The offseason is officially underway for Arkansas football.
One day after an ugly loss to Missouri on a cold, rainy day in Fayetteville provided an appropriate ending to a miserable season for the Razorbacks, a new era began Sunday with the hire of Ryan Silverfield.
Among the former Memphis coach’s first tasks will be building a roster for the upcoming 2026 season, which will kick off in about nine months against North Alabama.
Thanks to a mass exodus of players, keeping up with all of the movement has been challenging the last few years. This offseason will probably be unlike any we’ve ever seen, as it’s the first time Arkansas has changed coaches since the implementation of the transfer portal.
Silverfield will likely bring players with him from his Memphis and the transfer portal will be even more active than the last few years. Best of Arkansas Sports will keep track of it all here, with the moves in one place for your convenience…
2026 Arkansas Football Roster Tracker
- Total Projected on Roster: 111 – TARGET: 105
- Confirmed for 2026: 92 (signees/commits + players who’ve announced their return)
According to Yahoo Sports national college football reporter Ross Dellenger, the SEC has voted to eliminate the 85-man scholarship limit. Teams in the league can now offer full scholarships to all 105 players permitted on the roster as part of the House settlement that went into effect this summer. The SEC opted to stick with 85 scholarships in 2025.
Now, the biggest roster-related question looming is whether or not the Designated Student-Athletes (DSAs) from last year will carry over to 2026. Those players, mostly walk-ons, were grandfathered in after the House settlement and allowed teams to go over the 105-man limit. That’s how Arkansas had 115 players this season. If they continue into next year, that 105-man limit will once again be a soft cap the Razorbacks could potentially exceed.
There are also lingering eligibility questions. While almost all “super seniors” with extra eligibility from the 2020 pandemic-altered season have cycled through, there are still a few potential decisions to make amongst the current Razorbacks.
A couple of seniors (AJ Green and Quentavius Scandrett) dealt with injuries throughout the season and might be eligible for a medical redshirt. Justus Boone might be able to get a medical redshirt for his 2023 season, as well.
It’s also unknown if the Diego Pavia rule will be adopted moving forward. As it’s currently written, it was just a one-year exemption for former JUCO players. However, the Vanderbilt quarterback is still going through the legal process. If approved permanently, defensive linemen Keyshawn Blackstock and Danny Saili, plus long snapper Ashton Ngo, could get additional eligibility. (Perhaps defensive lineman Frank Mulipola could, as well, but he’s already a seventh-year senior.)
For now, those seven players are not projected to be part of the 2026 roster. If they make an announcement, they’ll be moved accordingly.
*walk-on (or at least a walk-on in 2025 — status unclear with increased scholarships)
^newcomer (via high school, JUCO or portal)
Players in BOLD have indicated that they plan to return (also includes signees)
NOTE: If you know of a player who is returning in 2026 and isn’t listed in bold below, please reach out and let us know. You can tweet/DM Andrew Hutchinson at @NWAHutch on Twitter/X.
Arkansas Football Roster – Offense
Quarterback
- Scholarship: 4
- Total on Roster: 5
Projected 2026 Roster
- ^Braeden Fuller — redshirt senior (transfer from Angelo State)
- KJ Jackson — redshirt sophomore
- ^AJ Hill — redshirt freshman (transfer from Memphis)
- ^Hank Hendrix — freshman
- *^Cade Trotter — redshirt freshman (transfer from Clemson)
Leaving the Team
- Taylen Green — exhausted eligibility
- Trever Jackson — transfer portal
- Grayson Wilson — transfer portal
- *Brayson McHenry — graduated/done playing
Timeline
Dec. 4: During Ryan Silverfield’s introductory press conference, rising redshirt sophomore KJ Jackson announced he would stick around for the 2026 season and not enter the transfer portal.
Dec. 29: Despite originally announcing he planned to return to Arkansas for a second season on the Hill, Trever Jackson has instead opted to hit the transfer portal for a second time in as many years. He joined the Razorbacks as a transfer from Florida State last offseason. That leaves Arkansas with only two scholarship quarterbacks for 2026.
Dec. 31: The quarterback room is now down to just one scholarship player, as Grayson Wilson has announced he plans to enter the transfer portal. The in-state product was a true freshman in 2025.
Jan. 5: Following a visit to Fayetteville, former top-200 recruit AJ Hill has opted to follow Silverfield from Memphis to Arkansas. His pledge doubles the Razorbacks’ quarterback room.
Jan. 8: Best of Arkansas Sports has confirmed that walk-on Brayson McHenry has graduated and decided not to use his final year of eligibility. He transferred in from Baylor last offseason.
Jan. 10: The Razorbacks’ third quarterback for 2026 is Braeden Fuller, a transfer from DII Angelo State. He was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, the DII version of the Heisman, in 2024, but battled injuries this past season.
Jan. 13: A few days after former Arkansas quarterback-turned-Fayetteville High coach Casey Dick caused a stir on social media, heralded four-star quarterback Hank Hendrix officially announced he was reclassifying from 2027 to 2026 and committed to the Hogs.
