With transfers, extra years of eligibility, red shirts and recruiting classes, it’s confusing to keep track of who’s gone and who’s back in college football.
Arkansas has transferred more than a dozen players since the end of the season, and a handful have signed up for the NFL Draft, not to mention those who forgo an extra year to qualify or simply finish their careers.
Here’s a breakdown by position of who’s gone, who’ll be back, and who’ll be new to Arkansas in 2022.
quarterback
Who’s gone: Redshirt junior John Stephen Jones, grandson of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, was honored on senior day and is reportedly no longer with the team. He appeared in seven total games over four seasons. Redshirt freshman and Ole Miss transfer Kade Renfro tore his ACL during bowl practice in December, and while he remains with the team, he will recover from surgery, which could take nine months.
Who’s back: KJ Jefferson is the undisputed starter. He will be in his red shirt junior year in 2022, meaning he will be eligible for three more years thanks to the additional year the NCAA awarded athletes because of the pandemic. Malik Hornsby, his backup, is also returning after entering the transfer portal and withdrawing his name a week later. Freshman Lucas Coley also returns.
Who’s new: South Florida transfer Cade Fortin is a walk-on.
run back
Who’s gone: Trelon Smith, who started this season as a starter before Raheim Sanders and Dominique Johnson earned bigger roles, shared an Instagram post shortly after the Outback Bowl indicating he would not be returning for his senior year. On January 19, Sanders entered the transfer portal.
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TJ Hammonds, a sixth-year senior, is also not returning. The majority of Hammonds’ playing time came during the 2017 season, when he had 262 rushing yards in nine games.
Who’s back: Johnson and Sanders will likely anchor the hasty attack. Sanders was a freshman this season and Johnson a sophomore. Sanders finished behind Jefferson and Smith as the team’s third greatest rusher with 578 yards. Johnson, who started six games, was behind him with 575 on 97 carries.
Also returning are freshman AJ Green, a four-star recruit who appeared in 12 games, and Javion Hunt and red shirt sophomore Reid Turner.
Who’s new: A running back signed in the class of 2022, three-star James Jointer of Parkview Magnet in Little Rock. He was the state’s number 5 player per 247Sports Composite. Three-star Rashad Dubinion of Cedar Grove in Ellenwood, Georgia, played mostly running back in high school, but could play elsewhere.
Wide receiver
Who’s gone: Treylon Burks entering the NFL Draft leaves a big hole that needs to be filled. De’Vion Warren and Tyson Morris, the team’s second-largest receiver, helped fill that hole in the Outback Bowl, but both are ineligible. Reserves Kendall Catalon. Darin Turner and John David White all entered the transfer portal.
Who’s back: The most experienced returnee is Warren Thompson, whose 304 yards on 19 receptions was the third most for the Razorbacks. Ketron Jackson Jr., Jaquayln Crawford and Bryce Stephens all had less than 10 catches. Freshman Jaedon Wilson and red shirt freshman Chris Harris didn’t play, and Harper Cole appeared in five games with no catches.
Who’s new: Arkansas added an impressive roster of receivers in its 2022 class, plus Oklahoma transfer Jadon Haselwood. Haselwood, who will be a junior, was a five-star recruit and the No. 1 receiver in the 2019 class. He appeared in 12 games for the Sooners in 2021, for 399 yards on 39 receptions.
Arkansas signed four-star Isaiah Sategna and Quincy McAdoo and three-star Samuel M’Bake. All three could make significant contributions in the near future.
Tight ending
Who’s gone: The only tight end to leave is the most experienced: sixth-year senior Blake Kern. Kern started all 13 games in 2021 and has appeared in every game for the past three seasons.
Who’s back: Hudson Henry was second on the depth chart behind Kern for most of the year before Trey Knox went from receiver to tight end, taking second for the last three games. Nathan Bax and Landon Rogers are the only other returnees with gaming experience.
Who’s new: Arkansas signed a pair of three-star Dax Courtney and Tire Washington, but with Henry, Knox and other players with experience returning, it seems unlikely they’ll be playing right away.
Attacking line
Who’s gone: Seniors Ty Clary, Myron Cunningham and Shane Clenin will not return. Cunningham was a three-year starter and Clary started much of 2019 and 2020 with a few starts in 2021. Redshirt freshman Ray Curry Jr. transferred to Alabama A&M.
