Fall Saturdays may still feel a long way off, but that hasn’t stopped us from getting a head start on breaking down the SEC.
Last week, we kicked things off with Alabama, the first installment in this weekly series that will take us team-by-team through the conference.
Each week between now and mid-August, we’ll break down one program, highlighting key storylines, roster turnover, coaching changes, schedule dynamics, and a final prediction, including a betting lean. The goal is to provide as thorough of a preview as possible at this stage of the offseason, with plans to revisit each team again in August as the season gets closer.
We’re going in alphabetical order, which brings us to this week’s edition: the Arkansas Razorbacks.
A Look Back at 2025
Regular Season: 2-10 (0-8 SEC)
Notable: The Razorbacks were 0-8 in SEC play, with a non-conference loss to Memphis. On the bright side, they often kept things close, playing in six one-possession games.
What Changed This Offseason
Key Departures:
QB: Talen Green (NFL)
RB: Mike Washington Jr. (NFL) – 2025 All-SEC
OL: Fernando Carmona (NFL) – 2024/2025 All-SEC
DB: Julian Neal (NFL)
HC: Sam Pittman (Fired after six seasons at Arkansas, 32-34 overall record with three bowl wins)
From the 2025 Arkansas roster, 41 players transferred out, and 10 are currently on NFL rosters. Including players who exhausted eligibility, more than 55 players are gone from last year’s team, roughly half the roster.
The turnover hit every position group. The top three receivers are gone, along with three starting offensive linemen. The defensive front lost four key contributors, including two to the portal. The top two tacklers and starting linebackers moved on to the NFL, and the secondary has been largely gutted.
Key Additions:
RB: Sutton Smith (Memphis)
WR: Chris Marshall (Boise State), Jamari Hawkins (Memphis)
OL: Malachi Breland (Memphis), Bryant Williams (Louisiana)
DL/EDGE: Hunter Osborne (Virginia), Stephen Soles Jr. (Kentucky)
DB: Jahiem Johnson (Tulane), La’khi Roland (Maryland), Khmori House (UNC), Christian and Harrison (Cincinnati)
Arkansas added more than 40 transfers along with incoming freshmen. Every position group was affected, with an emphasis on wide receiver, the offensive and defensive lines, and the secondary.
Jahiem Johnson was the highest-rated defensive back in the transfer class, recording four interceptions, a forced fumble, and nine pass breakups last season for Tulane.
House moved from linebacker to nickel this spring after leading North Carolina with 81 tackles and earning All-ACC Honorable Mention.
Roland recorded three interceptions at Maryland, while Soles Jr. co-led Kentucky in sacks.
Williams arrives as Arkansas’ highest-rated transfer addition after starting 11 games at Louisiana without allowing a sack.
Smith earned First-Team All-AAC honors as a returner and totaled 1,058 all-purpose yards in 2025.
Coaching Changes:
Head Coach: Ryan Silverfield comes over from Memphis, replacing Pittman. He coached the Tigers from 2020 to 2025, posting a 50-25 record with two 10-plus win seasons and bowl eligibility every year. Silverfield is an offensive-minded coach with a background in offensive line development.
Offensive Coordinator: Tim Cramsey joins from Memphis, where he was offensive coordinator the past four seasons under Silverfield. His offenses ranked in the top 25 in points per game in each of those seasons.
Defensive Coordinator: Ron Roberts joins after serving as defensive coordinator at Baylor, Auburn, and Florida over the past six seasons.
Breaking Down The Offense
Key Returners:
RB: Braylen Russel
WR: CJ Brown
TE: Jaden Platt
OL: Caden Kitler, Kobe Branham
Strength: Run Game
This is more projection than certainty, but both Silverfield and Cramsey built strong rushing attacks at Memphis. Russel was productive last season despite playing behind a future NFL third-round pick, and Smith led Memphis in rushing.
The offensive line has three new starters, but most of the group has starting experience at their previous stops. Based on the personnel and coaching background, this offense should lean heavily on the run game.
Biggest Question: Who will be under center and how will the passing game fare?
There is an ongoing quarterback battle between two unproven youngsters in KJ Jackson and AJ Hill, and the receiving corps lacks a true number one option. The closest is Jamari Hawkins, who was Memphis’ No. 2 receiver by a wide margin and will need to step up quickly.
I’ve already outlined why the offensive identity will likely embrace the run game. Still, in today’s pass-heavy world, a reliable aerial attack is essential. It remains to be seen what that will look like in Fayetteville.
Breaking Down The Defense
Key Returners:
EDGE: Quincy Rhodes Jr.
LB: Bradley Shaw
Strength: Quincy Rhodes Jr.
Rhodes Jr. earned All-SEC honors last season and is the best player on this roster. He finished fifth in the SEC in sacks and second in tackles for loss in 2025. He has legitimate All-American potential.
Biggest Question: Does this group have enough talent to compete week-to-week in the SEC?
Outside of a few returning pieces, most projected starters are transfers, many coming from the ACC or Group of Five.
Roberts has experience coordinating defenses in the SEC, but the bigger concern is whether this unit has the depth and top-end talent to hold up over a full conference schedule.
X-Factor: Momentum
Silverfield’s first season in the SEC will hinge on how quickly this team establishes momentum. The transition from the AAC to the SEC is significant, and early results will matter in keeping the roster engaged.
Establishing an identity on both sides of the ball and remaining competitive throughout the grueling schedule will be key as this staff begins rebuilding the program.
Schedule Breakdown
Win total: 4.5 (O+138) / (U-170)
Most likely wins: vs. North Alabama, vs. Tulsa
There is no reason Arkansas should drop either of these games, regardless of how it stacks up in SEC play.
Toughest stretch: SEC play
Four opponents are currently in the top ten of preseason national title odds. To hit the over, the Razorbacks likely need to win two or three SEC games.
A midseason stretch of @ Vanderbilt, vs. Missouri, @ Auburn, and vs. South Carolina will determine whether they can reach that mark. Winning two of those games is possible, and three would be impressive.
Potential Swing Game: @ Utah
This one probably determines the outcome of the win total. If Arkansas finds a way to beat Utah, the path to the over becomes more realistic.
Playing on the road in Salt Lake City is difficult, and a loss would leave little margin for error once the SEC gauntlet kicks off.
Final Outlook
Depth is the primary concern. With so much roster turnover, injuries will test the second and third units, and it is unclear how those players will perform when called upon.
Fayetteville is not an easy place to coach. Recruiting and attracting transfers can be challenging, and this staff is entering its first SEC season. Some early struggles are inevitable.
There is upside, though. The quarterback position could develop into a strength, and the run game should be productive if the offensive line stays healthy. Several defensive additions had success at their previous stops, and there is a chance that group outperforms expectations.
Still, the more likely outcome is that Arkansas falls short in Silverfield’s first season here. Getting to five wins probably requires an upset at Utah and multiple SEC victories, which is a tough ask.
Prediction: 4-9 (Under 4.5 Wins)
Up Next: Auburn
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