Jan. 16: Arkansas has seemingly completed its quarterback room for 2026 by adding walk-on transfer Cade Trotter, who is avoiding being coached by Chad Morris by leaving Clemson.
Running Back
- Scholarship: 6
- Total on Roster: 6
Projected 2026 Roster
- ^Sutton Smith — redshirt senior (transfer from Memphis)
- Braylen Russell — junior
- ^Jasper Parker — sophomore (transfer from Michigan)
- Cam Settles — sophomore
- Markeylin Batton — redshirt freshman
- ^TJ Hodges — freshman
Leaving the Team
- Mike Washington Jr. — exhausted eligibility
- Rodney Hill — transfer portal
- *AJ Green — transfer portal
Timeline
Dec. 1: On his first full day on the job, Ryan Silverfield managed to flip Bryant four-star running back TJ Hodges from Missouri to Arkansas. His pledge capped a trio of in-state commits in a 22-minute span.
Dec. 19: AJ Green, who returned to Arkansas as a walk-on last offseason, posted on Twitter that his waiver for a sixth season was approved by the NCAA. He dealt with an undisclosed injury for much of this year, so he’s receiving a medical hardship. However, he has not yet specified he’ll use that year with the Razorbacks.
Dec. 26: A week after learning he was granted a sixth year of eligibility, AJ Green announced he would be entering the transfer portal.
Jan. 2: After two seasons with the Razorbacks, former Florida State running back Rodney Hill will enter the transfer portal for his final season of eligibility.
Jan. 5: As had widely been speculated, Arkansas has landed electric transfer running back Sutton Smith out of the portal. He is the fourth Memphis player to follow Silverfield to Fayetteville.
Jan. 6: Make that two running backs in two days out of the transfer portal, as Arkansas landed Michigan transfer Jasper Parker. He appeared in five games with the Wolverines as a true freshman this season.
Tight End
- Scholarship: 5
- Total on Roster: 6
Projected 2026 Roster
- ^Matt Adcock — senior (transfer from Memphis)
- Maddox Lassiter — redshirt junior
- ^Ty Lockwood — redshirt junior (transfer from Boston College, via Alabama)
- Jaden Platt — redshirt junior
- Gavin Garretson — redshirt freshman
- *Hutson Hendrix — redshirt freshman
Leaving the Team
- Rohan Jones — exhausted eligibility
- Andreas Paaske — exhausted eligibility
- *Kyle Thompson — transfer portal
- *Jeremiah Beck — transfer portal
- Ashton Dawson — decommitted
Timeline
Dec. 1: After talking to Ryan Silverfield, Ashton Dawson announced he was decommitting from Arkansas. He was pledged as a fullback and Silverfield didn’t utilize that position in his offense at Memphis.
Dec. 12: Best of Arkansas Sports has learned that walk-on fullback Kyle Thompson will not return for his redshirt senior season and instead pursue opportunities in the transfer portal. He was honored on Senior Day.
Dec. 30: Jeremiah Beck, a JUCO transfer who joined the Razorbacks as a walk-on last offseason, has announced he will enter the transfer portal.
Jan. 8: The first tight end addition of the offseason comes via the portal, as Matt Adcock has committed. He spent last season at Memphis, becoming the fifth Tiger to follow Silverfield to Fayetteville.
Jan. 9: Make that two tight ends in as many days, as the Razorbacks have also landed Ty Lockwood from Boston College. The former four-star recruit began his career at Alabama.
Wide Receiver
- Scholarship: 12
- Total on Roster: 13
Projected 2026 Roster
- ^Jamari Hawkins — redshirt senior (transfer from Memphis)
- ^Chris Marshall — redshirt senior (transfer from Boise State, via Ole Miss and Texas A&M)
- ^Donovan Faupel — senior (transfer from New Mexico State)
- Jalen Brown — redshirt junior
- Ismael Cisse — redshirt junior
- CJ Brown — junior
- Courtney Crutchfield — redshirt sophomore
- ^Jelani Watkins — redshirt sophomore (transfer from LSU)
- Antonio Jordan — redshirt freshman
- ^Jude Hall — freshman
- ^Blair Irvin III — freshman
- ^Dequane Prevo — freshman
- *Monte Harrison — redshirt sophomore
Leaving the Team
- O’Mega Blake — exhausted eligibility
- Raylen Sharpe — exhausted eligibility
- Andy Jean — transfer portal
- Kam Shanks — transfer portal
- Zach Taylor — transfer portal
- Krosse Johnson — transfer portal
- Ja’Kayden Ferguson — transfer portal
- *Jace Petty — transfer portal
- *Grant Karnes — transfer portal
- *Rykar Acebo — graduated/done playing
- *Walker Catsavis — graduated/done playing
Timeline
Dec. 3: On the first day of the Early Signing Period, Arkansas landed a commitment from three-star wide receiver Jude Hall. He had been committed to Ryan Silverfield at Memphis, but backed off his pledge earlier this week.
Dec. 9: Walk-on receiver Jace Petty announced he plans to enter the transfer portal when it opens Jan. 2. He’s believed to have one year of eligibility remaining.
Dec. 31: Despite originally indicating he would return in 2026, Andy Jean has announced he will instead enter the transfer portal.
