What Should Hog Fans Expect For Saturday’s Spring Game?

Some questions for Razorbacks won’t be answered this weekend

Oct 14, 2023; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman walks out onto / John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — So much has been made about baseball and basketball recently that football has been forgotten about at Arkansas. That might actually be OK for Sam Pittman and his group of Razorbacks as they prepare for the spring football showcase Saturday. 

There are plenty of questions going into the 2024 season. There was a presumed quarterback battle that’s likely been solved. However, much will be made of Arkansas position battles with some being overanalyzed and overblown. Players will enter the transfer portal looking for playing time elsewhere. Here’s what fans should anticipate seeing this weekend. 

Taylen Green has a stranglehold of the quarterback position with the back-up slot currently filled by redshirt freshman Malachi Singleton. There’s plenty of talent to work with amongst the passers with three former 4-star signees and Green, who causes offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino to light up when talking about him. 

The running backs will be an intriguing group to watch with the talent recruited to the position over the years. Rashod Dubinion is currently sharing reps with Utah transfer Ja’Quinden Jackson as starting tailbacks. 

Braylen Russell will be fifth or so in the rotation. Redshirt freshman Isaiah Augustave came along in late November with solid performances. He and super senior Dominique Johnson will probably share reps with second and third teams. 

A pair of transfer receivers from last season, Andrew Armstrong and Tyrone Broden, have shown themselves to be dynamic during practice. If that translates to the spring game, Arkansas fans will be quite optimistic for the duo to have breakout seasons. It should be noted that Broden might not be at the game because of a family matter.

“Armstrong and Broden have done a really nice job,” Petrino said last week. “Armstrong's been a little bit nicked up the last couple of days, nothing bad, he should be back out there. They're tough match-ups because they both have great size. They both can elevate and turn their bodies. They're quick in and out of their breaks.”

"Broden is 6-foot-6 and can work inside routes and outside routes. Armstrong is 6-foot-4 and can work inside and outside, so they've been impressive to me.”

As for the defense, linebackers have been a huge question mark throughout the offseason with the mass exit of transfers at the position. Replacing leaders like Chris Paul, Jordan Crook and Jaheim Thomas will be tough. 

The Razorbacks have high expectations for Georgia transfer Xavian Sorey and redshirt freshman Brad Spence. 

“[Sorey] is very athletic. He's such a good person,” defensive coordinator Travis Williams said. “He's so happy to be here. He's so humbled to be here. He is 'No sir,' Yes sir.' He gets to the ball, he's athletic. You'll see him getting better and better each practice and I'm glad we got him.”

There’s a trio of young players in Carson Dean,  Kaden Henley and Alex Sanford who haven’t played a lot, but coaches are high on them. It is likely the youth movement will be seen this Saturday. 

“The other guys haven’t played because they were freshmen last year,” Williams said. “They’re going into their sophomore year. The only reason people don’t know about them is they haven’t played. It doesn’t mean they’re not good enough. So it’s been good to kind of see those guys grow.”

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