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Pittman identifies positions of need in transfer portal

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Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman asked fans Thursday to exercise patience while the Razorbacks re-construct their 2025 roster through the transfer portal.

Since the long-awaited college football musical-chair frenzy officially began Monday, over 20 scholarship Hogs have earmarked themselves for greener pastures, including nine players who were regular starters or contributors during the 2024 season.

The Razorbacks will also lose key cogs to the NFL (DE Landon Jackson and RB Ja'Quinden Jackson), while other main-liners no longer have eligibility, such as leading receiver Andrew Armstrong.

As such, Arkansas will have to completely reform its identity through the transfer portal, and the coaching staff has already laid the groundwork with multiple visitors expected over the coming days and weeks.

"We have 15 coming in in the next five days, 29 total at this point," Pittman said Thursday. "It may be different. It may be 32 by now. Everything is negative now because guys are leaving, leaving, leaving. I think in a few days, I think everybody will feel a little bit better about it because of the guys that we’re bringing in."

According to HawgBeat's count, Arkansas currently has 67 projected scholarship players on its 2025 roster before any transfer commitments. Looking at the depth chart, the Razorbacks are light in the trenches and secondary and could use a production boost in the receiving department, as well.

"Offensive line would be one," Pittman said. "Defensive line would be one. We felt like we were pretty good at the linebacker spots. if you go back and you look a year ago and the world was falling because we lost this linebacker, this linebacker, this linebacker. And I think we all agree that our linebacker room was a strength for us this year.

"So, that would be probably the least worried about. We need some safeties, need some corners. But I think O-line, tight ends, (that's) the big deal. Wide receivers. I mean, we've got several spots to fill, but off the top of my head, that's who it would be."

With a "huge pool" of funds in hand for transfer portal recruiting, according to Pittman, fans will have to rely on hope that Arkansas can put a more competitive roster together after a disappointing 6-6 (3-5 SEC) regular season in 2024.

"All I would say is, all I would ask is that they be patient to see over the next week and a half, whom — if I can not bite off more than I can chew," Pittman said. "See if we get out of the portal what I think we can get. If we do, I think they’ll be very excited about that."

Arkansas will have its first of 11 bowl game practices Friday, and the Razorbacks will kick off against the Texas Tech Raiders on Dec. 27 at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.

Arkansas vs. Michigan - give me your postgame thoughts, questions, concerns

We're going to continue the postgame column going for major matchups this season, and a win over a ranked Michigan team is as good a matchup as any to do it!

I'll have a column addressing member concerns, thoughts on the game, some breakdown of what went right and wrong, etc. Let me know what you want to read about!

Pittman says Arkansas to have 'huge pool' of transfer portal funds

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The Arkansas Razorbacks have had more than 20 scholarship players announce plans to transfer as of Thursday, but head coach Sam Pittman said he expects to have a huge pool of money to spend in the transfer portal moving forward to make up for the losses.

While plenty of those portal entrants were likely encouraged to move on, a good bit have been starters that maybe were not expected. Names such as offensive linemen Patrick Kutas and Joshua Braun, tight end Luke Hasz, linebacker Brad Spence, receiver Isaiah Sategna, safety TJ Metcalf and more all started in the 2024 regular season.

Despite losing household names around the state — if that's still a thing in the transfer portal era — Pittman spoke with confidence Thursday about being able to rebuild, especially given that state of the program's Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) funding.

VIDEO: Sam Pittman talks transfer portal plans, signing class

"We wouldn’t have had financially — and we’ve got money — but we wouldn’t have had financially the money left to go out and get what we might consider big-time difference makers had we just said ‘yes, yes, yes, yes' (to those who decided to transfer for financial reasons)," Pittman said. "And if we’d said that to every one of them, as much money as we have, we would have ran out.

"Listen, let’s go back. Is it very frustrating? Absolutely. And I get that it’s frustrating. But what we decided to do was save a huge pool of money to go into the portal. And that’s what we decided."

That huge pool of money should be encouraging to Arkansas fans, who have grown accustomed to announcements for Razorbacks hitting the portal what feels like every 30 minutes. Pittman was very specific that the Hogs have money to spend.

ALSO READ: Arkansas football's transfer portal offers so far

"Our donors have been very good financially to us," Pittman said. "Revenue sharing coming up here in July, we have money. And so we’re not losing these kids because we don’t have money. We’re losing them because what our value is compared to what maybe they can get elsewhere has been, at times, substantially different. We were a 6-6 football team and we’ve got money, and so we need to use it wisely.

"We have 29 visits already set up coming out of the portal. What’s hard, I think probably on the fan base is that we know more about who’s in the portal than probably anybody does, the availability of us getting them. And so, basically is comes down to those two things. If we weren’t able to match what the number was out there nationally for somebody, then we were saying ‘Hey, we believe that we can go get somebody as good or somebody, two somebody’s for that amount of money.’”

RELATED: Oklahoma transfer cornerback visiting Arkansas

Of those 29 visits from transfer portal players, Pittman said 15 will come over the next five days. He also jokingly added that the number of total visitors could've gone up to 32 by the time he was speaking.

"Everything is negative now because guys are leaving, leaving, leaving," Pittman said. "I think in a few days, I think everybody will feel a little bit better about it because of the guys that we’re bringing in."

To his credit, Pittman has had a mass exodus of scholarship players to the portal in each of the past two offseasons as well. While the 2023 season didn't go as planned (4-8 record), he and his staff put together a squad that improved to 6-6 this regular season.

According to Pittman, they had to decide between paying a whole lot of players or paying a fewer number of players more money. He said paying a fewer number more money is "kind of where we went in that."

