HawgBeat - Transfer Portal Hot Board - Offense
A full in-depth breakdown of players that Sam Pittman and the Arkansas Razorbacks are targeting in the transfer portal.
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After a disappointing 4-8 (1-7 SEC) season, head coach Sam Pittman and the Arkansas Razorbacks have the daunting task of revamping the roster to be more competitive in 2024.
One major way of tackling that problem is using the NCAA transfer portal. With an open window from Dec. 4 to Jan. 2, 2024, there will be plenty of time for the Hogs to contact and land difference makers ahead of next season.
Having a complete staff is vital for recruiting, and it seems the Hogs are close to filling their vacant offensive coordinator position according to reports that came out on Tuesday.
Former Arkansas head coach and former Texas A&M offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino is on track to becoming the Razorbacks' new playcaller, which should attract some quality offensive talent considering the high-powered offenses that Petrino has had during his coaching career.
With an ever-changing landscape that can be difficult to keep track of, HawgBeat has decided to put together an in-depth list of players receiving interests from coaches, assistants and staff members. We break it down with a hot board, notable portal entrants, players with Arkansas interest and more.
RELATED:
Arkansas Football 2024 Roster Tracker
Offense Hot Board
Hot Board
| Player, position | Status | School | Classification in 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keyshawn Blackstock, OL | Committed | Michigan State | Redshirt Junior |
| Ethan Miner, OL | Medium | North Texas | Senior |
| Davion Carter, OL | Cool | Memphis | Senior |
| Quantavious Leslie, OL | Cool | Western Kentucky | Senior |
| Gerquan Scott, OL | Cool | Southern Miss | Redshirt Senior |
| John Bolding III, OL | Cool | Southern Miss | Super Senior |
| Jaron Glover, WR | Cool | Michigan State | Redshirt Sophomore |
- Bolding III, Carter, Leslie, Scott and Glover have confirmed to HawgBeat that they are interested in Arkansas, but are still waiting to hear from the coaching staff.
- Miner confirmed to HawgBeat that he has family in Arkansas, so calling Fayetteville home "would be ideal." The top rated starting center in the country according to PFF, he'd fill an immediate need for the Hogs.
- Prior to playing for Southern Miss, Bolding III was a member of the Coffeyville C.C. football team, the same team that current transfer commit Keyshawn Blackstock once played for.
- Despite lacking elite size, Carter was one of the best offenisve lineman in the country, as he had a Pro Football Focus grade of 79.4 — good for 11th nationally at the guard position.
- Leslie totaled 2,867 snaps from 2021-23 for Western Kentucky. During that time, he had PFF grades of 73.6, 63.5 and 71.6 respectively. This past season, he had a pass block grade of 82.6 and a run block grade of 68.3.
- Within 12 hours of announcing his decision to enter the portal, Scott received offers from programs like Auburn, Colorado, Vanderbilt, South Carolina and Ole Miss. At 6-foot-4, 330-pounds, Scott has the prototypical size for an SEC offensive lineman.
NOTABLE ENTRANTS/PLAYERS TO WATCH:
- Carter, a two-year starter at center for the Hoosiers, was offered by Arkansas out of high school.
- Brown was also offered by the Razorbacks out of high school, he caught 19 passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns for the Trojans.
- Mitchell should be a familiar name for Arkansas fans, as he caught six passes for 157 yards and a touchdown against the Hogs earlier this season.
- With reports that former Arkansas head coach and former Texas A&M offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino will soon take over playcalling duties for the Razorbacks, Sharpe could make sense as an option. Petrino coached the Bears while Sharpe was on campus.
COACHING STAFF FOLLOWS:
Coaching Staff Follows
| Player, position | School | Classification in 2024 | Followed By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zeke Corell, OL | Notre Dame | Super Senior | Brian Overton |
| DJ Wingfield, OL | New Mexico | Redshirt Senior | Brian Overton |
| Raleek Brown, WR | USC | Redshirt Sophomore | Jack Meyer |
| Sterling Porcher, OL | MTSU | Senior | Sean Fogarty |
| Justin Mayers, OL | UTEP | Redshirt Senior | Sean Fogarty |
| Kris Mitchell, WR | FIU | Redshirt Senior | Brian Overton |
| Jonathan Mendoza, OL | Yale | Super Senior | Charlie Williams |
| Luke Newman, OL | Holy Cross | Super Senior | Sean Fogarty |
| Easton Kilty, OL | North Dakota | Senior | Sean Fogarty |
| Matthew Sluka, QB | Holy Cross | Super Senior | Bobby Petrino |