Jan. 2: After just one season at Arkansas, former UAB wide receiver and punt returner Kam Shanks has entered the transfer portal.
Jan. 2: A late addition to the Razorbacks’ 2024 class, Zach Taylor played just seven total snaps — all on special teams — over the last two years before entering the transfer portal.
Jan. 3: Krosse Johnson, a former two-star recruit, has entered the transfer portal after two seasons with the Razorbacks.
Jan. 5: The first wide receiver Arkansas has reeled in from the transfer portal is Jamari Hawkins, who played for Silverfield at Memphis. He’s coming off a season in which he caught 38 passes for 623 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Jan. 8: Best of Arkansas Sports has learned that walk-on Grant Karnes has entered the transfer portal, while fellow walk-ons Rykar Acebo and Walker Catsavis have opted not to use their final season of eligibility.
Jan. 8: New Mexico State transfer Donovan Faupel has committed to Arkansas out of the portal. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
Jan. 9: After just one season at Arkansas, Ja’Kayden Ferguson has announced he’s entering the transfer portal.
Jan. 11: Former five-star recruit Chris Marshall has signed with the Razorbacks following a breakout season at Boise State in which he caught 30 passes for 574 yards and 2 touchdowns in 11 games. He originally signed with Texas A&M, spent some time at Ole Miss and played a year in JUCO before ending up with the Broncos.
Jan. 12: Jelani Watkins, a former top-150 recruit, has committed to Arkansas for both football and track. He spent the previous two years at LSU.
Offensive Line
- Scholarship: 16
- Total on Roster: 22
Projected 2026 Roster
- ^Davion Weatherspoon — sixth-year senior (transfer from Ohio)
- Brooks Edmonson — redshirt senior
- Caden Kitler — redshirt senior
- ^Bryant Williams — redshirt senior (transfer from Louisiana)
- ^Malachi Breland — redshirt junior (transfer from Memphis)
- Aaron Smith — redshirt junior (partial scholarship)
- Kobe Branham — redshirt sophomore
- Kavion Broussard — redshirt sophomore
- ^Adam Hawkes — redshirt sophomore (transfer from Oregon State)
- ^Terence Roberson — redshirt sophomore (transfer from Ouachita Baptist)
- ^Josiah Clemons — redshirt freshman (transfer from Memphis)
- Kash Courtney — redshirt freshman
- ^Carey Clayton — freshman
- ^Ben Mubenga — freshman
- ^Hugh Smith — freshman
- ^Tucker Young — freshman
- *Tim Dawn — redshirt senior
- *Payton Parks-Smith — redshirt senior
- *Alex Johnson — redshirt sophomore
- *Jonas Nantze — redshirt sophomore
- *^Lucas Possenti — redshirt sophomore (transfer from Temple)
- *^Emmanuel Flor — redshirt freshman (transfer from Sacred Heart)
Leaving the Team
- Fernando Carmona — exhausted eligibility
- Marcus Dumervil — exhausted eligibility
- Corey Robinson II — exhausted eligibility
- Shaq McRoy — transfer portal
- Blake Cherry — transfer portal
- LJ Prudhomme — transfer portal
- E’Marion Harris — transfer portal
- Bubba Craig — transfer portal
- Ashley Walker — decommitted
- Ayden Bussell — no longer part of portal class
Timeline
Dec. 1: In response to the hire of Ryan Silverfield, Ashley Walker announced he was backing off his commitment to Arkansas.
Dec. 9: In the first notable loss of the Silverfield era, Shaq McRoy announced he planned to enter the transfer portal. A rising redshirt sophomore, he was a former top-100 recruit and, when healthy, served as the Razorbacks’ sixth offensive lineman this year after transferring in from Oregon.
Dec. 28: After just one season with the Razorbacks, rising sophomore Blake Cherry announced via Twitter that he plans to enter the transfer portal when it opens. He appeared in all but one game as a true freshman, playing mostly special teams.
Jan. 1: Another member of Arkansas’ 2025 signing class is leaving after just one season, as LJ Prudhomme announced his plans to enter the transfer portal.
Jan. 2: Perhaps the biggest loss from the offense yet, E’Marion Harris posted on Instagram that he is entering the transfer portal. It was previously expected that he’d return and move back inside to guard. Instead, the Razorbacks are losing three starters and their top backup along the offensive line.
Jan. 4: The rebuild of Arkansas’ offensive line will start on the interior, as the first portal commit up front comes from Memphis left guard Malachi Breland.
Jan. 7: The Razorbacks have added a late-night commitment from Adam Hawkes, a transfer tackle from Oregon State. He started a pair of games as a redshirt freshman for the Beavers.
Jan. 8: Bubba Craig, who signed with Arkansas out of the JUCO ranks last offseason, has decided to enter the transfer portal. He appeared in only one game this season, getting some special teams snaps against Alabama A&M.
Jan. 8: The Razorbacks landed a big — literally and figuratively — commitment from Bryant Williams. The Louisiana standout is a four-star transfer prospect, according to 247Sports.
