When the dust settled after spring ball, Arkansas football saw 23 scholarship players leave the program via the transfer portal.
All of them landed at other schools, but only 22 are listed below. The lone player missing is defensive back LaDarrius Bishop, who is no longer listed on UNLV’s roster.
The Ashdown native would have been a seventh-year super senior this fall, presumably getting an extra year of eligibility for his 2022 season that was cut short by a knee injury.
Even without Bishop, there are 42 former scholarship Razorbacks still active across various levels of college football.
Of the 22 who were on the team last year, all but four landed at Power Four schools. That’s a stark contrast to the previous transfers who are still active in college, of whom only four — out of 20 — are currently at Power Four schools.
We’ve also included a look at where 10 former Arkansas walk-ons are at now.
Arkansas Football Transfers
RB Isaiah Augustave — Colorado
One of the biggest signees in Arkansas’ 2023 recruiting class, Isaiah Augustave turned some heads in the preseason, but his role was hard to project because of what seemed to be a deep running back room. Despite that not really coming to fruition, it wasn’t until late in the season that the Florida native finally got extended work. All he did at that point was run for 101 yards against FIU and 80 yards against Missouri.
Despite sticking around for spring ball, Augustave never really got reps with the first-team offense and, unsurprisingly, hit the transfer portal during the spring window. He landed at Colorado, where he’s battling several running backs — including Ohio State transfer Dallan Hayden, the younger brother of former Arkansas running back Chase Hayden — for the starting job.
DT Anthony Booker Jr. — SMU
A graduate transfer from Maryland, Anthony Booker Jr. spent just one season at Arkansas before re-entering the transfer portal. Nicknamed “Tank,” the 6-foot-4, 351-pound defensive tackle didn’t start any games for the Razorbacks, but was a key rotational piece and finished with 19 tackles while playing 194 snaps in 11 games.
Although he also visited Texas Tech, Booker ultimately committed to SMU for his super senior season. The Mustangs open their season in Week 0, playing at Nevada on Saturday. According to their official depth chart, Booker is the starting nose tackle.
DT Taurean Carter — Colorado
The last remaining player of the three Mansfield Legacy signees in the 2019 class that also featured Jalen Catalon, Taurean Carter spent five seasons at Arkansas. He was primed for a breakout year in 2022, but was derailed by a torn ACL at the end of spring ball. Carter returned from that injury last season and started four games, finishing with 25 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in 261 snaps.
It looked like he’d be returning home when he announced a commitment to SMU, but he backed off that pledge and flipped to Colorado, which he admitted he was thinking about even during the season. Boulder, Co. is where former Arkansas teammates Myles Slusher and Jordan Domineck played in 2023. Entering his super senior season, Carter is currently projected to be a third-team nose tackle for the Buffaloes, according to Buff Stampede.
As you can see here, though, he’s bringing that first-team passion in a big, R-rated way:
OL Andrew Chamblee — SMU
Considered a four-star recruit by some outlets coming out of Maumelle High, Andrew Chamblee chose to stay in state and play for the Razorbacks. He didn’t appear in any games his first year in college, but was thrust into starting role as a redshirt freshman because of an injury to Devon Manuel. They ended up essentially splitting the snaps at left tackle, with Chamblee earning a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team.
Sam Pittman revealed at the start of spring ball that he had left the team, saying he had lost his love for the game, but Chamblee seemingly refuted that on social media and eventually entered the transfer portal. He’s continuing his career at SMU, where he’ll play for Arkansas native Rhett Lashlee, a potential Sam Pittman successor one day.
Despite his experience in the SEC, Chamblee is not listed in the Mustangs’ two-deep for Saturday’s game at Nevada. Most of their offensive line is comprised of fourth-year or older players, but a pair of redshirt sophomores — the same classification as Chamblee — are listed as the first- and second-team left tackle.
DB Malik Chavis — UNLV
An in-state signee out of Rison in the 2019 class, Malik Chavis was a versatile defensive back for the Razorbacks, bouncing between cornerback and safety over the last five seasons. He started nine total games at Arkansas, but was hampered by a hand injury this past season.
Rather than return for his super senior season, Chavis continued the Arkansas-to-Las Vegas pipeline. He reunited with Jalen Catalon, who spent the 2023 season at Texas, in UNLV’s secondary, as well as fellow former teammates Mani Powell, Jackson Woodard, Jalen St. John and Landon Rogers. The Rebels are of course coached by former Arkansas defensive coordinator Barry Odom, with former linebackers coach Michael Scherer serving as the defensive coordinator.
