FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green wore a virtual reality camera during the Razorbacks’ first practice Friday, giving coaches and teammates a new view of the field.
Green, a redshirt senior who started all 13 games last season, attached the VR device to his helmet as Arkansas opened fall camp. The footage will be used to help quarterbacks and coaches analyze on-field situations, Hogs coach Sam Pittman said.
“It’s about a 30-minute, maybe 45-minute learning where it’s virtual, where they can see the field off of practice tape and off of game tape,” Pittman said.
The VR camera streamed Green’s perspective to a program that allows coaches and teammates to review plays virtually.
Arkansas is among the first teams in the SEC to use live VR camera footage from practice, though other programs have experimented with virtual reality for playbook learning and training.
Pittman, entering his sixth season with the Razorbacks, said the goal is to help quarterbacks react faster and make better decisions.
“We want our quarterbacks to see things before they happen. With this, they can relive practice, see what they missed, and get better without taking hits,” Pittman said.
Arkansas finished 2024 with a 7-6 record. Green’s performance and the offense’s growth will be key to the Razorbacks’ hopes of improving in 2025. The team opens the season Aug. 30 against Alabama A&M.
Pittman said the VR project is part of a broader effort to use technology and analytics to aid player development.
“Football’s still football,” Pittman said. “But if you’re not evolving, you’re falling behind.”