"We probably have more what the state would say known guys this year than what we’ve had in the past go in the portal," Pittman said. "They probably in the past didn’t go in the portal because we said, ‘We’re going to match whatever it is to keep them.’ Financially, it’s hard to get to better than .500 if you continue to pay a whole large pool of monies and you kind of… What we’re thinking to kind of cut that down and go out and get what we would consider huge difference makers. Now we’re going to have to get roster count, we’re going to have to do that as well. But yeah, I think in a nutshell that’s what we’re going to do."

Asked about a message to fans during this time, Pittman said they aren't stupid and they realize guys such as Luke Hasz walking out the door means something.

"Hell, it meant something to us too," Pittman said. "It meant something to him too, it was very difficult for him and his family. But, the decisions have to be about the team. It can’t be about just the individual, it has to be about the team.

"All I would say is, all I would ask is that they be patient to see over the next week and a half, whom — if I can not bite off more than I can chew. See if we get out of the portal what I think we can get. If we do, I think they’ll be very excited about that."

Arkansas will play Texas Tech in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis on Dec. 27 at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Takeaways from Arkansas' exciting win over Michigan

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In a game that featured a double-digit lead, a double-digit deficit, a last-second shot attempt and more, the Arkansas Razorbacks (8-2, 0-0 SEC) walked into Madison Square Garden and came out as victors in an 89-87 win over the No. 14 Michigan Wolverines (8-2, 2-0 Big 10) on Tuesday night.

There were several storylines to follow throughout the game, but the biggest was Arkansas point guard and Bronx native Boogie Fland playing in his hometown. He did not disappoint, either, as he led the scoring column with a game-high 20 points and seven assists.

Arkansas didn't get off to a slow start in this game, but Michigan seemingly could not miss in the first half. The Wolverines shot 61.5% from the field and hit seven threes in the first 20 minutes of the game, and the Razorbacks found themselves down by 15 midway through the first half.

That lead didn’t last long, though, as the Razorbacks stormed back to cut the deficit to 49-45 as the two teams headed to the locker room.

In the second half, Arkansas turned Michigan into a turnover machine and used those to jump ahead by 18 themselves with nine minutes to go. But once again, that lead was short-lived. Michigan began chipping away until it trailed by one point, 88-87, with 90 seconds remaining.

Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile came up with a huge block, added one free throw, and the Wolverines' final shot at the buzzer clanged off the front of the iron, which secured the win for the Razorbacks.

It was a wild college basketball game. Here's some of HawgBeat's takeaways from the win...

Arkansas gets statement win​

On the biggest stage, with all eyes on them, the Razorbacks went up against a tough Michigan team and brought out the win. It was tough, it was gritty, it had more swings than a playground, but the Hogs got a statement non-conference win.

There are things to clean up, sure. The six-minute stretch in the second half where the Hogs couldn't buy a bucket, the 14 turnovers throughout the course of the game and the Wolverines shooting 61.3% from the field with seven threes in the first half will need to be fixed by the time conference play rolls around.

"It was good just playing in that atmosphere and being down, going through adversity," Arkansas guard D.J. Wagner said postgame. "It’s all a learning lesson. Coach says it all the time, we’re nowhere near where we could be, as good as we can be. It’s good for us just seeing how we do react when we go through some of that adversity or when we go down. Especially in games like that against grat teams like that, it was good for us. It helped us learn a lot."

The one thing that sticks out the most is that the Hogs found a way to win. When they needed a scoring option, they had a plethora of options who answered. They poked Michigan's sore spot with 17 turnovers and scored 21 off them. Even though they let the Wolverines back in the game until the final buzzer, the Hogs got the win.

Trevon Brazile comes up big​


With the Razorbacks clinging to a one-point lead in the final seconds of the game, Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile blocked a shot from Michigan's Vladislav Goldin that would have given the Wolverines the lead. That was the last of many moments Brazile had in Tuesday's game that propelled Arkansas to the win.

The third-year player and lone holdover from last season's team showed he can alter games with his athletic ability throughout the game. He finished 15 points, six rebounds, one block and three steals in the 26 minutes he played and was effective all over the floor.

"He did a lot of big things, and we put that trust in him to do so," Fland said of Brazile postgame. "He’s very long, athletic, can go block those shots and I feel like he came up big for us in the end. He said, ‘I’m going to hit these two,’ and he did."

Of course, every game Brazile comes up big in features a highlight-reel dunk. It came in the first half after Jonas Aidoo blocked a shot and Fland made a long pass to Brazile, who put Goldin on a poster.

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Didn't stop the seven-footers, didn't matter​

The focal point of Michigan's strategy rested on the play of seven-footers Danny Wolf and Vladislav Goldin, and they filled up the stat sheet again on Tuesday night.

Both scored in double figures (Goldin had 17 and Wolf had 14) and had nine rebounds a piece. Goldin's 17 points led the team and was strong around the rim, but the Hogs were able to keep them at bay enough to win the game.

The big flaw in the big mens' games? Four combined turnovers. Coming into the game, Wolf had Michigan's highest turnover rate and he made several crucial mistakes down the stretch that Arkansas took advantage of.

A big part of that was the play of Arkansas center Jonas Aidoo. In his second start as a Razorback, he scored 11 points and had seven rebounds, three of which were on the offensive end. He also logged two block and two steals and was a main piece of Arkansas' frontcourt.

Defense makes Michigan pay​


The Wolverines got hot in the first half and seemingly couldn't miss, and part of that was due to some miscommunication on the defensive side of the ball for Arkansas, but overall the Razorbacks had Michigan rattled, especially in the second half.

