As new Arkansas head coach Ryan Silverfield continues assembling his first staff in Fayetteville, one of his top targets may come from one of the nation’s most successful programs. The Razorbacks are pursuing Florida State running backs coach David Johnson, a respected developer of talent with deep recruiting ties throughout the Southeast.
Silverfield has moved quickly in building a staff that blends familiarity with proven experience, and Johnson fits that blueprint perfectly. His résumé matches everything Arkansas is looking for as it tries to stabilize its run game, elevate roster development, and strengthen its presence in key recruiting territories.
David Johnson: Proven Developer of College Running Backs
Johnson has been at Florida State since 2020, helping build one of the deepest and most productive skill-position units in the country. Before that, he spent two seasons at Tennessee, where he gained first-hand understanding of the physicality and recruiting demands required to succeed in the SEC.
Few running backs coaches in college football have a résumé as strong as Johnson’s:
- 19 all-conference players coached
- 29 total all-conference honors
- An NFL Draft pick every year from 2018–2024
That last point is especially important for Arkansas. Producing draft-caliber backs at a consistent rate is one of the strongest indicators of evaluation, development, and long-term coaching impact, traits Silverfield wants to build into the program immediately.
A Key Fit for Silverfield’s Vision
For Silverfield, who is entering his first year at Arkansas after a successful stint at Memphis, establishing a reliable ground game remains a priority. The Razorbacks want to regain the physical identity that once defined the program, and Johnson is well suited to lead that effort.
His Southeastern background, stretching from Louisiana to Tennessee to Florida, gives him familiarity with:
- SEC recruiting battles
- The region’s talent pipelines
- The physical style of play needed to compete weekly in the conference
His addition would immediately raise the floor of Arkansas' run-game development and recruiting credibility. A Strong Pairing With Newly Hired Offensive Coordinator Tim Cramsey. Bringing Johnson aboard would also complement the Razorbacks’ new offensive coordinator, Tim Cramsey, who arrives after producing top-20 offenses at Memphis.
Cramsey will now be calling plays in the SEC for the first time, and pairing him with Johnson would offer:
- veteran experience to help transition his system to SEC speed and physicality
- a position coach who understands how to structure the run game for success in the league
- a recruiter capable of supplying the type of backs needed for Cramsey’s scheme
Johnson’s emphasis on toughness and establishing the ground game meshes well with Cramsey’s up-tempo, space-driven offensive approach. The partnership would help Arkansas build an attack that is both explosive and physical, a necessity in the modern SEC.
A Potential Home Run Hire for Arkansas
Nothing is finalized between Johnson and Arkansas, but Silverfield’s interest is clear, and warranted. For a program rebuilding its identity, adding one of the nation’s most respected running backs coaches would be a major win.
Johnson checks a lot of boxes: proven developer of elite talent, SEC experience, deep regional recruiting ties, and cultural/schematic alignment with Silverfield’s goals. With Cramsey never coaching at the Power conference level, surrounding himself with experienced position coaches will help him as he gets acclimated to the new environment and responsibilities.
If Arkansas can land him, it would signal a strong step forward in constructing a physical, modernized foundation for the Razorbacks’ future.