NFL
By: Randall Slifer
The Arkansas Razorbacks are back! College Football Week 1 has arrived, and the Silverfield era has a lot to prove in year one. Typically, you schedule a softball game to help players ease into the pace of the college season. The issue with a new regime is: will all these transfers be ready to play team football?
The Arkansas Razorbacks play North Alabama this Saturday, and they should beat North Alabama by a couple of touchdowns. Instead of dissecting a win, let’s take a look at what the State of Arkansas wants to see as foreshadowing into the rest of the season:
Can Arkansas rein in the turnovers?
Arkansas has been notorious for turnovers throughout Sam Pittman’s tenure. Two games last year were lost because of late 4th-quarter fumbles: Ole Miss and Memphis. Quarterbacks have also been at the helm of the issue. Last year, Taylen Green accounted for 11 interceptions and 6 fumbles. In only 67 snaps, KJ Jackson fumbled the ball twice.
In 2025, Memphis Football averaged 34 passing attempts a game. They averaged 228 passing yards per game and 1.4 passing touchdowns per game. The starting quarterback, Brendon Lewis, was 55th in the country with 2,673 passing yards. That was 3 spots behind Taylen Green. Memphis’ passing attack and Taylen Green operated similarly as a passer. Both had an average depth of targets of around 9 yards. Their difference in time to throw is only .10 seconds. Their pressure-to-sack ratios are both at 19%.
The major difference comes down to turnovers. Brendon Lewis had only 7 interceptions to Taylen’s 11 interceptions. Taylen Green threw 22 turnover-worthy footballs (5.3% rate) and only threw the ball away 21 times. Brendon Lewis threw only 14 turnover-worthy footballs (3% rate) and threw the ball away 27 times. This shows Ryan Silverfield is willing to be patient in his football games and not force the ball like the 2025 Arkansas Razorbacks.
Aside from the 11 interceptions, the Arkansas Razorbacks fumbled the ball 14 times. Fumbling the ball more than once per game, on average, is unacceptable. One of the top two things this new Arkansas staff has preached is ball security. This team is built to keep the game close and beat teams in the 4th quarter. If Arkansas can avoid turning the ball over once against North Alabama, then Arkansas fans can see the culture change happening.
Can the defense get more sacks?
Last year, the Arkansas Razorbacks accumulated only 22 sacks in the 2025 season. Quincy Rhodes Jr accounted for 8 of those sacks. Luckily, Ryan Silverfield kept Quincy Rhodes Jr. on the team. No other player had more than 3.5 sacks.
The new defensive coordinator, Ron Roberts, is the man to raise that sack production. He brings multiple 3-4 defensive looks and uses a lot of simulated pressures and creepers in his game plan. When blitzing using creepers, those typically come from your defensive backs.
Ryan Silverfield and Ron Roberts built a defensive back room that knows how to rush the passer. Both nickel defenders, Khmori House and Carter Stoutmire, combined for 23 pressures, 3 sacks, and 5 QB hits in 2025. Shelton Lewis, a transfer from Clemson, is a high-end corner who plays well at the line of scrimmage. In only 49 snaps played, he landed 2 pressures, 1 quarterback hit, and a batted ball.
The Arkansas Razorbacks also got better on the defensive line. David Oke is healthy, and the addition of Hunter Osborne will help Quincy Rhodes Jr to get advantageous 1-on-1s to get his sack production into double digits. David Oke is lethal in stunts and twists, which can create chaos for opponents’ offensive lines. The JACK combination of Steven Soles Jr and Charlie Collins is active and fast, and they will contribute on the other side as well. Ron Roberts brings a fun style of defense to Arkansas, and it’ll be a fun watch for the 2026 season.
Who will step up on the offense?
The Arkansas Razorbacks are known for their rushing game, and that will continue into the 2026 season. KJ Jackson is a dual-threat quarterback with top-end speed. The trio of Sutton Smith, Braylen Russell, and Cam Settles is a 3-headed monster. The question remains: how will the pass-catching rooms do under Ryan Silverfield?
Chris Marshall, a transfer from Boise State, has emerged as the top pass-catcher in both tight end and wide receiver rooms. He has shown he can make explosive plays and is a reliable outside X receiver. At 6’3, 213 lb, he brings a strong frame with good initial speed to create quick separation. Marshall needs to address his drops. Chris Marshall had a 23% drop rate in 2025.
Jamari Hawkins, a transfer from Silverfield’s Memphis, is a quick slot guy and is 2nd in receiving yards in 2025 on the team. Can he shine, knowing how Silverfield operates, and set a high floor for the room right out of the gate?
The rest of the wide receiver room is to be determined. Local Arkansas players Courtney Crutchfield and Antonio Jordan are going to get opportunities to shine. Ismael Cisse had high hopes in 2025 until he was shut down for the year with wrist surgery. The pass-catching tight end will more than likely be Jaden Platt, but Ty Lockwood could emerge coming from Boston College. KJ Jackson will need multiple options, and it will be interesting to see who emerges as reliable.
The Arkansas Razorbacks play North Alabama Saturday at 3:15 CST in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The line favors Arkansas at -40.5 and an over/under of 62.5. The temperature around kickoff will be 97 degrees, so conditioning will be an immediate test for this Arkansas team. For Arkansas, lock in and start the season 1-0. As always, go hogs.