Michigan has been a turnover-prone team this season and averaged 15.2 per game coming into Tuesday's contest, but only had five in the first half. Coming out of the locker rooms for the final 20 minutes was a different story.

The Razorbacks forced 12 turnovers on the Wolverines in the final 20 minutes (17 in the entire game), and as a result the Michigan offense went stagnant. It took four-and-a-half minutes for the Wolverines to score in the second half and by then, Arkansas had erased a five-point deficit and taken a 57-51 lead.

Even though Michigan came back from what was later an 18-point deficit, it was strong defensive plays in the final minutes that kept the Hogs ahead. Brazile's block mentioned above, and the final 3.7 seconds of the game.

Michigan guard Tre Donaldson cut backdoor and beat Arkansas guard Johnell Davis, but his fast hands tipped the ball away and forced the Wolverines to take an off-balance shot that fell short at the buzzer.

"(Davis) was beat dead to rights, and what did he do? Instead of stopping, he fought, and he dove on the floor and tipped it with his right hand," Arkansas head coach John Calipari said after the game. "And we win the game because of a play where he got beat, but it was an effort play. And that's all good stuff for them to learn."

Football Arkansas Football 2025 Roster Tracker



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The 2024 Arkansas football regular season has officially concluded, and now the Razorbacks' roster must endure a month-long fluctuation process ahead of a bowl game late December.

National Signing Day will kick off the shifting of team identities Dec. 4, but the transfer portal window's opening Dec. 9 will crank things into another gear.

Like many teams around the country, Arkansas is expected to lose and add contributors throughout the portal window, which lasts through Dec. 28. Of course, players who have already entered the portal prior to its closing can still return or commit to another school before classes begin.

As far as roster construction goes, it's important to note that the Southeastern Conference set a 2025 scholarship limit of 85 for teams. That number is 20 less than the maximum of 105 allowed under the House settlement's roster structure.

Throughout the coming weeks, HawgBeat will keep a running tab on Arkansas' projected 2025 roster:

MOVING ON​

~ DE Landon Jackson - NFL
~ RB Ja’Quinden Jackson - NFL
~ WR Jaedon Wilson - UCLA
~ WR Davion Dozier - Entered portal
~ OL Amaury Wiggins - Entered portal
~ QB Malachi Singleton - Entered portal
~ DB Dallas Young - Entered portal
~ WR Isaiah Sategna - Entered portal
~ OL Patrick Kutas - Entered portal
~ TE Luke Hasz - Entered portal
~ OL Joshua Braun - Entered portal
~ DE Nico Davillier - Entered portal
~ LB Carson Dean - Entered portal
~ CB Jaylon Braxton - Entered portal
~ LB Alex Sanford - Entered portal
~ RB Emmanuel Crawford - Will enter portal (Walk-on)
~ P Sam Dubwig - Entered portal (Walk-on)
~ DB Dylan Hasz - Entered portal
~ S TJ Metcalf - Entered portal
~ S Tevis Metcalf - Entered portal
~ LB Kaden Henley - Entered portal
~ WR Kamron Bibby - Entered portal (Walk-on)
~ OL Ty'Kieast Crawford - Entered portal
~ CB Selman Bridges - Entered portal
~ C Addison Nichols - Entered portal
~ LB Brad Spence - Entered portal

MOVING IN​


~ OL Carmarion "Bubba" Craig - Hutchinson C.C.

OUT OF ELIGIBILITY​


~ WR Andrew Armstrong
~ WR Tyrone Broden
~ WR Khafre Brown
~ DB Hudson Clark
~ DL Eric Gregory
~ OL Joe More
~ K Kyle Ramsey
~ DL Keivie Rose
~ DB Kee'yon Stewart
~ LB Anthony Switzer
~ OL Ty'Kieast Crawford
~ DL Anton Juncaj
~ K Matthew Shipley
~ DB Doneiko Slaughter
~ WR Issac TeSlaa
~ CB Marquise Robinson
~ S Jayden Johnson
~ CB Marquise Robinson
~ S Jayden Johnson

Scholarship Eligibility Tracker by Position​

Scholarship Eligibility Tracker by Position
PositionFreshmenSophomoresJuniorsSeniorsTotal
QB31015
RB32117
WR521110
TE11013
OL521311
DT22026
EDGE41207
LB41027
CB31004
S11114
ST10023
Total331461467

ELIGIBILITY REMAINING​

^ - walk-on
% - incoming freshman
* - could return for super senior season
# - transfer out
~ - transfer in


Quarterback​

Quarterback
PlayerClassification in 2025Height/WeightHigh School/Former College
Taylen GreenRedshirt Senior6'6", 230 lbs.Boise State
Blake BodaRedshirt Sophomore6'4", 216 lbs.Coastal Carolina
^Austin LedbetterRedshirt Sophomore6'1", 206 lbs.Bryant HS
KJ JacksonRedshirt Freshman6'4", 219 lbs.St. James School
%Grayson WilsonFreshman6'3", 205 lbs.Conway HS
%Madden IamaleavaFreshman6'2", 191 lbs.Poly HS

Running Back​

Running Back
PlayerClassification in 2025Height/WeightHigh School/Former College
Rashod DubinionSenior5'10", 201 lbs.Cedar Grove HS
Rodney HillRedshirt Junior5'10", 186 lbs.Florida A&M
^Cade FieldsRedshirt Junior6'1", 219 lbs.Fayetteville HS
^Jezreel BachertRedshirt Junior6'1", 216 lbs.Big Sandy HS
Tyrell Reed Jr.Redshirt Sophomore5'10", 211 lbs.Hutchinson CC
^Emmanuel CrawfordRedshirt Sophomore5'10", 175 lbs.Grove HS
Braylen RussellSophomore6'1", 253 lbs.Benton HS
JuJu PopeRedshirt Freshman6'0", 213 lbs.South Panola HS
%Cameron SettlesFreshman6'0", 195 lbs.Parkview HS
%Markeylin BattonFreshman5'11", 168 lbs.Atlanta HS
^Kyle ThompsonRedshirt Junior6'3", 262 lbs.Aledo HS
Note: Kyle Thompson is listed as a fullback on Arkansas' roster, but is listed with running backs here for convenience.