QB Jacolby Criswell — North Carolina
Sam Pittman didn’t have enough time after being hired to flip him from North Carolina, but he still made an impression on Jacolby Criswell back in 2020 when he was a four-star recruit at Morrilton. That’s why he chose to return home when he entered the transfer portal after the 2022 season. Criswell served as KJ Jefferson’s backup last year and completed 17 of 27 passes for 143 yards and three touchdowns.
Expected to compete with Taylen Green for the starting job this year, he not only didn’t factor into the quarterback battle, but he failed to even lock down the backup job. Not surprisingly, he hit the transfer portal and ended up back at North Carolina as a so-called “boomerang” transfer. Criswell figured to be in another battle with the Tar Heels, but the race now appears to be between Max Johnson and Conner Harrell.
LB Jordan Crook — Arizona State
Jordan Crook was a high three-star recruit out of Duncanville High in the 2022 class and immediately became a contributor for the Razorbacks. He played 122 defensive snaps as a freshman and even started the Liberty Bowl against Kansas. That didn’t carry over into this season, though, as his playing time was very sporadic even though he ended up getting 142 snaps.
Instead of staying at Arkansas, where likely would have competed for a starting job in 2024, Crook opted to hit the transfer portal and landed at Arizona State. It looks like he may have a shot at starting anyways, as he took first-team reps in a recent Sun Devils scrimmage, according to Sun Devil Source.
P Max Fletcher — Cincinnati
A native of Australia who had never played in an organized football game before college, Max Fletcher signed with the Razorbacks as a scholarship punter. He had an up-and-down freshman campaign, eventually losing the job to Reid Bauer, but was a breakout performer as a sophomore. His 46.9-yard average not only ranked seventh nationally and earned him second-team All-SEC accolades, but also ranked second in school history.
Despite the successful season, Fletcher found himself in a real battle with Devin Bale this spring. He still figured to win the job, but opted to hit the transfer portal. Interestingly, he landed at Cincinnati with his brother, another standout punter. Because his brother has only one year of eligibility remaining, Fletcher is expected to be the Bearcats’ backup and redshirt this season.
RB AJ Green — Oklahoma State
Known for his speed as a four-star recruit at Union High School in Tulsa, AJ Green was part of Arkansas’ backfield for three seasons, primarily as a backup. He rushed for 953 yards and six touchdowns, plus added another 19 receptions for 184 yards and two scores, during his time with the Razorbacks.
Tulsa announced him as a signee, but Green ultimately backed out of that and chose to transfer to Oklahoma State instead. He was expected to back up Ollie Gordon II, who led the country in rushing last season, but he suffered a lower leg injury in spring and will miss “the first few months” of the season. That means he won’t get a crack at revenge when Arkansas visits Stillwater in Week 2.
QB KJ Jefferson — UCF
It didn’t end on a high note, but KJ Jefferson enjoyed one of the most successful careers by quarterback in Arkansas football history. He leaves the Razorbacks as their all-time leader in passing yards (7,911), passing touchdowns (67), total yards (9,787) and total touchdowns (88), all while completing 65.1% of his passes and throwing only 18 interceptions.
Despite plenty of speculation that he’d end up somewhere in the SEC, with both Mississippi schools, South Carolina and Auburn each rumored to be interested, Jefferson left the conference entirely to play for Gus Malzahn at UCF in the Big 12. Not only will he be the Knights’ starting quarterback, but he was picked to be the conference’s Newcomer of the Year by the media.
RB Dominique Johnson — TCU
After a quiet freshman year in which he primarily played on special teams, Dominique Johnson was a surprise breakout star during the Razorbacks’ stellar 2021 season. He took over as the starter about midway through the year and ran for 575 yards and seven touchdowns on only 97 carries — an impressive 5.9 yards per carry. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL in the Outback Bowl and then tore it again early in 2022.
Johnson was never the same after those injuries, but did manage to run for 210 yards on 39 carries (5.4 ypc) in limited action over the last two seasons. He went through spring ball, but seemed to be well down the depth chart, so it wasn’t surprising when he entered the transfer portal.
TCU made sense as a landing spot because former Arkansas running backs coach Jimmy Smith is now on staff there. tHowever, it appears he’ll be third-team, at best, with the Horned Frogs, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
DB Lorando Johnson — Baylor
One of the Razorbacks’ bigger additions from the transfer portal last offseason, Lorando Johnson was a four-star recruit who initially played nickel before becoming a starting cornerback at Baylor. At Arkansas, he split time between those two positions and started all 12 games last year, finishing with 29 tackles — including 4 tackles for loss and 1 sack — as well as 5 pass breakups and 1 interception.
