Grading the Arkansas Depth Chart

As the 2023-2024 football season quickly approaches, anticipation intensifies. This Arkansas team has the potential to be very solid, even though most analysts around the country aren’t entirely certain about it.

The Hogs return 4 starters on offense and 3 starters on defense, which isn’t boastful in itself. Considering that in addition to how statistically weak the defense was last season makes doubting this season’s Razorbacks fair. Coach Sam Pittman and his band of Razorbacks will aim to begin silencing said doubters on September 2nd.

Although the coaching staff has yet to officially release a game one depth chart, here is a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the team approaching the final weeks of the offseason:

Quarterbacks: A

KJ Jefferson is the one of the best quarterbacks in the conference, and undeniably a high-tier quarterback nationally. I personally wouldn’t trade him for any QB in college football. He’s arguably the most important player on the squad. But who sits behind him? Last season the offense struggled without Jefferson, particularly against LSU and Mississippi State. Those are two games that simply could’ve been won with better QB play.

North Carolina transfer Jacolby Criswell and super senior Cade Fortin round out the remainder of the active depth chart at this spot. Expect true freshman Malachi Singleton to redshirt in 2023.

Throughout the offseason, Criswell and Fortin have been battling for the backup spot. I’d bet it will go to Criswell when the time comes. Criswell is a strong-armed quarterback who can run, similar to Jefferson. While keeping Jefferson healthy is a top priority for the Hogs, the position is much more stable behind him this year.

Running Backs: A+

Looking around the world of college football, it’s virtually impossible to find a running back room that is better from top to bottom.

Raheim Sanders may be the best running back in the nation, and is on the early watch list for the Doak Walker award. He has reportedly gained weight and speed during the offseason, which sounds absolutely lethal to opposing defenses. At 6’2″ and 242 pounds, nobody is going to want to tackle this dude in open space.

While Sanders is the clear-cut premier back on this football team, there are players on this roster who would start at halfback for other Power 5 schools.

AJ Green is one of my favorite players on this team. He has the speed, size, and vision to have a breakout season as a secondary back in new offensive coordinator Dan Enos’ more pro-style system.

Dominique Johnson is coming off of back-to-back ACL tears. That is never a great sign, but he has had more time to heal from the second ACL tear than he did the first. Seemingly fully healthy, he is a battering ram of a running back, listed at 252 pounds.

Rashod Dubinion is a very quick back who will make look to make big plays situationally for the Hogs this season.

All in all, this is the best on-paper running back room the Hogs have had in some time. That’s no disrespect to the exceptional groups Arkansas has had in the past…this group is just that stacked.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: B-

As excited as I am about these positions, it’s hard to give them a higher grade when most of the players haven’t proven themselves in the SEC. While I don’t necessarily doubt the capabilities of the receivers and tight ends, few have SEC experience.

At tight end, Nathan Bax and Ty Washington are returners that saw some playing time last year. That being said, there has been lots of competition at this spot. With the transfer additions of Var’Keyes Gumms (North Texas) and Francis Sherman (Louisville), as well as the true freshman tandem of Shamar Easter and Luke Hasz, it’s hard to say who will start.

Look for Gumms to be a receiving target while the freshmen get the feel of the college game. Francis Sherman has been making noise in camp as well. Bax is a great blocker, and Washington could surprise some folks and be a useful weapon at KJ Jefferson’s disposal.

Receiver is probably the most interesting position group to watch so far, especially since fall camp began. While a number of players who saw limited time last season return, all eyes have been on the transfer trio of well-sized receivers that position coach Kenny Guiton recruited to Fayetteville.

Tyrone Broden (Bowling Green), Andrew Armstrong (TAMU-CC), and Isaac TeSlaa (Hillsdale College) will see time this season. So far, Armstrong and TeSlaa seem to be the top targets for Jefferson. Marlon Crockett (Memphis) is also a transfer to watch approaching the season opener.

Returning pass-catchers include Isaiah Satenga, Sam Mbake, Jaedon Wilson, Bryce Stephens, and Chris Harris. Given all of these receivers, I don’t expect many true freshmen to play, with the possible exception of Davion Dozier. Dozier was a 4-star prospect out of Moody, Alabama. Head coach Sam Pittman says Dozier “looks like an SEC wide receiver” already.

Offensive Line: C+

Beaux Limmer and Brady Latham are two very solid offensive linemen. Limmer will start at center and Latham at one of the guard spots. Every other spot on the line has been up for grabs this offseason. Recently, Beaux Limmer was making rounds in the national media because of this video, which shows him squatting 700 pounds. With these two guys returning, interior offensive line is not a worry.

At the other guard spot, Florida transfer Joshua Braun will probably start. He has plenty of SEC experience and appears to have transitioned to Arkansas rather smoothly. E’Marion Harris and transfer Amaury Wiggins (Coffeyville CC) are good backups on the interior of the offensive line and will both probably see time rotationally.