Tight End​

Tight End
PlayerClassification in 2025Height/WeightHigh School/Former College
Andreas PaaskeRedshirt Senior6'6", 265 lbs.Eastern Michigan
Shamar EasterRedshirt Sophomore6'5", 228 lbs.Ashdown HS
^Maddox LassiterRedshirt Sophomore6'3", 243 lbs.Warren HS
^Spencer HensleeRedshirt Sophomore6'5", 248 lbs.Atascocita HS
%Gavin GarretsonFreshman6'7", 240 lbs.Pleasant Valley HS

Wide Receiver​

Wide Receiver
PlayerClassification in 2025Height/WeightHigh School/Former College
Bryce StephensRedshirt Senior6'0", 189 lbs.John Marshall HS
Jordan AnthonyRedshirt Junior5'10", 162 lbs.Texas A&M
^Kamron BibbyRedshirt Junior6'2", 187 lbs.El Dorado HS
^Walker CatsavisRedshirt Junior6'4", 180 lbs.Arkansas State
^Jace PettyRedshirt Junior5'8", 170 lbs.Frisco Independence HS
^Rykar AceboRedshirt Junior6'4", 200 lbs.Jonesboro HS
Dazmin JamesRedshirt Sophomore6'2", 196 lbs.Clayton HS
CJ BrownSophomore6'1", 193 lbs.Bentonville HS
^Monte HarrisonSophomore6'3", 230 lbs.West HS
Krosse JohnsonRedshirt Freshman5'10" 185 lbs.Holy Cross School
Zach TaylorRedshirt Freshman6'4", 170 lbs.Yoakum HS
%Antonio JordanFreshman6'4", 210 lbs.Warren HS
%Kamare WilliamsFreshman6'4", 180 lbs.Palm Beach Central HS
%Quentin MurphyFreshman6'0", 200 lbs.Parkview HS
%Jace BrownFreshman6'2", 194 lbs.Poly HS

SEC reveals 2025 Arkansas football schedule dates

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The Arkansas Razorbacks learned their competition dates for the 2025 SEC football schedule Wednesday evening via the league's schedule reveal on SEC Network. Arkansas will play just two games in Fayetteville over the first seven weeks of the season.

While the dates were announced, the games themselves shouldn't come as a shock to Arkansas fans. The opponents for every team were already announced back in March, and the Razorbacks are slated to play the same eight teams from the 2024 schedule — LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas, Auburn, Mississippi State, Missouri and Texas A&M.

Arkansas will open the season against Alabama A&M in Fayetteville, followed by a trip to Little Rock for an in-state showdown against Arkansas State. The Razorbacks will travel to Ole Miss for their SEC opener the following week on Sept. 13.

The Razorbacks' will then play back-to-back non-conference games at Memphis (Sept. 20) and against Notre Dame at Razorback Stadium on Sept. 27. Arkansas will then get a bye week Oct. 4.

Following the bye, the Hogs will make a roadtrip to Tennessee on Oct. 11 before a three-game homestand against Texas A&M, Auburn and Mississippi State. Arkansas will then have its second bye week, followed by back-to-back road rivalry games at LSU and Texas and then the regular season finale at home against Missouri.

Below is a look at the full 2025 schedule for the Razorbacks, including dates for every matchup.

Arkansas' 2024 Football Schedule:​

Date – Opponent – Site

Aug. 30 – Alabama A&M – Fayetteville

Sept. 6 – vs. Arkansas State – Little Rock, Ark.

Sept. 13 – at Ole Miss – Oxford, Miss.

Sept. 20 – at Memphis – Memphis, Tenn.

Sept. 27 – Notre Dame – Fayetteville

Oct. 4 – OPEN

Oct. 11 – at Tennessee – Knoxville, Tenn.

Oct. 18 – Texas A&M – Fayetteville

Oct. 25 – Auburn – Fayetteville

Nov. 1 – Mississippi State – Fayetteville

Nov. 8 – OPEN

Nov. 15 – at LSU – Baton Rouge, La.

Nov. 22 – at Texas – Austin, Texas

Nov. 29 – Missouri - Fayetteville

Arkansas tight end Luke Hasz to transfer

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Arkansas sophomore tight end Luke Hasz will transfer from the program, he announced Friday morning.

A 6-foot-3, 241-pound Oklahoma native, Hasz was a highly-touted four-star prospect out of Bixby High School and chose the Hogs over Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Ole Miss, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Texas and others.

Hasz was named to the John Mackey Award Watch List prior to the 2024 season, in which he caught 26 passes for 324 yards and four touchdowns across 12 games. In his injury-shortened 2023 freshman campaign, Hasz made 16 grabs for 253 yards and three scores in just five games.

The pass-catcher is the seventh Hog to officially announce his intentions of entering the transfer portal, joining players like quarterback Malachi Singleton, wide receiver Isaiah Sategna and others. Former tight ends Ty Washington and Var’keyes Gumms, who were dismissed from the team during the season, will also enter the portal.

Arkansas will now await its bowl destination, which will be revealed Sunday, Dec. 8.