Despite having him back, the Razorbacks brought in several defensive backs as transfers, including Doneiko Slaughter from Tennessee. They were in the midst of a position battle this spring before Johnson decided to his the portal again. He is another “boomerang” transfer, as he’ll end his career back at Baylor. Johnson is expected to play a significant role on the Bears’ defense, with Bears Illustrated tabbing him as the team’s third-best cornerback.
DB RJ Johnson — Colorado
As a three-star defensive back coming out of high school, Johnson was a developmental piece of Arkansas’ 2023 recruiting class. He appeared in just one game — against Western Carolina — last season and didn’t record any statistics.
Rather than play a second season in Fayetteville, Johnson entered the transfer portal during the spring window and landed at Colorado. According to Buff Stampede’s projections, he’s expected to be a third-team strong safety — which just so happens to be the same position as Shilo Sanders.
DB Jaylen Lewis — Temple
One of two defensive backs from Tennessee to sign with Arkansas in 2022, Jaylen Lewis lasted only a couple of seasons in Fayetteville. He got some run at nickel in the Liberty Bowl at the end of his freshman year, but couldn’t parlay that into a spot in the rotation this season. Unsurprisingly, he chose to leave the team the week of the Missouri game.
His landing spot makes a lot of sense, as Temple is where former Arkansas assistant Dominique Bowman coaches cornerbacks. Bowman was Lewis’ position coach with the Razorbacks in 2022. Coming out of the spring, he was projected to be the backup nickel back by OwlsDaily.
OL Devon Manuel — Florida
He was a bit of an under-the-radar recruit and extremely overweight, but Sam Pittman saw potential in Devon Manuel even though he was close to 400 pounds when he arrived on campus. The 6’9” Louisiana native worked to get that weight down to 310 pounds and was in position to take over as the Razorbacks’ starting left tackle this season, but he was hindered by multiple injuries and ended up starting only four games.
Considering his solid 70.1 PFF grade on 417 snaps and the nature of the position, Manuel was a coveted prospect in the transfer portal and ultimately committed to Florida over USC, Oklahoma State, Kentucky, Miami (Fla.), Missouri and others. He was expected to compete for a spot on the Gators’ offensive line, but he’s not currently projected to start. In fact, Swamp247 recently ranked him as just the 10th-most impactful transfer Florida brought in this offseason.
WR Sam Mbake — Kilgore College (JUCO)
A four-star recruit in the 2022 class, Sam Mbake carved out a role on special teams as a freshman even though he didn’t get many reps on offense. Based on his performance in spring ball and early fall camp, he seemed like he was on his way to being a major factor at wide receiver this past season, but he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first preseason scrimmage.
Mbake was dismissed from the team late in the season, with him later claiming the last straw was a speeding ticket he received. It seems unlikely, but he’s said he’d like to return to Arkansas at some point. He’ll be looking for a landing spot again next offseason, as he has taken the JUCO route by heading to Kilgore C.C.
OL Paris Patterson — SMU
Despite being a four-star recruit out of East St. Louis, Paris Patterson didn’t appear in a game during his freshman year at Arkansas. He was buried on the depth chart, usually getting reps with the third-team offensive line.
Patterson entered the transfer portal during the spring window and landed at SMU, where he’ll once again play with fellow offensive lineman Andrew Chamblee. Like his former teammate, though, he is not listed on SMU’s official depth chart for Saturday’s game at Nevada.
LB Chris Paul Jr. — Ole Miss
Perhaps the most surprising transfer portal departure of the offseason was one of the first players to leave, as Chris Paul Jr. announced he was leaving just a few days after the end of the regular season. Known as “Pooh,” he was a starting linebacker for the Razorbacks this year and made 137 tackles, including 15 for loss and six sacks, during his three seasons in Fayetteville.
Less surprising was just how coveted he was in the transfer portal. As On3’s third-best transfer linebacker, he had offers from TCU, Auburn, Missouri, Florida State, Texas A&M, South Carolina, Oklahoma and several other schools, but ultimately chose to stay in the SEC by committing to Ole Miss. It appears that Paul is in a battle with TJ Dottery for the Rebels’ starting middle linebacker job.
