Taylen Green's hot start will be defined by SEC win, not just stats

The adage goes, 'records are made to be broken,' and quarterback records for the Arkansas Razorbacks fall often by the wayside over the decades. Just two years ago, KJ Jefferson eclipsed Tyler Wilson’s 2012 career-yardage mark and Brandon Allen’s 2015 record for career touchdowns. 

For his efforts, Jefferson was persona non-grata in Fayetteville by the time Bobby Petrino returned as offensive coordinator. As head coach, Petrino shepherded the college careers of Wilson, Allen and the-late Ryan Mallett, who previously held the single-season touchdown and aforementioned standards. When Petrino returned in 2024, he chose current Razorback quarterback Taylen Green out of the transfer portal to succeed Jefferson and make more record-setting runs in their first year together on The Hill. 

In his first year under Petrino’s tutelage, Green finished only 39 yards short of breaking Mallett’s all-time yardage totals for a single season while leading the second-most productive offense in total yardage in the Southeastern Conference. After two non-conference games so far this season, Green threatens to make another run at the record books by throwing six touchdowns in the season opener (one short of Allen’s record of seven) and garnering national recognition as a dark-house candidate for several national awards. 

Taylen Green's success hinges on SEC victories

However among true aficionados of Razorback football, some records and accolades mean more than others. At the top of that list is winning. So as the 2025 Razorbacks — led by Green, Petrino and current head coach Sam Pittman — travel to Oxford, Mississippi this weekend to begin what Razorbackers everywhere are hoping will be a redemption run through the ever-rugged SEC, enquiring minds want to know one thing. What have you won for me lately?

Just Win Baby

During an August 18 conversation featuring Green on the Razorback Daily Podcast, current Razorback broadcaster and former quarterback/Hall-of-Honor Member Quinn Grovey and his co-host, Matt Zimmerman broached the subject of winning Razorback signal callers. Grovey gave proper respect to Fred Marshall, who led Arkansas to its lone football national title in 1964 under then head coach Frank Broyles, among others. 

“I think you got to start with Fred,” Grovey said.” He's the one who won the national championship. (With) Fred Marshall — I mean — you’ve got a guy that's been to the pinnacle. He's won a national championship. I think you got to get Freddie Marshall all the credit in the world. 

“And then you got Bill Montgomery. I mean, he's the winningest quarterback in school history. I'm one game or two games behind him, but Bill was fantastic. Bill was absolutely awesome. When you talk about winning football games, those two guys are right up there.”

Grovey praised the dynamic play-making ability of Houston Nutt era quarterbacks like Matt Jones and the resilience of former Dallas Cowboy quarterback Clint Stoener. Names like Scott Bull and Ron Calcagni were also mentioned, before Grovey gave a special shoutout to Martin Lamond — the program’s first black quarterback — for all being “a part of a special fraternity.”

The last time the Arkansas Razorbacks won a conference title it was under the auspices of Grovey and coach Ken Hatfield. The combination produced consecutive Southwest Conference championships in 1988 and 1989 and concluded the winningest era in Razorback football history. 

Likely due to the run-oriented offensive philosophies which prevailed at the time, the only quarterbacks listed prior to 1990 among top-10 statistical leaders are Grovey, Brad Taylor and Montgomery. Grovey and Montgomery are tied at No. 10 on the all-time touchdown list with 29 each, and it’s worth noting that a player like future-NFL great Joe Ferguson quarterbacked the Razorbacks in the early 1970’s. 

Montgomery preceded Ferguson as starting quarterback and finished his storied career atop nearly every statistical category. He’s also noted for leading the Razorbacks in the historic No.1 vs No. 2 “Game of the Century” against the then Southwest Conference nemesis Texas Longhorns. 

The Great Eight Debate

Montgomery is also noted as leading the Razorbacks to the highest winning percentage over a three-year span, but not over a career. That honor goes to another historic Razorback quarterback, Greg Thomas, who wore No. 8. Zimmerman described Grovey’s immediate predecessor as “ a good quarterback in Arkansas for sure and a fighter and a tough, strong guy.”