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Luke Hasz Bio:​

2024 John Mackey Award Watch List

2024 Comeback Player of the Year Award Watch List

2024 (SOPHOMORE):
Caught three passes for 22 yards in a loss to Missouri (Nov. 30) … Registered two receptions for a total of 24 yards in a win over Louisiana Tech (Nov. 23) … Collected two receptions for a total of 11 yards vs. Texas (Nov. 16) … Registered five receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown vs. Ole Miss (Nov. 2) … Hauled in four receptions for 59 yards and two touchdowns at Mississippi State, registering his second career multi-touchdown game (Oct. 26) … Recorded two receptions for 22 yards (Oct. 19) … Registered one reception for 16 yards in a win over No. 4 Tennessee (Oct. 5) … Started and registered one reception for two yards against Texas A&M (Sept. 28) … Made one catch for three yards in a win at Auburn (Sept. 21) … Targeted once and did not record a statistic against UAB (Sept. 14) … Started and caught two passes for 46 yards, highlighted by a 43-yard touchdown reception on a pass from Taylen Green in the fourth quarter at Oklahoma State (Sept. 7) … Registered three receptions for 42 yards vs. Arkansas Pine Bluff (Aug. 29).

2023 (FRESHMAN): Stellar freshman campaign was cut short in the fifth game of the season with a broken collarbone vs. Texas A&M (Sept. 30) … Named to The Athletic’s Midseason Freshman All-America team … Caught 16 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns over five games … Recorded 19 yards on two catches in season-opening win over Western Carolina (Sept. 2) … Caught three passes for 26 yards vs. Kent State (Sept. 9) … Hauled in his first career touchdown with a 19-yard catch vs. BYU (Sept. 16), catching four passes for 78 yards … Broke out at LSU (Sept. 23) with season-bests six catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns to earn John Mackey Tight End of the Week honors … Caught one pass for 14 yards vs. the Aggies prior to season-ending injury.

HIGH SCHOOL: Enrolled early at Arkansas in order to go through spring practice … A consensus four-star prospect according to 247Sports, Rivals, ESPN and On3 … No. 87 prospect in ESPN 300 rankings … No. 182 prospect in Top247 rankings … Rated the No. 2 player in Oklahoma and the No. 3 tight end in the country by ESPN … No. 4 player in Oklahoma and the No. 9 tight end nationally according to 247Sports Composite … Played for head coach Loren Montgomery at Bixby High School in Bixby, Okla. … As a sophomore on varsity, recorded 32 catches for 703 yards (22.0 ypc) and nine touchdowns … Also rushed for a pair of two-point conversions … As a junior, hauled in 33 passes for 436 yards (13.2 ypc) and two touchdowns … As a senior, tallied 35 receptions for 597 yards (17.1 ypc) and nine touchdowns … Also rushed for a 17-yard touchdown and caught three two-point conversions … CHOSE ARKANSAS OVER: Alabama, Baylor, Colorado, Florida State, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, LSU, Miami (FL), Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, South Carolina, TCU, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, USC, Utah and others.

PERSONAL: Son of Darren and Stacy Hasz … Has two siblings, Dylan and Jenna … Twin brother, Dylan, is a defensive back for the Razorbacks … Birthdate: April 19, 2004.

Postgame Grades: Analyzing Arkansas’ win over Michigan

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The Arkansas Razorbacks (8-2, 0-0 SEC) are now on a three-game win streak after a rollercoaster win over the No. 14 Michigan Wolverines (8-2, 2-0 Big 10) on Tuesday night in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.

The game featured both teams losing double-digit leads, as Arkansas stormed back from a 15-point first half deficit to lead by 18 midway through the second half. The Hogs also saw their lead dwindle and led by just one point with 15 seconds left in the game, but held on after Michigan's final shot clanged off the front of the iron.

Arkansas guard Boogie Fland showed out and led both teams in scoring with 20 points, but forward Trevon Brazile stole the show in crunch time. He blocked a go-ahead shot from Michigan's Vladislav Goldin and made several strong plays throughout the game to help the Razorbacks to the win.

HawgBeat hands out the grades for those who played Tuesday night...

Johnell Davis: Offense C-, Defense B​

Offense: Davis had a quiet night scoring the ball and finished with just six points on 2-of-8 shooting. He had several open looks from deep and hit just one of them, but he had an important and-one bucket that helped Arkansas stem the tide of Michigan's comeback.

Defense: Davis' defensive rating by the end of the game was middle of the pack with the rest of the Razorbacks, but he gets a grade bump because of his quick hands on the final play of the game. He poked the ball away after he got beat on a backdoor cut that forced Michigan to throw up an off-balance shot as time expired.

D.J. Wagner: Offense A, Defense C+​


Offense: Wagner exploded for 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting while he knocked down two triples. He was aggressive getting to the rim and while he didn't finish super well in the first half, he made several important plays down the stretch. He did have two turnovers, but so did five other Razorbacks, and he made up for those with five assists.

Defense: As great as Wagner was on offense, it was a quiet game defensively, which is honestly a good thing. There weren't any glaring mistakes that he made outside of a few miscommunications in the first half that led to some easy Michigan threes.

Boogie Fland: Offense B-, Defense B​


Offense: Yes, he led the game in scoring with 20 points, but he was pretty inefficient and shot just 33.3% (6-of-18) from the field in the game. He got hot late in the first half and scored eight straight points that cut into the Wolverines' lead and kept the game close at the half. He also finished with a team-high seven assists and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.

Defense: Fland didn't have any steals in this game, which is uncharacteristic of him as he averaged 1.6 on the season so far. Still, he had great defensive pressure on Michigan's guards that caused them to commit 11 of the Wolverines' 17 turnovers.