LB Mani Powell — UNLV
Originally from Ohio, Mani Powell moved to Fayetteville for his senior year of high school after committing to the Razorbacks. He played a decent amount of special teams as a true freshman and then was on five different units this past season, but hardly saw the field on defense.
He is another member of that aforementioned Arkansas-to-Las Vegas pipeline, as he’s continuing his career at UNLV. It sounds like Powell is in the mix to contribute on defense, even if it’s not as a starter.
RB Rocket Sanders — South Carolina
Injuries, plus a struggling offensive line, prevented Rocket Sanders from having the kind of junior season many expected from him last year. He was very good as the Razorbacks’ No. 2 running back his freshman year and then burst onto the national scene with a 1,443-yard sophomore campaign in which he earned All-SEC accolades. Unfortunately, Sanders got hurt in the opener and was never himself in 2023.
Instead of trying his hand at the NFL Draft, he decided to enter the transfer portal and play his senior year elsewhere. Sanders landed at South Carolina, where Dowell Loggains is the offensive coordinator. The buzz around Columbia is that he’s set to look much more like he did in 2022 than last year, as he enters the season as the Gamecocks’ starting running back.
OL Joe Su’a — Arizona State
A transplant from California who finished his high school career at Bentonville, Joey Su’a chose to stay close to home as a high three-star recruit in the 2023 class. Unfortunately, injuries sidelined him for most of the year and he redshirted.
Rather than sticking around for a second season with the Razorbacks, Su’a hit the transfer portal and headed back west, signing with Arizona State. In a recent scrimmage, Su’a worked as the third-team left guard and was actually whistled for a false start, causing him to run the length of the field as punishment.
LB Jaheim Thomas — Wisconsin
Part of the Cincinnati team that visited Fayetteville and lost to open the 2022 season, Jaheim Thomas was a former four-star recruit who initially chose to stay close to home by signing with the Bearcats. He was a key addition to the Razorbacks’ transfer portal haul last offseason and ended up being the team’s leading tackler.
However, late in the season, Thomas lost his starting job and played sparingly. He sent – and quickly deleted – a cryptic tweet following the loss to Missouri in the regular-season finale and then hit the portal when the NCAA loosened its restrictions on multi-time transfers. Thomas landed at Wisconsin, where he’ll play for his former head coach at Cincinnati, Luke Fickell, and is expected to be a starting linebacker for the Badgers.
Non-Scholarship Players in the Transfer Portal
- WR Marlon Crockett — Stephen F. Austin (FCS)
- K Blake Ford — North Texas
- K/P Tyler Larco — McNeese State (FCS)
- P Owen Lawson — Albany (FCS)
- WR/DB Chris Rhodes — UT-Martin (FCS)
- TE Hunter Talley — Missouri State (FCS)
Past Arkansas Football Transfers
- DB Anthony Brown — Purdue
- 2023 Stats: 12 games/0 starts (128 ST snaps), 3 tackles (2 solo), 1 FF
- NOTE: Entering second season at Purdue… Reunited with former Arkansas DBs coach Sam Carter
- S Jalen Catalon — UNLV
- 2023 Stats: 8 games/5 starts (142 snaps), 17 tackles (15 solo), 1 TFL, 1 FF
- NOTE: Spent last season at Texas… Now reunited with former Arkansas DC Barry Odom
- NT Collin Clay — Oklahoma State
- 2023 Stats: 14 games/8 starts (363 snaps), 14 tackles (10 solo), 3.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks
- NOTE: Injuries prevented him from playing in 2020 and 2021… Started 11 games over the last two years… Now a sixth-year super senior
- QB Lucas Coley — Prairie View A&M (FCS)
- 2023 Stats: 1 game/0 starts (3 ST snaps)
- NOTE: Spent the last two seasons at Houston before dropping down to the FCS level… Completed 3 of 3 passes for 8 yards in 2022
- DB Jermaine Hamilton-Jordan — Alcorn State (FCS)
- 2023 Stats: 10 games, 32 tackles (20 solo), 3 TFL, 0.5 sack, 2 PBU, 1 FF
- NOTE: Spent the last couple of years at Hutchinson C.C. before committing to Alcorn State… However, he’s not currently listed on Alcorn’s roster
