Essentially, the Razorbacks are fielding a completely new team. Every position will start at least two new players. Only two positions return nearly every starter from 2023.
The wide receivers and tight ends will look almost the same. You might think it’s a negative because of how they performed last season. They finished 109th in the country in passing with only 179.6 yards a game and 22 total touchdowns. However, Arkansas pass catchers have the potential to be the most improved position on the team.
Under Dan Enos, the wide receivers were misused. Having a defender in KJ Jefferson's face way too often was part of the reason for the low passing numbers, but most of the time, the receivers weren’t put in a position to capitalize on their potential. For example, the route below caused a situation where Mississippi State's safety could play two routes at once, making Jefferson wrong no matter where he threw the ball.
Everything coming out of camp/this summer about the receivers reinforces the idea that they were just missed used last season. The announcers were even hinting about it in Enos’ last game. pic.twitter.com/g7dNAPmagL
— The Pig Trough (@pigtroughmedia) August 2, 2024
Fortunately, offensive guru Bobby Petrino has the reins now. Fans got a little taste of what the wide receiver corps could do during the spring game, where Andrew Armstrong, Luke Hasz, and Tyrone Broden combined for ten receptions, 164 yards, and two touchdowns. They’re also incredibly fast. All three of last year's starters run over 22 mph, including 6-foot-7-inch Broden, who caught this amazing one-handed grab on the first day of practice.
Day 1 and @TyroneBroden is already making ridiculous catches 🤯 pic.twitter.com/75DpGQCCTS
— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) August 1, 2024
Of course, there’s also the tight ends to think about. Luke Hasz began his freshman year on fire, catching 16 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns in the first five games (really four games) of the season. Unfortunately, he broke his collarbone early against Texas A&M and sat out the rest of the year.
Now that he’s healthy again, he adds another dimension to Arkansas's passing attack. Other stars surround him, too, like Ty Washington and Var’keys Gumms. Gumms had growing pains last season after moving from the American Athletic Conference to the SEC but looks to be progressing in practice. And Washington stepped up big-time the previous season after Hasz was hurt.
Petrio has no shortage of weapons to use, but the X factors are the offensive line and the consistency of Taylen Green. If both show up every game, Arkansas could shock the country with how explosive the offense is.