Three reasons Arkansas football won't have success in 2024

There’s much to be hopeful for regarding Arkansas football's 2024 season. However, the national media and fans alike are having trouble garnering much excitement about the Razorbacks this year.

With a 4–8 record in 2023, the pitchfork and torches started to come out for Sam Pittman. When Pittman hired Bobby Petrino, it gave the fanbase a newfound energy, but it also stoked the flames underneath his already hot seat. With the hope of returning to a time when Arkansas was nationally relevant, some people hope that Petrino takes the head coaching job back before the end of the season.

If solutions aren’t found to last year's issues and situations aren’t controlled better than in previous years, that very well could happen. Here, we’ll talk about three potential problems Arkansas faces this season.

Three reasons Arkansas football won’t succeed in 2024 

Linebacker depth

Since Sam Pittman became the head coach at Arkansas, the linebackers have been a strength, with players like Grant Morgan, Bumper Pool, Drew Sanders, and Chris Paul. The position was never hurting for talent. However, after last season, nearly all of Arkansas's production at the position either graduated or transferred.

The transfer of the aforementioned Paul was arguably the biggest hit to Arkansas. When he entered the transfer portal, he went as one of the highest-rated athletes. Subsequently, he was picked up by Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss. Paul will travel back to Fayetteville on November 2 to play in Razorback Stadium one last time. The other two linebackers to leave — and along with them, their 2023 production — are Antonio Grier (grad) and Jaheim Thomas (transferred to Wisconsin).

The great thing about the linebackers last year, though, was the depth/future they had at the position. However, all of that went away, too. Mani Powell and Jordan Crook left the team with Thomas and Paul to find better situations for themselves.

So now, Arkansas is forced to play with mostly transfers and unproven underclassmen. Fortunately, they picked up Xavian Sorey and have a talented sophomores Brad Spence and Carson Dean. But will that be enough?