Who’s back: Arkansas will retain most of its novice offensive linemen with Dalton Wagner, Ricky Stromberg, Beaux Limmer and Brady Latham all returning. Redshirt junior Luke Jones was behind Cunningham on the depth chart and looks like a strong contender to replace him. Reserves Ty’Kieast Crawford, Austin Nix and seven other linemen will also be back.
Who’s new: Four-star Andrew Chamblee and E’Marion Harris are the second and third highest-rated players in the Arkansas recruiting class. Three-star Patrick Kutas and Eli Henderson round out Pittman’s crop of linemen.
Defense Line
Who’s gone: Arkansas’ top pass rusher, Tre Williams, declared himself for the NFL Draft. Defensive tackle John Ridgeway did too, and tackle co-starter Markell Utsey will not be returning. Solomon Wright, Andy Boykin and Jalen Williams have all decided to switch.
Who’s back: Sophomore Jashaud Stewart fell on the defensive for Tre Williams in the Outback Bowl and will be back. Zach Williams could also work in a novice role as he had started with Jack in the Bowl game. Eric Gregory was behind Utsey on the depth chart. Other notable returnees to watch include junior Mataio Soli, sophomore Eric Thomas Jr. and red shirt senior Isaiah Nichols.
Who’s new: LSU transfer Landon Jackson was a key offseason for Arkansas at edge rusher. The former four-star recruit played in five games before getting injured. Three-star JJ Hollingsworth and Nico Davillier join as freshmen.
linebackers
Who’s gone: The linebacker’s position will be one of the most interesting to watch next season as starters Grant Morgan and Hayden Henry are not returning. Both were among the team’s top three tacklers, and Henry led the Razorbacks in tackles for a loss with 12.
Andrew Parker appeared to be getting more playing time, after he was behind Morgan on the depth chart and appeared in 12 games, but entered the transfer portal on January 20. JT Towers and Chandler McIntosh also left through the portal and Deon Edwards is not eligible. .
Who’s back: Arkansas will return a total of 10 linebackers, most notably Bumper Pool. Pool was the team leader in tackles with 125, bringing much-needed experience and leadership to the linebacker corps.
Who’s new: Alabama transfer Drew Sanders will add experience to Arkansas roster. The sophomore started three games and played in 12. Fayetteville-born Mani Powell, Texas product Jordan Crook and Shiloh Christian alum Kaden Henley are the three three-stars who signed Arkansas.
Defensive Backs
Who’s gone: Arkansas lost three starters in the secondary. Security Joe Foucha and Nickelback Greg Brooks Jr. both transferred to LSU, while safety declared Montaric Brown for the NFL Draft. Nick Turner, Jermaine Hamilton-Jordan and Devin Bush also enter the transfer portal.
Who’s back: Safety Jalen Catalon is the biggest name returning for its fourth year. Catalon was a starter and had 46 tackles and two interceptions in six games before suffering a shoulder injury that required surgery. As per safety Myles Slusher will also be back, as will notable reserves Malik Chavis, Simeon Blair LaDarrius Bishop, Hudson Clark and Jayden Johnson along with nine others.
Who’s new: LSU transfer Dwight McGlothern will be in the mix. He played in nine games this season, taking 32 tackles and a 37-yard interception returning for a touchdown against Florida. Three-star prospects Anthony Brown and Jaylen Lewis will join from the class of 2022.
Specialists
Who’s gone: Long snapper Jordan Silver, a four-year starter, has ended his career, as has reserve gambler Sam Loy. Backup kicker Vito Calvaruso transferred to Wisconsin.
Who’s back: Freshman Cam Little, who became something of a cult hero this season, returns, as does punter Reid Bauer. Bauer won the Mortell Award for best holder in the country and had a heroic jump pass on a fake punt for a touchdown against Alabama. Patrick Foley returns as reserve punters and Francisco Castro and John Oerhlein return as long snappers.
Who’s new: Wisconsin product Eli Stein will join the specialists as Arkansas’ third long snapper.
Christina Long covers the Arkansas Razorbacks. You can email her at clong@swtimes.com or follow her on Twitter @christinalong00.