The tackle positions pose uncertainties for the offensive line, with Devon Manuel, Andrew Chamblee, Patrick Kutas, and Ty’Kieast Crawford vying for these two spots. I’d like to see them all play early in the season. If I had to bet, I’d say Manuel and Kutas end up the starters, but Crawford has a lot of experience. Chamblee took a redshirt last year and will probably see some playing time in the rotation.

Defensive Line: A-

This defensive line group is one of the best Fayetteville has seen as a whole in recent years. What better to help a struggling defense from last year than to put together a monstrous group on the line?

Landon Jackson, an NFL-sized edge rusher standing at 6’7″ and 281 pounds, will likely secure a spot on the All-SEC defensive team by season’s end. His size and speed is will create challenges for opposing backfields this fall.

Taurean Carter and Cameron Ball also return as two players who have proven to be good interior defensive linemen. Also returning on this defensive line: Zach Williams, Nico Davillier, Eric Gregory, Jashaud Stewart, and Marcus Miller.

Transfers over the offseason included Trajan Jeffcoat (Missouri), Anthony “Tank” Booker Jr. (Maryland), John Morgan III (Pittsburgh), and Keivie Rose (Louisiana Tech). I expect all four of them to contribute, and could see Jeffcoat potentially starting at the end spot.

This group gives the Hogs a very firm three-deep rotation on the defensive line. That’s a big deal. Winning teams oftentimes have this characteristic. New defensive coordinator Travis Williams and DL coach Deke Adams will look to anchor the Razorback defense on this group.

Linebackers: B

Behind the line sits a group that is at comfortably two-deep. Retaining Chris “Pooh” Paul Jr. and Jordan Crook was vital in the offseason, as both possess the abilities needed to have an impact on how Arkansas plays defense. Even so, you need more than just two solid linebackers, and the Hog coaching staff made sure of it this time around.

Transfer Antonio Grier (South Florida) was part of a package deal of sorts in hiring Travis Williams to lead the defense. He was already committed to Williams’ UCF defense prior to his hiring at Arkansas. A two-time second team All-AAC player at USF, Grier will probably start alongside Paul.

Jaheim Thomas is another transfer, brought in from Cincinnati, that will play valuable snaps at linebacker for Arkansas this season. He had 70 tackles in 2022 for the Bearcats and having watched his film, I expect his game to translate nicely into the SEC.

Mani Powell also returns as a player who has developed strongly over time for the Razorbacks. Reports out of fall camp suggest true freshman Brad Spence out of Houston, Texas could also be an available reserve at the linebacker spot this season.

Defensive Backs: B-

The biggest problem on the entire squad last season: depth at defensive back. When players went down with injuries, this position group was spread much too thin. One of the most substantial questions throughout the summer has been whether or not this issue has been rectified.

Returners Dwight McGlothern, Hudson Clark, Malik Chavis, LaDarrius Bishop, and Jayden Johnson have all shown they can play at the SEC level. McGlothern could end up being All-SEC by the end of the year. Jaylen Lewis redshirted last season and has done pretty well in fall camp thus far. Last season’s freshman breakout player Quincey McAdoo’s status is currently unclear after the unfortunate car accident that sidelined him during the offseason.

Lorando Johnson (Baylor), Alfahiym Walcott (Baylor), Jaheim Singletary (Georgia), and Kee’yon Stewart (TCU) are transfers that will most likely all see plenty of playing time. All may even start in the first game aside from Stewart. These players will be difference makers this season in the defensive backfield.

A few true freshman may also fight their way into the rotation, but with this many experienced players ahead of them, it could prove to be a tall task.

Special Teams: B+

Cam Little is one of the best kickers in the SEC, and it is a shock to me that he wasn’t selected on any preseason All-SEC teams. There’s just something about great kickers named Little here at Arkansas…isn’t there?

Max Fletcher returns at punter and has reportedly improved, which is always good. Eli Stein returns after starting 11 games last season at long snapper.

The Razorbacks didn’t return many kicks last season. Word out of fall camp suggests that will change in 2023, but we’ll have to see. Multiple players on this team have the speed to do it, and adding that to the special teams game should be favorable for the Hogs.

Takeaway

Overall, the Arkansas depth chart prompts no glaring issues. This roster appears to have a lot of players who got bigger and stronger over the course of the offseason, due in part to the efforts of new strength and conditioning coach Ben Sowders.

As a whole, I gave the offense a B+ rating and the defense a B rating. That being said, this team has the potential at multiple spots to out-perform what I’ve slated above. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they do.

The sky is the limit when a team has the building blocks and coaching staff that this Razorback squad does. Only one thing is certain: September 2nd can’t come soon enough.

The Hogs will open with a short home stretch that includes Western Carolina, Kent State, and BYU. During this time, Arkansas fans will have a chance to see what this team is made of. Heading into the rough September-October stretch, starting the season 3-0 is a must. Go Hogs.