Adou Thiero: Offense B, Defense B+​


Offense: It wasn't the same kind of flu game Michael Jordan had, but Adou Thiero was sick and still produced at a high level for the Razorbacks. Head coach John Calipari tried to give him as much rest as he could, but even with little in the tank Thiero finished with 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting. He also knocked down his first three of the season in the first half.

Defense: Again, Thiero was sick and still put max effort on both ends of the floor. Even with the gas low, the motor was running at full speed and did a solid job of not allowing defenders to get easy looks. He also had a key steal at the start of the second half that helped Arkansas retake the lead.

Trevon Brazile: Offense A, Defense A​


Offense: Brazile turned in his best offensive game of the season on Tuesday night, and finished with 15 points on 75% (6-of-8) shooting from the field. He had a highlight-reel dunk, as is common for him, and also got a three to fall as well, which hasn't been a main facet of his game, but probably should be. Still needs to work on free throws, as he missed three crucial ones in the final minutes of the game that would have given the Razorbacks a more comfortable lead, but I feel comfortable giving him an A in this category overall.

Defense: Truth be told, Brazile's defense won the game for the Razorbacks. His block on Michigan's Vladislav Goldin with 15 seconds left kept Arkansas from having to use late-game heroics to win the game. He had the best defensive rating of the team, had the highest steal percentage and the second-highest block percentage behind Jonas Aidoo.

Jonas Aidoo: Offense B, Defense B+​


Offense: If 11 points with three offensive rebounds is a bad offensive night, then Jonas Aidoo still has an incredibly high ceiling. He missed a few easy looks and is probably still a little rusty after he missed so much time with injury, but he looked solid down low.

Where Aidoo played the best, and something Arkansas will probably want to do more of, was the pick-and-roll game with Fland. Defenders just seem to stick to him on screens and when he rolls out he has great size and length to create good looks when he gets the ball in the paint.

Defense: Okay, yes, Aidoo allowed Michigan's seven-footers to score a combined 31 points, but his presence on the defensive end of the floor was sorely missed by the Razorbacks. He altered shots, had two blocks and also recorded two steals as well.

Karter Knox: Offense B-, Defense C+​


Offense: Knox only scored five points in the game, but it was the timing of those scores that gave him a higher grade. He hit a three in the first half while Arkansas was fighting back from the large deficit that cut the lead to just four.

Then in the second half, he made a great cut into the lane and received a pass from Thiero in between two defenders and got the bucket to go with the foul that brought the Hogs' their largest lead of the night. It wasn't an overwhelming night from the freshman, but it was solid and he produced at times the team needed him to.

Defense: I thought it was an okay night from Knox on the defensive end of the floor. He had a defensive rating of 115 and had some trouble in one-on-one matchups Tuesday, but he also only played 13 minutes, so he wasn't relied upon heavily.

Zvonimir Ivisic: Incomplete​


Big Z is still dealing with an ankle injury and only played nine minutes, but he struggled a lot with pick-and-roll defense against Michigan's seven-footers. He did knock down a huge three, but he also took an ill-advised, off-balance corner three on an inbounds pass that was somewhat head-scratching.

Billy Richmond: Incomplete​


Calipari said after the game Richmond was sick with the flu, so he only played in one minute on Tuesday night.

Linebacker Brad Spence to transfer from Arkansas

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Arkansas sophomore linebacker Brad Spence will transfer from the program, according to Hayes Fawcett of On3.

A 6-foot-2, 238-pound Texas native, Spence originally chose the Razorbacks over Colorado, Louisville, Mississippi State, Texas, Utah, Vanderbilt and others.

The former three-star is the latest Razorback to enter the portal, joining more than 20 other scholarship players leaving the program.

Arkansas will play Texas Tech in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis on Dec. 27.

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Brad Spence Bio:​

2024 (SOPHOMORE) Registered four tackles and a sack during a loss at Missouri (Nov. 30) … Became the 14th Razorback defender to register 1.0+ sacks in three consecutive games since 2000 (Nov. 30) … Led Arkansas with eight tackles in addition to collecting a sack and pass breakup during a victory over Louisiana Tech (Nov. 23) … Tallied seven tackles and a sack in a loss to Texas (Nov. 16) … Recorded two tackles in a loss vs. Ole Miss (Nov. 2) … Tied for a game-high 11 tackles while registering an assisted tackle and a game-high 1.5 tackles for loss during a win at Mississippi State (Oct. 26) … Collected a tackle in a loss to LSU (Oct. 19) … Registered three tackles and a quarterback hurry in a win over No. 4 Tennessee (Oct. 5) … Recorded four tackles vs. Texas A&M (Sept. 28) … Collected three stops in a win at Auburn (Sept. 21) … Registered five tackles, including his first career sack in a win over UAB (Sept. 14) … Tallied three tackles at Oklahoma State (Sept. 7) … Registered four tackles, including an assisted tackle for loss in season-opening win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Aug. 29).
2023 (FRESHMAN): Played in 11 games with one start as a true freshman, making 16 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and one interception … Picked off a pass in his collegiate debut vs. Western Carolina (Sept. 2), returning it 85 yards for a touchdown – the first of a nation-leading four pick sixes for the team on the season … Earned his first career start vs. Kent State (Sept. 9), making three tackles … Logged a single solo stop vs. BYU (Sept. 16) … Recorded a career-best four tackles vs. Texas A&M (Sept. 30) and recovered a fumble … Made two tackles, including a half tackle for loss, at Ole Miss (Oct. 7) … Tallied a pair of stops at Alabama (Oct. 14) … Made two solo stops, including a tackle for loss, vs. Auburn (Nov. 11).
HIGH SCHOOL: Enrolled early and participated in spring practice … A consensus three-star prospect according to 247Sports, Rivals, ESPN and On3 …Rated the No. 26 inside linebacker nationally by ESPN … No. 38 outside linebacker according to Rivals … Played for head coach Johnathan Wilson at Klein Forest High School in Houston, Texas … As a sophomore, recorded 18 total tackles, including 4.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack and one quarterback hurry … Also forced a pair of fumbles … As a junior, logged 72 total tackles with 11.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and seven quarterback hurries … Tallied six pass breakups and one fumble recovery … As a senior, totaled 85 tackles with 12.0 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks … Accumulated 13 quarterback hurries … Tallied two fumble recoveries … Named District 15-6A Defensive MVP … CHOSE ARKANSAS OVER: Arizona State, Cal, Colorado, Duke, Indiana, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Louisville, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Texas, Utah, Vanderbilt, Washington State, Wisconsin and others.
PERSONAL: Son of Armand Spence and Yashika Oglesby … Has a brother, Trent Spence, and a sister, Kia Oglesby … Birthdate: May 8, 2005.

