The Arkansas Razorbacks are looking to alleviate a loss of key receiver talent to the 2025 NFL draft.
Standout receiver Andrew Armstrong and Senior Bowl attendee Isaac TeSlaa were key pieces of the Razorbacks' offensive system under the guise of Bobby Petrino and will be sorely missed heading into the new season.
The Transfer Portal has not stood still, however, and the team has opted to reinforce both the ground game and receiver corps heavily to balance out the loss of talent.
Having lost Ja'Quinden Jackson and Tyrell Reed Jr to the transfer portal, Mike Washington looks to be the next man up. Washington has excellent size at six-foot-two and 225 pounds, and he is transferring into the Arkansas program from New Mexico State.
Washington, who is vying for the starter role, is joined by several other talented running backs. AJ Green is returning from Oklahoma State to Arkansas (having transferred out prior), and Cam Settles is seen as a strong freshman recruit for the 2025 class.
The receiving crew will not look anything like the one the Razorbacks had a year ago, as the top seven pass catchers in the program have all moved on. They will look to tiny Raylen Sharpe to make a slew of big plays for Green.
The five-foot-nine, 165-pound Sharpe was a key factor for Fresno State in the Mountain West last year. He caught 51 passes for 523 yards and three TDs a year ago. He could also be a factor running the ball on reverses. He averaged 16.8 yards last year on his four carries, and he displayed a good burst with the ball.
He will team with O'Mega Blake, who comes to the Arkansas program after three seasons at South Carolina and one at Charlotte. He had his best season with the 49ers, as he caught 32 passes for 795 yards and nine touchdowns. The athletic Blake checks in at six-foot-three and 183 pounds. He averaged an eye-catching 24.8 yards per catch a year ago.
If the defense holds up as expected, that should give the Razorbacks a chance to register several upsets this season. While the market doesn't exactly favour Arkansas, with Bovada Sportsbook pegging them as 13th likeliest to win the SEC an early road game against Ole Miss should provide an indicator of how the season could go for Arkansas. The Razorbacks usually come close against the Rebels, covering the spread in 10 of the last 12 meetings.
However, they were obliterated 63-31 last year, and they need to show some pride in this year’s meeting. If past indicators hold true and predictions are in line with general market sentiment, the team could be in for a rough season, and while Arkansas fans remain skeptical of Petrino, he may be the next head coach called up should the year not end well.