Few comparisons in college football carry more weight than being likened to Lamar Jackson. When Arkansas offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino invoked the name of his former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback in reference to Razorbacks star Taylen Green, it raised eyebrows across the sport. Hyperbolic? Absolutely. Intriguing? Without question. Now, with a Senior Bowl invitation in hand, Green has one final opportunity to show NFL scouts, and the football world, why those comparisons weren’t made lightly.
Petrino Compares Taylen Green to Lamar Jackson
Green wasted no time showcasing his immense upside at the start of the season. In the opener against Alabama A&M, he delivered an immediate statement, tying a school record with six touchdown passes in a dominant 52–7 victory. The performance wasn’t just about volume, it was about command. Green distributed the ball to multiple different receivers, displaying poise, confidence, and control of the offense. It was precisely the type of balanced, explosive attack Arkansas fans hoped to see under Petrino’s return to Fayetteville.
If the opener hinted at Green’s potential, the following week against Arkansas State made it impossible to ignore. In the first-ever meeting between the two programs, the Razorbacks overwhelmed their in-state counterpart 56–14. Green accounted for five total touchdowns, four through the air and one on the ground, while rushing for a career-high 151 yards. Arkansas piled up 630 total yards of offense and averaged a staggering 11.1 yards per carry.
Yes, the competition left something to be desired. But numbers like those still demand attention. Production at that level, regardless of opponent, reflects rare athletic traits and a quarterback capable of stressing defenses in multiple ways.
That versatility is where the Lamar Jackson comparisons begin to make sense.
Petrino knows better than most what elite quarterback talent looks like. He coached Jackson during his historic run at Louisville, and while no one is suggesting Green is destined for multiple MVP awards or Canton enshrinement, the stylistic parallels are undeniable. Both quarterbacks are dynamic athletes whose legs are constant threats to turn any broken play into six points. They possess an instinctive feel for space, an ability to accelerate in the open field, and the creativity to punish defenses that lose discipline for even a moment.
Importantly, the comparison isn’t meant to diminish their passing ability. Instead, it highlights the same lingering question that followed Jackson throughout his college career: consistency as a thrower. Green can make NFL-caliber throws, but like Jackson early on, his accuracy and decision-making can fluctuate. That’s where development, and perception, becomes critical.
Green doesn’t shy away from those comparisons. He embraces and cherishes them to drive him to be great.
Rather than deflecting Petrino’s bold statements, Green has used them as motivation. He studies Lamar Jackson’s film, and it shows. Some tendencies look familiar, not because he’s trying to imitate, but because he possesses a similar athletic foundation. When a quarterback idolizes a player whose skill set closely mirrors his own, overlaps are inevitable.
The Senior Bowl Is Green’s Opportunity to Prove It
Now, the Senior Bowl looms as the ultimate proving ground.
By accepting the invitation, Green signaled his intent to compete and to be evaluated against the best senior prospects in the country. It will be his final chance, pads on, to live up to the expectations set by his coach and to show NFL evaluators that his game translates beyond highlight reels and box scores.
The timing couldn’t be better. This year’s quarterback class is widely viewed as weaker than usual, creating opportunity for prospects willing to seize it. A strong week of practices and a composed performance in Mobile could send Green climbing draft boards. The platform is there. The opportunity is real.
Ultimately, the goal isn’t for Taylen Green to become the next Lamar Jackson. That’s an unfair bar for any player. The true test is whether he can prove he’s worthy of being the first Taylen Green; a quarterback with rare athleticism, growing command as a passer, and the confidence to rise when the spotlight is brightest.
The Senior Bowl will help answer that question and be the perfect litmus test for him to out and prove himself.