbacks’ 2025-26 schedule under coach John Calipari.
The matchup, first reported by Rocco Miller of Bracketeer.org confirmed by multiple reports, will mark the fourth meeting between Arkansas and Southern, with the Razorbacks having won all previous contests, most recently in 2020-21 when Arkansas had a 79-44 victory.
Southern, coached by Kevin Johnson, is coming off a strong campaign in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, finishing 18-13 and posting a notable 10-game win streak last season.
The Jaguars have won nine SWAC regular-season or tournament titles since 1977, and their .522 all-time win percentage reflects a solid tradition (Sports-Reference).
Calipari, who arrived in Fayetteville after a high-profile split from Kentucky in 2024, has wasted little time assembling a challenging non-conference schedule.
Arkansas will also face Central Arkansas on Nov. 11, then travel to Chicago for a Thanksgiving matchup against Duke in the CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic.
The Razorbacks’ scheduled features additional non-league tests, including Louisville on Dec. 3 in the SEC/ACC Challenge, Texas Tech on Dec. 13 in Dallas, and a marquee matchup at Michigan State in East Lansing.
Arkansas’ non-conference schedule is part of a broader shift under Calipari, who has stressed the importance of national exposure and high-profile games.
The program’s 2025 recruiting class is expected to include several highly ranked prospects, such as Darius Acuff Jr., as Calipari blends returning veterans with blue-chip newcomers.
Southern’s trip to Fayetteville offers the Jaguars a chance to test themselves against a Southeastern Conference opponent before heading into SWAC play.
“We respect what Arkansas has built, but we’re not coming just to show up,” Johnson said. “Games like this are why our guys put in the work all summer” (GoJagSports).
The Razorbacks’ Southeastern Conference schedule will see home-and-home matchups with Auburn, LSU and Missouri, along with single games against Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas.
Calipari’s arrival has generated significant buzz in Fayetteville.
“Everyone put us in a coffin,” Calipari said in the postseason last year. “They just forgot the nails.”
Arkansas will hold its first open practice and press conference of the Calipari era this week.
Calipari remains focused on preparing his team for the postseason.
“If you want to make noise in March, you can’t be afraid to play anybody in November,” he said. “Our kids want to be tested. Our fans deserve it. And our program needs it to reach the next level.”
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Ruscin & Zach July 7
We recap the holiday weekend, wonder if Bill really does have a kayak (he claims he does) plus a few sporting items mixed in. We also honor several obscure collegiate national champions, an annual RZ tradition.
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Southland Hitter of the Year Damian Ruiz commits to Arkansas baseball
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas has added a major piece to its 2025 baseball roster with the commitment of Damian Ruiz, the 2025 Southland Conference Hitter of the Year and a transfer outfielder from Lamar.
Ruiz, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound native of Livingston, Texas, announced his decision Sunday on social media.
Ruiz batted .388 with a .607 slugging percentage and a .511 on-base percentage as a redshirt sophomore at Lamar, finishing with 83 hits, 22 doubles, seven home runs and 46 RBIs. He led the Southland Conference in doubles and was recognized as the league’s Hitter of the Year in May.
Ruiz drew 50 walks and struck out just 27 times in 56 games during the 2025 season, displaying a patient approach at the plate. He also scored a team-record 76 runs and stole 14 bases, helping Lamar to a 36-21 record.
He played primarily in right field and posted a .978 fielding percentage with two errors in 89 chances. Ruiz transferred to Lamar from Houston Christian, where he batted .256 with nine doubles and four home runs across two seasons.
Ruiz is the eighth transfer addition for Arkansas this offseason. The Razorbacks have also added right-handed pitchers Jackson Wells and Jackson Kircher, left-handed pitcher Ethan McElvain, shortstop Dylan Grego, infielder Maika Niu and outfielder Zack Stewart.
Arkansas finished third in the final USA Today Coaches Poll for 2025, reaching 50 wins for the first time since 2021.
Ruiz’s transfer was closely watched by programs including LSU and Mississippi State, but Arkansas’ recent success and player development track record proved decisive.
Ruiz’s commitment reflects broader trends in college baseball, where the transfer portal and NIL opportunities have made it easier for players to change programs. Arkansas has capitalized, landing several high-impact transfers in recent years.
With Ruiz on board, the Razorbacks will have increased lineup flexibility and competition for playing time in the outfield. Van Horn faces the challenge of blending new arrivals with returning talent as the team aims for another deep postseason run.
