From @DanielFair
arkansas.rivals.com
The Arkansas Razorbacks had their share of attrition following a dismal 4-8 (1-7 SEC) football season, as 29 players left the program and 17 transferred in during the winter transfer portal period.
Movement didn't stop after the completion of spring practices in April, either, as another 11 players left the program looking for greener pastures.
Head coach Sam Pittman has continued to dip into the transfer portal to fill the spots that emptied, as he's grabbed nine players so far with another three scholarship spots still open.
It can be hard to judge how a spring transfer player will pan out, especially when you throw in the fact that they don't get the benefit of winter conditioning or spring drills to mesh with the team before fall camp starts in August.
What we can look at are Pro Football Focus grades. While it's not a perfect science, PFF tracks each snap a player participates in and assigns a grade to it, which means we can get a good look at how productive a player was in the time he was given.
Not all of Arkansas' transfers — both incoming and outgoing — have PFF grades, as one is coming to Arkansas from the junior college ranks and some exiting players didn't play enough to register into PFF's database.
HawgBeat takes a look at the difference in PFF grades and the total snaps played between what Arkansas lost in the transfer portal versus what it brought in during the spring:
Spring Transfers
Incoming Spring Transfers
It may not be the prettiest portal haul on paper, but Arkansas did a solid job of filling its needs and replacing players that left the program.
Hill and Reed form quality backend depth in the running back room, while Boda and More do the same for the quarterback and offensive line position, respectively.
Linebacker was a key position entering the spring, and the Razorbacks picked up their highest-rated transfer there in Dix. The Marshall and former Florida State defender totaled 67 tackles, seven tackles for loss and two sacks in 2023-24.
Worth shores up any depth concerns at the linebacker position, and Switzer offers some versatility in the safety/linebacker hybrid "HOG" position that Snaxx Johnson once manned.
Finally, Brown is a sneaky-good late addition to the wide receiver room with proven Power Five experience from his time at North Carolina. In his freshman season with the Tar Heels, Brown made 15 catches for 337 yards and two touchdowns and caught 27 passes for 435 yards and five touchdowns during his latest season with USF.
Looking forward, Arkansas still needs more help along the defensive line. Pittman has landed some help there in BYU transfer Saili, but one more defensive tackle will help keep the group healthy throughout the season.
As things currently stand, the Arkansas football team still has three scholarships to use before it hits the 85 maximum limit for the roster. Be sure to follow along at The Trough premium message board for updates on all the offseason action.
HawgBeat - Comparing PFF grades for Arkansas' outgoing and incoming transfers
HawgBeat compares the PFF grades of transfers in and out of the Arkansas football team this spring.
arkansas.rivals.com
The Arkansas Razorbacks had their share of attrition following a dismal 4-8 (1-7 SEC) football season, as 29 players left the program and 17 transferred in during the winter transfer portal period.
Movement didn't stop after the completion of spring practices in April, either, as another 11 players left the program looking for greener pastures.
Head coach Sam Pittman has continued to dip into the transfer portal to fill the spots that emptied, as he's grabbed nine players so far with another three scholarship spots still open.
It can be hard to judge how a spring transfer player will pan out, especially when you throw in the fact that they don't get the benefit of winter conditioning or spring drills to mesh with the team before fall camp starts in August.
What we can look at are Pro Football Focus grades. While it's not a perfect science, PFF tracks each snap a player participates in and assigns a grade to it, which means we can get a good look at how productive a player was in the time he was given.
Not all of Arkansas' transfers — both incoming and outgoing — have PFF grades, as one is coming to Arkansas from the junior college ranks and some exiting players didn't play enough to register into PFF's database.
HawgBeat takes a look at the difference in PFF grades and the total snaps played between what Arkansas lost in the transfer portal versus what it brought in during the spring:
Outgoing Spring Transfers:
Spring Transfers
| Pos. | Name | PFF Grade | Total Snaps |
|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Jacolby Criswell | 56.7 | 88 |
| P | Max Fletcher | 85.2 | N/A |
| RB | Isaiah Augustave | 74.7 | 88 |
| RB | Dominique Johnson | 71.3 | 123 |
| DB | Lorando "Snaxx" Johnson | 59.6 | 688 |
| DB | RJ Johnson | N/A | N/A |
| OL | Paris Patterson | N/A | N/A |
Incoming Spring Transfers:
Incoming Spring Transfers
| Pos. | Name | PFF Grade | Total Snaps |
|---|---|---|---|
| RB | Rodney Hill | 69.3 | 109 |
| RB | Tyrell Reed | N/A | N/A |
| DB | Anthony Switzer | 66.5 | 770 |
| LB | Larry Worth | 69.2 | 470 |
| LB | Stephen Dix | 80.7 | 538 |
| QB | Blake Boda | 69.4 | 13 |
| OL | Joseph More | 55.9 | 29 |
| DT | Danny Saili | N/A | N/A |
| WR | Khafre Brown | 63.0 | 431 |
It may not be the prettiest portal haul on paper, but Arkansas did a solid job of filling its needs and replacing players that left the program.
Hill and Reed form quality backend depth in the running back room, while Boda and More do the same for the quarterback and offensive line position, respectively.
Linebacker was a key position entering the spring, and the Razorbacks picked up their highest-rated transfer there in Dix. The Marshall and former Florida State defender totaled 67 tackles, seven tackles for loss and two sacks in 2023-24.
Worth shores up any depth concerns at the linebacker position, and Switzer offers some versatility in the safety/linebacker hybrid "HOG" position that Snaxx Johnson once manned.
Finally, Brown is a sneaky-good late addition to the wide receiver room with proven Power Five experience from his time at North Carolina. In his freshman season with the Tar Heels, Brown made 15 catches for 337 yards and two touchdowns and caught 27 passes for 435 yards and five touchdowns during his latest season with USF.
Looking forward, Arkansas still needs more help along the defensive line. Pittman has landed some help there in BYU transfer Saili, but one more defensive tackle will help keep the group healthy throughout the season.
As things currently stand, the Arkansas football team still has three scholarships to use before it hits the 85 maximum limit for the roster. Be sure to follow along at The Trough premium message board for updates on all the offseason action.