Jan. 9: Following his official visit, Warren native Terence Roberson Jr. has committed to Arkansas. Even though he was transferring from the DII ranks at Ouachita Baptist, he was being pursued my multiple SEC programs after starring as a redshirt freshman in 2025.
Jan. 16: The Razorbacks added a depth piece to the offensive line by signing guard Ayden Bussell, who transferred to West Virginia last offseason but ended up not playing because of an undisclosed health issue. He spent the first couple years of his career at Tennessee.
Jan. 17: In a bit of an unexpected move, Arkansas signed Davion Weatherspoon, an All-MAC performer at Ohio.
Jan. 18: The Weatherspoon addition makes more sense now, as multiple reports have surfaced that Bussell will not be part of the Razorbacks’ portal haul. He appears to be stepping away from the game.
Jan. 31: The Razorbacks added some depth up front by landing a commitment from Lucas Possenti. The Temple transfer will be a walk-on at Arkansas.
Feb. 2: They weren’t done, either. A couple of days later, Emmanuel Flor also committed to Arkansas as a walk-on. He is coming from Sacred Heart, an FCS program in Connecticut.
Arkansas Football Roster – Defense
Defensive Line
- Scholarship: 18
- Total on Roster: 18
Projected 2026 Roster
- David Oke — redshirt senior
- Quincy Rhodes Jr. — senior
- ^Hunter Osborne — redshirt junior (transfer from Virginia, via Alabama)
- ^Antonio Sandel-Bascomb — redshirt junior (JUCO transfer)
- Donovan Whitten — redshirt junior (partial scholarship)
- Charlie Collins — junior
- ^J’Lynn Allen — redshirt sophomore (JUCO transfer)
- ^Carlon Jones — redshirt sophomore (transfer from USC)
- ^Xadavien Sims — redshirt sophomore (transfer from Oregon)
- ^Jamonta Waller — redshirt sophomore (transfer from Auburn)
- Caleb Bell — redshirt freshman
- Keiundre Johnson — redshirt freshman
- ^Trajen Odom — redshirt freshman (transfer from Ohio State)
- Trent Sellers — redshirt freshman
- Reginald Vaughn — redshirt freshman
- ^Danny Beale — freshman
- ^Anthony Kennedy Jr. — freshman
- ^Colton Yarbrough — freshman
Leaving the Team
- Cameron Ball — exhausted eligibility
- Phillip Lee — exhausted eligibility
- Ian Geffrard — transfer portal (committed to Texas)
- Kaleb James — transfer portal
- Justus Boone — transfer portal (committed to Wisconsin)
- Kavion Henderson — transfer portal
- Ken Talley — transfer portal
- Danny Saili — transfer portal (needs Diego Pavia rule)
- Kevin Oatis — transfer portal
- Keyshawn Blackstock — transfer portal (needs Diego Pavia rule)
- Frank Mulipola — transfer portal (needs Diego Pavia rule)
- Ari Slocum — decommitted
Timeline
Dec. 1: Ryan Silverfield started his tenure as the Arkansas football coach with a bang, landing four-star defensive lineman Danny Beale III from Cross County. He was previously committed to Oklahoma State.
Dec. 1: Later that night, Silverfield also secured a pledge from Little Rock Central four-star defensive lineman Anthony Kennedy Jr., who was originally committed to Miami (Fla.).
Dec. 2: After already de-committing and re-committing once, Ari Slocum announced he had de-committed again after talking to Ryan Silverfield.
Dec. 4: Despite plenty of projections that had him among the top-50 prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, defensive end Quincy Rhodes Jr. has opted to return to school for his senior year. He announced his decision during Ryan Silverfield’s introductory press conference.
Dec. 22: The most experienced defensive tackle with definite remaining eligibility, Ian Geffrard has announced he plans to enter the transfer portal. The 6-foot-5, 387-pounder started every game in 2025 and has played 682 career defensive snaps.
Dec. 26: After three seasons in which he was buried on the depth chart, defensive tackle Kaleb James announced he would be entering the transfer portal for his last two years of eligibility.
Dec. 29: The first JUCO commitment of the Silverfield era comes from Antonio Sandel-Bascomb, a big defensive tackle out of Coffeyville C.C. He was previously committed to Memphis, but backed off his pledge shortly before the early signing period. He’ll be a redshirt junior with the Razorbacks.
Dec. 30: It appears that Justus Boone will receive a medical redshirt for his 2023 season missed with an injury, but he’ll be using that extra year of eligibility elsewhere because he is entering the transfer portal. He transferred to Arkansas from Florida last offseason.
Dec. 31: After two seasons with limited playing time, former four-star recruit Kavion Henderson announced he plans to enter the transfer portal.
Dec. 31: Pine Bluff native Charlie Collins has announced he’ll enter the transfer portal. This news contradicts what a source previously told BoAS.
Jan. 2: Ken Talley, who played sparingly in his lone season with the Razorbacks after transferring in from Michigan State, has entered the transfer portal. He’ll be remembered as the player who was allegedly punched by interim defensive coordinator Chris Wilson.
Jan. 4: He’ll need the Diego Pavia rule to get extra eligibility, but defensive tackle Danny Saili has entered the transfer portal. With that, Arkansas is losing its top three defensive tackles from 2025.