Boogie Fland puts on for hometown in win over No. 14 Michigan

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Arkansas point guard and Bronx native Boogie Fland had over 100 friends and family in attendance when the Razorbacks (8-2, 0-0 SEC) beat the No. 14 Michigan Wolverines (8-2, 2-0 Big 10) 89-87 in a thrilling contest at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.

In front of those family and friends, Fland put on a spectacular performance and finished with a game-high 20 points on 6-of-18 shooting to go along with seven assists in the game. He was a constant source of offense for the Razorbacks, who came back from a 15-point deficit to take an 18-point lead that would also vanish in the second half.

“It was nice just for them to be able to see me play in person," Fland said after the game. "Most of my career, they haven’t been able to see me. Especially being the first time at the Garden, and we get the win, it’s not more special than that."

The true freshman started the game off slow, as he missed his first four shots and went 14 minutes without a bucket.

"I just wasn’t executing my shot," Fland said. "Just getting out of my head and just keep playing, keep going."

And keep going he did. Fland got hot towards the end of the first half, as he scored eight straight points for the Razorbacks and had 13 by the end of the first half. His second half performance didn't feature as much scoring, but he got his teammates involved with three assists.

Some things can't be quantified in a stat sheet, though. Fland's energy on the court was contagious for the rest of the team, who shot 50% from the field and hit nine threes in the contest.

"As y’all all know, Boogie is a great player, so to be able to feed off his energy, it just makes you build your own confidence and makes you want to play better," Arkansas guard D.J. Wagner said after the game.

Fland also spoke highly of how special it was for him to play in Madison Square Garden, a premiere venue in college basketball history.

"It was a dream," Fland said. "Growing up in the Bronx, to have the opportunity to come back and play in your hometown, get a W and show out with my teammates, it’s just no feeling like it."

Tuesday's performance was the latest in a long line of efficient games Fland, a former five-star who played at Stepinac High School in White Plains, New York, has put in for the Razorbacks this season.

As good as Fland has been in the last 10 games, though, he said he knows the job isn't done and the SEC is one of the toughest leagues in college basketball this season. But this win does show the team what they're capable of.

"It shows what we can be, what we have the potential to be," Fland said. "Our ceiling, there’s really no ceiling. Just like if we come together like we should with time. Coach said we only said we only scrimmaged twice, so with time I think it’s going to come together and be one of those teams."

The Razorbacks will head home from New York City with a win and will start preparation for their next contest, an in-state game with Central Arkansas that will be played in North Little Rock at Simmons Bank Arena on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. CT and the game will stream on the SEC Network+.
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Arkansas running back Ja'Quinden Jackson declares for NFL Draft

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After spending one season in Fayetteville with the Arkansas Razorbacks, redshirt senior running back Ja'Quinden Jackson announced Wednesday that he will enter his name in the 2025 NFL Draft.

"First and foremost, I want to thank my heavenly father for blessing me and putting me in position to live out my dreams," Jackson said in an X post. "To Hog Nation, I want to express my sincere thanks for welcoming me in with open arms and showing me nothing but love. I appreciate you more than you know. It's been an honor being a Razorback!!!"

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This season, Jackson rushed for 790 yards and 15 touchdowns on 149 attempts across 10 games. His best performance came against Oklahoma State in Week 2, when he carried the ball 24 times for 149 yards and three scores.

According to Pro Football Focus, Jackson finished the season with an offensive grade of 82.7 and a run grade of 86.6. The former Utah transfer had one final year of eligibility left to use in 2025, but has declined that for the professional ranks.

Jackson has a fifth-round draft projection according to NFLDraftBuzz, which gives him an 82.9 overall rating out of 100.

Trevon Brazile Appreciation Post

Dude is killing it this year.

Here are some season-summed stats (taking out UMSE because of course). Basically the team is much better on all fronts when he's on the court. Also, you can see Fland is clearly our best player. Z with the worst +/- rebound differential is a joke.

