Houston Nutt isn’t walking through that door in Little Rock anytime soon, but that doesn’t mean that the Arkansas Razorbacks can’t make a splash in the SEC in 2023. With a backfield duo consisting of two of the most dangerous players in college football, anything can happen with a bit of luck. And it doesn’t hurt that the Razorbacks’ dangerous backfield duo will be looking to skyrocket their NFL Draft status before April.
Arkansas Razorbacks Roster and Depth Chart Changes
Like a surprising NCAA basketball tournament team, the Razorbacks are an old team. That experience and both physical and mental maturity could pay dividends over the course of an entire SEC schedule. But in the end, this team will go as far as the QB, RB, and OL can take them.
Arkansas Razorbacks NFL Draft Prospects
Raheim Sanders, RB
KJ Jefferson gets a lot of attention, and rightfully so. However, upon first watching the Arkansas offense, I was shocked to find that the 6-foot-4, 250-pound QB was not making his backfield mate look small. And that’s because Raheim Sanders is built like a brick house.
But being big at RB isn’t what it once was. The position, and the game at large, is leaning smaller, more agile, and more explosive.
Luckily for Sanders and the Razorbacks, he’s got that as well. The back is listed at an astonishing 237 pounds on Arkansas’ roster, a number he likely won’t sniff anywhere near the NFL Combine. But Sanders should run decently while also looking like a much smaller, shiftier back during drills.
Sanders is not Saquon Barkley. He’s not that explosive, and he doesn’t look like Barry Sanders at 230 pounds like Barkley does. But Sanders is shifty, displays nice patience, and possesses nice contact balance.
KJ Jefferson, QB
Jefferson will be one of the most scrutinized names in college football this season. At his size and with his athletic ability, there’s no way he escapes the comparisons to Anthony Richardson entirely, even if they are very different players.
The Razorbacks’ offense mimics many offenses run by teams sitting with talent disadvantages within their conference. It’s very RPO-heavy, which helps them move the chains and ask tough questions of more talented rosters defensively. In those looks, Jefferson is dangerous as a runner, and while he’s no Bryce Young in the RPO game, he makes good decisions more often than not.
Jefferson also has a good, consistent deep ball down the sideline. But there are inconsistencies in his mechanics that lend to sporadic ball placement. He is more of a passer than a QB in more “normal” passing concepts. Despite the physical tools and efficiency at the college level through the air and on the ground, Jefferson is still fighting an uphill battle toward potential NFL stardom.
Other Notable Names
- Eric Gregory, DL
- Trajan Jeffcoat, DL
- Beaux Limmer, iOL
- John Morgan III, DL
- Landon Jackson, DL
Arkansas Razorbacks Schedule
- Week 1
Sept. 2 vs. Western Carolina Catamounts - Week 2
Sept. 9 vs. Kent State Golden Flashes - Week 3
Sept. 16 vs. BYU Cougars - Week 4
Sept. 23 at LSU Tigers - Week 5
Sept. 30 vs. Texas A&M Aggies - Week 6
Oct. 7 at Ole Miss Rebels - Week 7
Oct. 14 at Alabama Crimson Tide - Week 8
Oct. 21 vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs - Week 9
BYE - Week 10
Nov. 4 at Florida Gators - Week 11
Nov. 11 vs. Auburn Tigers - Week 12
Nov. 18 vs. Florida International Panthers - Week 13
Nov. 24 vs. Missouri Tigers - Week 14
BYE - Week 15
BYE