Jan. 5: Despite originally stating his intent to return, freshman defensive tackle Kevin Oatis is instead entering the transfer portal.
Jan. 6: The Razorbacks are in desperate need of defensive tackles and took a step toward that by landing Carlon Jones, a transfer from USC.
Jan. 6: Make that two defensive tackles in one day, as Arkansas also landed a commitment from Virginia transfer Hunter Osborne. He began his career at Alabama.
Jan. 7: As has been speculated for several days, Jamonta Waller has committed to Arkansas. He originally committed to Ron Roberts at Auburn and spent two injury-filled seasons with the Tigers. The former four-star recruit is a linebacker/edge rusher, but we’re including him with the defensive line because that’s how he’s listed by the UA.
Jan. 7: About a week after announcing he’d enter the transfer portal, Charlie Collins has re-signed with the Razorbacks. That ultimately confirms what a source had previously told BoAS.
Jan. 8: He’ll need the Diego Pavia rule to pass to get more eligibility, but Keyshawn Blackstock has entered the transfer portal. He was an offensive lineman who moved to defensive tackle before the 2025 season.
Jan. 16: Frank Mulipola, who transferred to Arkansas from DII Texas-Permian Basin last offseason, has reentered the transfer portal. Like Saili and Blackstock, he’ll need the Diego Pavia rule to gain more eligibility.
Jan. 16: Things had been quiet on the defensive line for the last week, but that finally ended when the Razorbacks landed Xadavien Sims, a former four-star recruit who spent the last two years at Oregon. He’s a former high school teammate of incoming freshman Colton Yarbrough.
Jan. 18: Arkansas wasn’t done, either. A couple of days later, it reeled in Trajen Odom. He spent his freshman year at Ohio State and will be a redshirt freshman in Fayetteville.
Feb. 4: Following an official visit over the weekend, defensive end J’Lynn Allen has signed with Arkansas. He’ll be a redshirt sophomore in 2026 after spending the last two years at Hutchinson C.C. and is originally from North Little Rock, where he was a high school teammate of Quincy Rhodes Jr.
Linebacker
- Scholarship: 9
- Total on Roster: 12
Projected 2026 Roster
- ^Phoenix Jackson — sixth-year senior (transfer from Baylor, via Fresno State)
- ^Ben Bogle — redshirt senior (transfer from West Virginia, via Southern Illinois)
- ^Jeremy Evans — redshirt senior (transfer from Baylor)
- ^Khmori House — junior (transfer from North Carolina, via Washington)
- Bradley Shaw — junior
- ^Ja’Quavion Smith — junior (transfer from Howard)
- ^Steven Soles Jr. — junior (transfer from Kentucky)
- Wyatt Simmons — redshirt sophomore
- ^Jakore Smith — freshman
- *Mason Schueck — redshirt senior
- *Preston Davis — redshirt sophomore
- *Joseph Whitt — redshirt sophomore
Leaving the Team
- Stephen Dix Jr. — exhausted eligibility
- Xavian Sorey Jr. — exhausted eligibility
- Trent Whalen — exhausted eligibility
- Tavion Wallace — transfer portal
- Justin Logan — transfer portal
- Andrew Harris — transfer portal
- *Cade Fields — transfer portal
Timeline
Dec. 1: The second commitment in Silverfield’s 22-minute recruiting spree was three-star linebacker Jakore Smith out of Bryant. He was originally pledged to Oklahoma.
Dec. 11: After just one season with the Razorbacks, heralded linebacker Tavion Wallace announced he plans to enter the transfer portal. It’s not a surprising move considering former defensive coordinator Travis Williams was the reason he came to Arkansas in the first place.
Dec. 16: Walk-on Cade Fields, who was originally a running back, announced via Instagram that he plans to enter the transfer portal.
Dec. 29: The father of Justin Logan shared on Facebook that his son would be entering the transfer portal at the encouragement of the new coaching staff.
Dec. 30: According to hogsmedia on Instagram, Andrew Harris plans to enter the transfer portal. He spent one year in Fayetteville after transferring in from UCF, where he was originally recruited by Travis Williams.
Jan. 5: The Razorbacks began their rebuild of the linebacker room with a transfer from the FCS ranks, landing Ja’Quavion Smith from Howard. He is coming off a season in which he posted an impressive 86.1 PFF grade on 424 snaps.
Jan. 7: A four-star transfer, Khmori House has committed to Arkansas. He was North Carolina’s leading tackler this year after playing his freshman season at Washington.
Jan. 7: Another edge rusher/linebacker, Steven Soles Jr. has committed to the Razorbacks. He was very productive as a pass rusher in limited action the last two years at Kentucky. We are considering him a linebacker because that’s how the UA lists him.
Jan. 8: After originally committing to Washington State out of the portal, Baylor transfer linebacker Phoenix Jackson has signed with the Razorbacks. He began his career at Fresno State and will presumably receive a medical redshirt for 2025, giving him an extra year of eligibility.
Jan. 9: A day after his Baylor teammate committed to Arkansas, Jeremy Evans followed suit. He spent the previous four years with the Bears.
