With the transfer portal mostly wrapped up, the Arkansas Razorbacks’ roster is finally starting to take shape. While plenty can, and will, change once spring practices and fall camp roll around, we now have a clearer picture of who’s actually in the building and competing for snaps.
There’s still a long runway for position battles, scheme fits, and player development, but for football junkies, this is the fun part. Let’s take an early look at how the depth chart might line up heading into the offseason, understanding full well that pads, practices, and performance will ultimately decide things.
Razorbacks projected 2026 depth chart
Quarterbacks
Projected Starters
- KJ Jackson: RS Sophomore
- Braeden Fuller: RS Senior (Angelo State transfer)
- AJ Hill: RS Freshman (Memphis transfer)
Arkansas enters the offseason with three quarterbacks clearly separating themselves from the rest of the room. There’s youth, some inexperience, but also legitimate upside, especially with two transfers now in the mix.
KJ Jackson gets the early nod as the projected starter. While he’s still developing, he has the advantage of continuity and familiarity within the program. Braeden Fuller feels like the insurance policy of the group, a seasoned transfer who can stabilize things if needed. AJ Hill, one of Ryan Silverfield’s best Memphis recruits, is a long-term play with real potential but likely needs more time before being thrown into the fire.
Way-too-early call: Jackson holds the job entering the season, with Fuller ready and Hill developing behind them.
Running Backs
Projected Rotation
- Sutton Smith: RS Senior (Memphis transfer)
- Braylen Russell: Junior
- Jasper Parker: Sophomore (Michigan transfer)
This looks like a classic running back by committee situation early on. All three backs have a legitimate case to see meaningful snaps, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the hot hand dictate usage week to week.
Sutton Smith follows Silverfield from Memphis and already has experience in Tim Cramsey’s offense, which gives him an early edge. Braylen Russell is the lone returnee from last season and quietly produced when given opportunities, averaging 5.2 yards per carry with five rushing touchdowns. Jasper Parker adds upside, a former four-star who likely saw Michigan’s crowded RB room as a dead end.
Way-too-early call: Smith opens as RB1, but Russell and Parker will both play early and often.
Wide Receivers / Tight End
Projected Starters
- Jamari Hawkins: RS Senior (Memphis transfer)
- Chris Marshall: RS Senior (Boise State transfer via Ole Miss & Texas A&M)
- Donovan Faupel: Senior (New Mexico State transfer – slot)
- Jaden Platt: RS Sophomore (TE)
Key Depth
- Jelani Watkins: RS Sophomore (LSU transfer)
- Jalen Brown: RS Junior
This room underwent a massive overhaul, and it needed to. With key departures like O’Mega Blake and Raylen Sharpe, Arkansas leaned hard into the portal and brought in a diverse group of playmakers.
Hawkins is another Silverfield guy and feels like a safe bet to start outside. Marshall remains one of the most intriguing players on the roster, a former elite recruit still searching for the right system to unlock his potential. Faupel is the sleeper here after earning all-conference honors and could thrive in the slot. Watkins brings elite speed and vertical threat ability, while Brown offers reliable depth.
At tight end, Jaden Platt projects as the starter and could be a quiet beneficiary of defensive attention elsewhere.
Offensive Line
Projected Starters
- LT: Bryant Williams: RS Senior (Louisiana transfer)
- LG: Malachi Breland: RS Junior (Memphis transfer)
- C: Caden Kitler: RS Senior
- RG: Davion Weatherspoon: Sixth-Year Senior (Ohio transfer)
- RT: Terence Roberson: RS Sophomore (Ouachita Baptist transfer)
Silverfield clearly made the trenches a priority, and the results show. There’s quality depth, experience, and upside across this group.
Williams may be the biggest portal win of the cycle and gives Arkansas flexibility at tackle. Weatherspoon brings multi-year starting experience, while Breland could push for early snaps inside. Roberson is the wild card, still developing, but his upside is hard to ignore.
This group should be one of the most competitive units throughout spring and fall camp but looks like a big strength for this team heading into next season.
Defensive Line
Projected Starters
- DE: Quincy Rhodes Jr: Senior
- DT/NT: David Oke: Senior
- DT/DE: Hunter Osborne: RS Junior (Virginia transfer)
- DE: Charlie Collins: Junior
The Razorbacks quietly rebuilt the defensive front with a strong blend of returners and portal additions. Quincy Rhodes Jr. is the headliner after a breakout season (8 sacks, 15.5 TFLs) and a somewhat surprising return after NFL draft buzz.
Oke provides size and continuity in the middle, while Osborne adds value as a run-stopping presence despite modest stats at Virginia. Xadavien Sims, Trajen Odom, and Jones give Arkansas flexibility to rotate and mix matchups.
Linebackers
Projected Starters
- LB: Khmori House: Junior (UNC transfer)
- LB: Bradley Shaw: Junior
- LB: Ben Bogle: RS Senior (West Virginia transfer)
House was one of Arkansas’ best portal additions, a defensive leader at UNC with 78 tackles as a sophomore. Shaw returns after a productive season and should see an expanded role. Bogle brings pass-rush upside and could thrive with more snaps.
Phoenix Jackson and Jeremy Evans, both from Baylor, remain intriguing depth options with opportunities to carve out larger roles.
Secondary
Projected Starters
- CB: Jahiem Johnson: RS Junior (Tulane transfer)
- CB: La’khi Roland: Junior (Maryland transfer)
- NB: Braydon Lee: RS Sophomore (Maryland transfer)
- S: Christian Harrison: RS Senior (Cincinnati transfer)
- S: Carter Stoutmire: Senior (Colorado transfer)
The secondary might be the most wide-open unit on the roster. With minimal returning production, almost every starting spot is up for grabs.
Harrison looks like a strong early favorite at safety after an impressive season at Cincinnati. Johnson is a major pickup from Tulane and developed well under Jon Sumrall. Stoutmire was a lone bright spot for Colorado’s defense, while the Maryland duo of Roland and Lee could both see significant snaps. Ian Williams, LaMarcus Hicks II, and others add youth and upside to an already intriguing group.