- QB Malik Hornsby — Arkansas State
- 2023 Stats: 7 games/0 starts (84 snaps), 8 of 15 passing (53.5%), 83 yards, 1 INT; 35 carries, 229 yards, 6 TD; 1 reception, 2 yards
- NOTE: Spent last season at Texas State, where he lost the QB battle with Auburn transfer TJ Finley… Now at Arkansas State, where he’s listed as a wide receiver
- WR Ketron Jackson Jr. — Baylor
- 2023 Stats: 10 games/10 starts (536 snaps), 28 receptions, 489 yards, 1 TD; 1 carry, 3 yards
- NOTE: In two seasons at Arkansas, Jackson caught 21 passes for 374 yards and 4 TD
- DB Khari Johnson — Boston College
- 2023 Stats: 10 games/5 starts (273 snaps), 28 tackles (12 solo), 0.5 TFL, 0.5 sack, 1 PBU, 1 FR (19 yards, TD)
- NOTE: Scored on a scoop-and-score against Florida State
- RB James Jointer Jr. — Liberty
- 2023 Stats: 9 games/0 starts (84 snaps), 43 carries, 251 yards, 2 TD; 1 reception, 7 yards
- NOTE: Earned an impressive 79.7 PFF grade last year
- CB Keuan Parker — Tulsa
- 2023 Stats: 6 games/5 starts (264 snaps), 18 tackles (11 solo), 1 PBU
- NOTE: Originally signed with New Mexico State out of the transfer portal, but ended up at Tulsa
- WR Landon Rogers — UNLV
- 2023 Stats: 2 games/0 starts (28 snaps), 1 reception, 7 yards
- NOTE: Signed with Arkansas as a QB, but moved to TE and eventually WR… Now entering second season at UNLV
- OL Jalen St. John — UNLV
- 2023 Stats: 12 games/9 starts (639 snaps)
- NOTE: Tenure at Arkansas ended with a felony theft arrest the day before Thanksgiving… Now entering second season at UNLV… Started at left tackle in UNLV’s last nine games after dealing with an injury early on
- DE Eric Thomas Jr. — Southern Miss
- 2023 Stats: 9 games/0 starts (152 snaps), 7 tackles (3 solo), 2 TFL, 1 sack, 1 PBU
- NOTE: Now entering second season at Southern Miss as a super senior
- DE Blayne Toll — Arkansas State
- 2023 Stats: 13 games/1 start (222 snaps), 19 tackles (11 solo), 4.5 TFL, 2 sacks
- NOTE: Played tight end and defensive end at Arkansas… Spent some time at Colorado before transferring back home to Arkansas State, where he’s a defensive lineman… Now a fifth-year super senior
- LB TJ Towers — Ouachita Baptist (DII)
- 2023 Stats: 9 games/2 starts, 22 tackles, 1 QBH
- NOTE: Now entering third season at OBU as a fifth-year senior
- DB Jacorrei Turner — Georgia State
- 2023 Stats: DNP
- NOTE: Now entering second season at Georgia State… Listed as an inside linebacker on Georgia State’s roster… Sat out last season
- DB Nick Turner — Grambling State (FCS)
- 2023 Stats: 1 game/0 starts (11 snaps), 1 tackle
- NOTE: Spent the last two years at Toledo… Not listed on Grambling’s roster, but has Grambling listed on his Instagram bio
- DT Jalen Williams — Southern Miss
- 2023 Stats: 11 games/8 starts (321 snaps), 30 tackles (9 solo), 1.5 TFL, 0.5 sack
- NOTE: Earned honorable mention All-Sun Belt honors in 2022, when he had 7.5 TFLs and 2 sacks
- LB Jackson Woodard — UNLV
- 2023 Stats: 14 games/14 starts (841 snaps), 116 tackles (55 solo), 9 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 4 PBU, 1 INT
- NOTE: Former walk-on at Arkansas who eventually earned a scholarship… Elected a team captain last year, his first at UNLV… Earned first-team All-MWC honors in 2023… Voted as the Preseason co-Defensive Player of the Year in the MWC
- LB Zach Zimos — Louisiana Tech
- 2023 Stats: 12 games/5 starts (367 snaps), 60 tackles (26 solo), 3.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 QBH
- NOTE: Moved to DB at Arkansas, but now back at LB… Preseason second-team All-CUSA by Phil Steele… Will return to Fayetteville with Louisiana Tech on Nov. 23
Past Non-Scholarship Players in Transfer Portal
- LS Francisco Castro — Holy Cross (FCS)
- P Patrick Foley — UAB
- Will return to Fayetteville as UAB’s starting punter on Sept. 14
- LS John Oehrlein — Texas State
- QB Kade Renfro — Mary Hardin-Baylor (DIII)
- Left the team amid controversy last summer
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More coverage of Arkansas football and the transfer portal from BoAS…