Jan. 11: The Razorbacks have landed transfer linebacker Ben Bogle from West Virginia. He was previously an FCS All-American at Southern Illinois and spent just one season with the Mountaineers.
Defensive Back
- Scholarship: 18
- Total on Roster: 21
Projected 2026 Roster
- ^John Howse IV — sixth-year senior (transfer from Middle Tennessee, via Vanderbilt)
- ^Christian Harrison — redshirt senior (transfer from Cincinnati, via Tennessee)
- ^Kyeaure Magloire — redshirt senior (transfer from West Georgia, via Eastern Kentucky)
- Miguel Mitchell — redshirt senior
- ^Carter Stoutmire — senior (transfer from Colorado)
- ^Jahiem Johnson — redshirt junior (transfer from Tulane)
- ^Shelton Lewis — redshirt junior (transfer from Clemson)
- ^Tyler Scott — redshirt junior (transfer from Georgia State, via Auburn)
- ^La’khi Roland — junior (transfer from Maryland)
- ^Braydon Lee — redshirt sophomore (transfer from Maryland)
- ^Nsongbeh Ginyui — sophomore (transfer from JUCO)
- ^DJ Hairston — sophomore (transfer from JUCO)
- ^Ian Williams — sophomore (transfer from Memphis)
- ^LaMarcus Hicks II — redshirt freshman (transfer from Iowa State)
- ^Jalon Copeland — freshman
- ^Brandon Ford — freshman
- ^Tay Lockett — freshman
- ^Kyndrick Williams — freshman
- *^Kourtlan Marsh — redshirt senior (transfer from Memphis)
- *Landon Phipps — redshirt senior
- *Blake Brisker — redshirt freshman
Leaving the Team
- Julian Neal — exhausted eligibility
- Shakur Smalls — exhausted eligibility
- Kani Walker — exhausted eligibility
- Caleb Wooden — exhausted eligibility
- Larry Worth III — exhausted eligibility
- Jordan Young — exhausted eligibility
- Keshawn Davila — transfer portal
- Miguel Mitchell — transfer portal
- JJ Shelton — transfer portal
- Selman Bridges — transfer portal
- Jaden Allen — transfer portal
- Taijh Overton — transfer portal
- Quentavius Scandrett — transfer portal
- Ahkhari Johnson — transfer portal
- Jaheim Singletary — transfer portal
- Nigel Pringle — transfer portal
- *Jabrae Shaw — transfer portal
- *Anton Pierce — transfer portal
- *Braylon Watson — graduated/done playing
- Keivay Foster — decommitted
Timeline
Nov. 30: On the same day Ryan Silverfield was announced as the new Arkansas football coach, Keshawn Davila announced his plans to enter the transfer portal. The rising senior was part of the secondary rotation in 2025 after joining the team as a JUCO transfer.
Dec. 2: Keivay Foster, a three-star defensive back from Alabama, announced he was backing off his pledge to the Razorbacks.
Dec. 3: The second Memphis commit Ryan Silverfield got to follow him to Fayetteville was three-star defensive back Brandon Ford out of Texas.
Dec. 5: Walk-on defensive back Jabrae Shaw has announced he plans to enter the transfer portal.
Dec. 26: Miguel Mitchell, who was set to be a fifth-year senior in 2026, has announced he plans to enter the transfer portal.
Dec. 30: After a promising true freshman season, JJ Shelton has announced he will enter the transfer portal. He was listed as a linebacker on the roster, but played as a nickel back.
Dec. 30: Walk-on Anton Pierce has announced he will enter the transfer portal.
Dec. 31: For the second straight offseason, promising cornerback Selman Bridges is entering the transfer portal. He withdrew last year, but ended up not playing much in 2025.
Jan. 2: According to hogsmedia on Instagram, Nigel Pringle is entering the transfer portal. He appeared in 10 games as a true freshman, playing mostly special teams.
Jan. 2: Another freshman defensive back, Taijh Overton, is leaving Arkansas via the transfer portal. He played in the season-opener against Alabama A&M, but didn’t see the field again.
Jan. 4: The first transfer portal commitment of the Silverfield era is safety Christian Harris from Cincinnati. He spent three years at Tennessee before becoming a starter for the Bearcats, where he made 66 tackles and an interception this year. He is the son of two-time All-Pro safety Rodney Harrison.
Jan. 4: After two seasons in Fayetteville, Ahkhari Johnson has opted to enter the transfer portal. His decision leaves the Razorbacks with only one possible returning scholarship defensive back (Jaheim Singletary).
Jan. 6: Perhaps the biggest commitment yet from the transfer portal, Jahiem Johnson — whose nickname is “Joker” — has pledged to the Razorbacks. He is coming off a huge season at Tulane in which he made four interceptions.
Jan. 6: Just four days after entering, rising sophomore Nigel Pringle withdrew from the transfer portal.
Jan. 7: Shelton Lewis, who has experience at cornerback and nickel, has committed to Arkansas. He’s a transfer from Clemson.
Jan. 8: Despite going up against the likes of Ohio State, Arkansas managed to land heralded transfer La’khi Roland from Maryland.
