FAYETTEVILLE — With less than a week of spring ball remaining, the first Arkansas football depth chart of the Ryan Silverfield era is starting to take shape.
A lot can still change over the next four-plus months before the Razorbacks host North Alabama for the season opener on Sept. 5, but for the most part, coordinators Tim Cramsey and Ron Roberts have an idea of which players are vying for spots in their two-deep.
While there are a few familiar names, many of those eventual starters and contributors will make their unofficial Arkansas debuts in the Red-White game, which is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT Saturday.
Most of those are transfers, but Arkansas also brought in 13 freshmen as early enrollees who are getting a jump on transitioning to college life. Six additional high school signees are set to join them this summer.
However, at this point, it doesn’t seem like the Razorbacks have a ton of immediate contributors among that group. Silverfield’s mission to “win now” certainly has a role in that, but more than anything, increased reliance on the transfer portal has reduced the need and opportunity for freshmen to play.
Just last year, Arkansas’ 19-man freshman class combined for just one start — offensive lineman Kash Courtney against Mississippi State — and 345 offensive/defensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. (Of course, kicker Scott Starzyk was an SEC All-Freshman Team selection.)
There’s a chance those numbers could be pretty similar this year, but as Roberts noted in Monday’s press conference, the coaches need to see how the freshmen look after going through a summer offseason program and fall camp before determining playing time.
Even through the first 12 spring practices, though, two defensive newcomers have flashed.
Lockett Pushing for Spot in Two-Deep
In the past week, two of the biggest defensive plays made during the media’s viewing periods were turnovers courtesy of the longest-tenured commitment of the 2026 class.
On Tuesday, safety Tay Lockett picked off KJ Jackson on the first play of a two-minute drill. Two days later, the Conway High product stripped fellow freshman TJ Hodges at the goal line and the defense recovered.