Point Diff/40 (on vs off)

1 Johnell Davis : +11.9
2 Boogie Fland : +27.7
3 Adou Thiero: +1.7
4 Trevon Brazile: +14.7
9 Jonas Aidoo: -15.6
11 Karter Knox: -4.6
21 D.J. Wagner: 11.2
24 Billy Richmond III: -17.5
44 Zvonimir Ivisic: -1.8

PPM Diff (on vs off)

1 Johnell Davis : +0.07
2 Boogie Fland : +0.49
3 Adou Thiero: -0.16
4 Trevon Brazile: +0.31
9 Jonas Aidoo: -0.10
11 Karter Knox: -0.03
21 D.J. Wagner: +0.03
24 Billy Richmond III: -0.12
44 Zvonimir Ivisic: -0.11

Assist Diff/40 (on vs off)

1 Johnell Davis : +2.43
2 Boogie Fland : +3.37
3 Adou Thiero: +1.59
4 Trevon Brazile: -1.18
9 Jonas Aidoo: -3.24
11 Karter Knox: -2.58
21 D.J. Wagner: +0.53
24 Billy Richmond III: -0.41
44 Zvonimir Ivisic: +1.71

Rebound Diff/40 (on vs off)

1 Johnell Davis : +0.70
2 Boogie Fland : -1.05
3 Adou Thiero: -2.59
4 Trevon Brazile: -0.08
9 Jonas Aidoo: +10.66
11 Karter Knox: +0.98
21 D.J. Wagner: +3.10
24 Billy Richmond III: -3.78
44 Zvonimir Ivisic: -3.90

Rebound Diff/40 (on vs off)

1 Johnell Davis : +0.70
2 Boogie Fland : -1.05
3 Adou Thiero: -2.59
4 Trevon Brazile: -0.08
9 Jonas Aidoo: +10.66
11 Karter Knox: +0.98
21 D.J. Wagner: +3.10
24 Billy Richmond III: -3.78
44 Zvonimir Ivisic: -3.90

Steals Diff/40 (on vs off)

1 Johnell Davis : +2.67
2 Boogie Fland : +3.63
3 Adou Thiero: +0.48
4 Trevon Brazile: -1.49
9 Jonas Aidoo: -1.99
11 Karter Knox: -0.41
21 D.J. Wagner: -0.94
24 Billy Richmond III: -1.05
44 Zvonimir Ivisic: +1.57

Turnover Diff/40 (on vs off)

1 Johnell Davis : -3.81
2 Boogie Fland : -1.30
3 Adou Thiero: -3.06
4 Trevon Brazile: -1.24
9 Jonas Aidoo: +4.43
11 Karter Knox: +1.05
21 D.J. Wagner: +1.97
24 Billy Richmond III: +2.65
44 Zvonimir Ivisic: +2.19

Arkansas knocks off No. 14 Michigan at Madison Square Garden

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The Arkansas Razorbacks knocked off the No. 14 Michigan Wolverines with an 89-87 win in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Arkansas trailed by as much as 15 points in the first half, led by as much as 18 in the second half and then led by just 1-point with less than a minute remaining in regulation.

Freshman guard Boogie Fland, a native of Bronx, New York, led the Razorbacks with 20 points, seven assists, one rebound and two steals. Fland knocked down two of the Hogs' nine made 3-pointers, and they shot 50.0% from the field as a team in the game.

Guard D.J. Wagner added 16 points, three rebounds and five assists for the Hogs, plus Trevon Brazile performed well with 15 points, six rebounds, three steals, one block and one assist.

Michigan shot 57.6% from the field and the Wolverines had two 7-footers, Danny Wolf and Vladislov Goldin, score in double digits with nine rebounds apiece.

Brazile was the star of the show in the first stretch of play, as he notched four points, two rebounds and one steal to help the Hogs grab an 8-7 advantage by the first media timeout.

The Wolverines then went on a run that featured seven straight made field goals and a 13-2 scoring advantage that gave them a 24-12 lead to trigger a Calipari timeout at the 10:08 mark in the first half.

Michigan forward Will Tschetter, who averaged 6.7 points per game entering the contest, reached 13 points in the game by the 8:31 mark, as his fourth made shot gave the Wolverines a 15-point advantage. The Hogs knocked down a couple of shots on the ensuing offensive possessions to trim the deficit to 33-21 by the under-8 minute timeout.

The Razorbacks found some offense of their own, though, and they five field goals in a row to trim the Michigan lead to 42-38 with less than three minutes to play. The Hogs were shooting over 50% from the field by that point and Fland and Thiero were already in double-digits.

After a pair of layups from the Wolverines, Arkansas went on a quick 7-0 run that was followed by a Michigan 3-pointer just before the half that made the Hogs' deficit 49-45 at the break. Michigan was shooting 61.3% from the field and 58.3% from three by the midway point.

The Razorbacks gained their first lead of the game out of the locker room, and Michigan head coach Dusty May called for a timeout after the Hogs went up 52-49 at the 17:09 mark in the second half. Arkansas grew the lead to as much as six just before the first media timeout at the 15.5-minute mark.

Fland nailed a corner three to put the Hogs up by 10, and they were out-scoring Michigan by 14 points in the second half by then. Wagner got involved with the 3-point barrage, as he knocked down the Hogs' third triple of the second half to make it a 65-55 lead. Wagner then continued a hot streak of his own by knocking down two more shots, including a three, to give the Razorbacks a strong 73-61 lead by the under-12 minute timeout.

Michigan then went into a stretch of play that was littered by turnovers, allowing Arkansas to extend to lead to 18 points, but the Wolverines promptly scored 6-straight to make it an 80-68 game with 8:30 left in regulation. Michigan's run extended to 12 points in a row to trim the deficit to just six points.

With the Razorbacks in the midst of 6-plus minute scoring drought, Michigan made it a 4-point ballgame with just more than three minutes left. That gap remained consistent until the Wolverines made it a 1-point margin with a layup from Wolf with just over a minute to play.

Michigan began to save time by fouling starting at with 32.6 seconds left in regulation and that eventually led to an 89-87 lead for the Razorbacks with just 3.7 seconds left and one more opportunity for the Wolverines, who couldn't knock down a buzzer-beater.

Up next, the Razorbacks will face the Central Arkansas Bears at Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock on Saturday at 3 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.
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