Jan. 8: Best of Arkansas Sports has learned that walk-on Braylon Watson has opted not to use his final season of eligibility.
Jan. 8: On the same day they found out they landed his heralded teammate, fellow Maryland transfer cornerback Braydon Lee also signed with the Razorbacks.
Jan. 9: Instead of returning as a fifth-year senior, Jaheim Singletary has opted to enter the transfer portal. He was a former five-star recruit who began his career at Georgia. His transfer to Arkansas was heralded as a major get, but he never locked down consistent playing time.
Jan. 11: Arkansas added more depth in the secondary by signing Ian Williams, a safety who is following Silverfield from Memphis to Fayetteville.
Jan. 12: Arkansas officially has no returning scholarship defensive backs, as Nigel Pringle has decided to re-enter the transfer portal after initially entering and withdrawing, according to HawgSports.
Jan. 16: After a few days with no news on the transfer portal, Arkansas reeled in a relatively big fish in Carter Stoutmire. He had started 14 games at Colorado over the last two seasons and fulfills a major need at safety.
Jan. 16: The Razorbacks added more depth in the secondary by signing Kyeaure Magloire, a transfer cornerback out of West Georgia. He began his career at FCS Eastern Kentucky before joining the Wolves, who moved up from DII to FCS upon his arrival in 2024.
Jan. 16: Arkansas has landed its second JUCO player, signing defensive back Nsongbeh Ginyui from Bakersfield College in California. He joins defensive tackle Antonio Sandel-Bascomb.
Jan. 16: The Razorbacks still needed safeties even after landing Stoutmire earlier in the day, so they also inked John Howse IV from Middle Tennessee. He began his career at Vanderbilt.
Jan. 16: Make it five defensive backs in one day, as LaMarcus Hicks II also committed to Arkansas. He is coming off a freshman campaign in which he didn’t play much at Iowa State.
Jan. 17: About three weeks after announcing he would transfer, Miguel Mitchell withdrew from the portal and will play his final season at Arkansas. It’s a big development for Arkansas, which was still in need of experienced safeties. He’ll be the lone returning scholarship defensive back from last year’s team.
Jan. 20: The Razorbacks made a late addition by signing cornerback DJ Hairston from Hinds C.C. in Mississippi.
Feb. 4: After missing last season with an injury, Kourtlan Marsh has decided to follow Silverfield from Memphis to Fayetteville as a walk-on. He’ll be a sixth-year senior.
Arkansas Football Roster – Special Teams
Specialists
- Scholarship: 3
- Total on Roster: 8
Projected 2026 Roster
- ^K Braeden McAlister — redshirt senior (transfer from Georgia State, via Charlotte)
- ^K Max Gilbert — redshirt junior (transfer from Tennessee)
- ^LS Adam Johnston — redshirt junior (transfer from Sacramento State)
- *LS Max Schmidly — redshirt junior
- *K Charlie Von Der Meden — redshirt sophomore
- *P Gavin Rush — redshirt freshman
- *^LS Eli Haltom — freshman
- *^P Connor Smith — freshman
Leaving the Team
- P Devin Bale — exhausted eligibility
- LS Zach Haber — transfer portal
- LS Ashton Ngo — transfer portal (needs Diego Pavia rule)
- K Scott Starzyk — transfer portal
- *P Cooper DiLeva — transfer portal
- *K Blake Ford — transfer portal
Timeline
Dec. 16: Walk-on punter Cooper DiLeva, a JUCO transfer who joined the Razorbacks over the summer, has announced he plans to enter the transfer portal.
Dec. 28: Long snapper Zach Haber, who was awarded a partial scholarship before the 2025 season, has announced he plans to enter the transfer portal. He was a JUCO transfer out of Butler C.C.
Jan. 1: For the second time in his career, Blake Ford is set to transfer away from Arkansas, as he has announced plans to enter the portal. He previously transferred to North Texas before boomeraging back to Fayetteville this year.
Jan. 4: Arkansas has landed a commitment from Braeden McAlister, a transfer from Georgia State. He was primarily a kickoff specialist, but he did boot a school-record 60-yard field goal in 2025.
Jan. 4: Long snapper Adam Johnston, a transfer from FCS Sacramento State, has committed to the Hogs. He was the Hornets’ starter in 2025.
Jan. 4: Believed to be out of eligibility, Ashton Ngo has filed for an extra year of eligibility (Diego Pavia rule) and entered the transfer portal. He was the Razorbacks’ starting long snapper this past season.
Jan. 4: In a bit of a surprising move, Arkansas has landed a second kicker from the transfer portal, signing Max Gilbert from Tennessee. Unlike McAlister, he’s a proven field goal kicker, having made 34 of 45 field goals the last two years with the Vols.
Jan. 4: In a corresponding move, Scott Starzyk announced he was entering the transfer portal. He had a solid freshman campaign in which he went 14 of 18 on field goals and had previously indicated he would return.
Arkansas Football’s Transfer Portal Action
Transfers Out
47 total, 37 on scholarship
- QB Trever Jackson (committed to Coastal Carolina)
- QB Grayson Wilson (committed to Boston College)
- RB Rodney Hill (committed to Coastal Carolina)
- WR Andy Jean
- WR Kam Shanks (committed to Wake Forest)
- WR Zach Taylor (committed to Appalachian State)
- WR Krosse Johnson (committed to Coastal Carolina)
- WR Ja’Kayden Ferguson (committed to Kentucky)
- OL Shaq McRoy (committed to North Carolina)
- OL Blake Cherry (committed to Wisconsin)
- OL LJ Prudhomme (committed to Mississippi State)
- OL E’Marion Harris (committed to Oklahoma)
- OL Bubba Craig
- DL Ian Geffrard (committed to Texas)
- DL Kaleb James (committed to Texas State)
- DL Justus Boone (committed to Wisconsin)
- DL Kavion Henderson (committed to Troy)
- DL Ken Talley (committed to UCF)
- DL Danny Saili
- DL Kevin Oatis (committed to Kansas)
- DL Keyshawn Blackstock
- DL Frank Mulipola
- LB Tavion Wallace (committed to Kentucky)
- LB Justin Logan (committed to Tennessee State)
- LB Andrew Harris
- DB Keshawn Davila (committed to North Texas)
- DB JJ Shelton (committed to Baylor)
- DB Selman Bridges (committed to Nevada)
- DB Jaden Allen (committed to North Texas)
- DB Nigel Pringle (committed to Arizona State)
- DB Taijh Overton (committed to ULM)
- DB Quentavius Scandrett
- DB Ahkhari Johnson (committed to Louisiana Tech)
- DB Jaheim Singletary (committed to Iowa State)
- LS Zach Haber (committed to Illinois)
- LS Ashton Ngo
- K Scott Starzyk (committed to LSU)
- *RB AJ Green (committed to Western Michigan)
- *FB Kyle Thompson
- *TE Jeremiah Beck
- *WR Jace Petty
- *WR Grant Karnes
- *LB Cade Fields (committed to Murray State)
- *DB Jabrae Shaw
- *DB Anton Pierce (committed to UT-Martin)
- *P Cooper DiLeva (committed to San Diego State)
- *K Blake Ford (committed to Georgia Southern)
Withdrawn from Portal
- DL Charlie Collins
- DB Miguel Mitchell
DB Nigel Pringle(re-entered the portal)
Transfers In
45 total (including four walk-ons)
- QB AJ Hill (Memphis)
- QB Braeden Fuller (Angelo State)
- *QB Cade Trotter (Clemson)
- RB Sutton Smith (Memphis)
- RB Jasper Parker (Michigan)
- TE Matt Adcock (Memphis)
- TE Ty Lockwood (Boston College)
- WR Jamari Hawkins (Memphis)
- WR Donovan Faupel (New Mexico State)
- WR Chris Marshall (Boise State)
- WR Jelani Watkins (LSU)
- OL Malachi Breland (Memphis)
- OL Adam Hawkes (Oregon State)
- OL Bryant Williams (Louisiana)
- OL Josiah Clemons (Memphis)
- OL Terence Roberson (Ouachita Baptist)
- OL Davion Weatherspoon (Ohio)
- *OL Lucas Possenti (Temple)
- *OL Emmanuel Flor (Sacred Heart)
- DL Carlon Jones (USC)
- DL Hunter Osborne (Virginia)
- DL Jamonta Waller (Auburn)
- DL Xadavien Sims (Oregon)
- DL Trajen Odom (Ohio State)
- LB Ja’Quavion Smith (Howard)
- LB Khmori House (North Carolina)
- LB Steven Soles (Kentucky)
- LB Phoenix Jackson (Baylor)
- LB Jeremy Evans (Baylor)
- LB Ben Bogle (West Virginia)
- DB Christian Harrison (Cincinnati)
- DB Jahiem Johnson (Tulane)
- DB Shelton Lewis (Clemson)
- DB La’khi Roland (Maryland)
- DB Braydon Lee (Maryland)
- DB Tyler Scott (Georgia State)
- DB Ian Williams (Memphis)
- DB Carter Stoutmire (Colorado)
- DB Kyeaure Magloire (West Georgia)
- DB John Howse IV (Middle Tennessee)
- DB LaMarcus Hicks II (Iowa State)
- *DB Kourtlan Marsh (Memphis)
- K Braeden McAlister (Georgia State)
- K Max Gilbert (Tennessee)
- LS Adam Johnston (Sacramento State)
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More coverage of Arkansas football and the transfer portal from BoAS…
Author
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Hailing from Springdale, Andrew Hutchinson graduated from the University of Arkansas with a journalism degree in 2016. While he played baseball, basketball, football and ran track growing up, he quickly realized he lacked the size and athleticism to play anything beyond high school and shifted gears to stay involved with sports. Starting his career covering the Razorbacks with The Traveler while in college, Hutchinson has also worked for the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Hawgs Illustrated, WholeHogSports, 247Sports, HawgBeat/Rivals and now BoAS, where he’s been the managing editor since the summer of 2022. In 2020, he was named the Arkansas Sportswriter of the Year by the NSMA. When he’s not writing, Hutchinson is spending time with his wife, Marley, and two daughters.