Taylor meanwhile stands at No. 10 on the career passing yards list, and played the first three years of his career under national championship winner at Notre Dame and Hall of Famer, Lou Holtz. The do-everything native of Danville, played his senior season in Hatfield’s run-oriented Flex-bone offense and still finished his career as the school’s all-time leading passer. 

However waiting in the wings as Taylor led the Razorbacks to a 7-4 finish was an unheralded prospect from West Texas who stands to this day as the winningest quarterback in Arkansas’ storied football history. 

Crediting Montgomery as the school’s winningest quarterback is a slight of hand. The slight is to Thomas, who ushered in Hatfield’s winning ways at Arkansas from 1984 to 1987 as the first African American to start at the position. The strength and toughness Zimmerman referenced with respect to Thomas was not only exhibited on the field but off it as well. 

Thomas had to win over a fan base and media which still harbored resistance to a black quarterback at Arkansas some 20 years after Lamond first took up the mantle. Before handing the baton to Grovey, Thomas picked it up and ran with it to win the starting role and more games than any other in program history. He believes his challenge to gain acceptance is not about stats or wins, but a chapter in Razorback football history some would rather whitewash.

“Stats versus wins is all in the mind of the choosers,” Thomas said. “The wins are what many call a team statistic but they don’t punish the stat person if he loses. The university has many guys with good stats that had losing seasons. The stats replace the winning and that’s absurd.

“During my tenure, I was a part of four consecutive bowl appearances and won 35 games. That’s the most in Arkansas history for any period of time. We didn’t win the Southwest Conference title, but no other quarterback can make that claim. But somehow, some way, I don’t get mentioned or a sniff of recognition.”

Thomas tells his own story in his 2022 memoir, No Doubting Thomas: The Hawg Whisperer, and has just finished a sequel Making Believers about coaching Plano East High School to an undefeated state basketball champion run in 2024. 

Thomas’ claim to be the winningest quarterback in Razorback history is corroborated by veteran Arkansas sports journalist Andy Hodges. Hodges began as a beat writer covering Arkansas sports in the 1970s and currently writes for Sports Illustrated’s HogsSI.com, ESPN Arkansas and Hit That Line.

“Greg has Bill Montgomery by one win,” Hodges said. “Bill has a higher percentage because he only played three seasons and Greg really respects that. I’ve written about Greg for 40 years that he didn’t get the respect he deserves.”

According to Hodges, Thomas finished with 37 wins and 12 losses over his four-year career to Grovey’s 32 and 16 mark. Meanwhile Montgomery finished 28-5 over three years according to Wikipedia for the program’s highest winning percentage. 

“Bill Montgomery is one of my favorite Razorback QBs because he reached out to me during my freshman season and stayed close during my playing days and after,” Thomas said of his fellow Texas native. “Scott Bull as well, but not many others. 

“Quinn is a two time SWC champion who followed me and then you have Matt (Jones), Ryan, Tyler, KJ and  Taylen. All great in their respective eras, but none has matched the win total, the consecutive bowl appearances and none was the first to do what I was blessed to do.”

Thomas said today’s statistical records are as much a product of offensive philosophies as talent, and that the ability to win ball games is the great equalizer. As a result, he’s not one to play favorites from any era. He’s content to let history ultimately decide. 

“With the craziest of life changing opportunities and to be a new face on The Hill, do I have a favorite?” Thomas said. “Of course I do and I’m in the top tier — deservedly, but I will keep my list to myself.”

Green Grass of Home

The 6-6 Green hails from Dallas where Thomas now coaches basketball. Thomas says he’s calling all Razorback Nation to get behind his fellow Texan and pull for — not only a winning season but a run at an SEC title game appearance and a spot in the college football playoffs. 

“I’m pulling for my Razorbacks brothers and Taylen,” he said. “I had the opportunity to see him play for three seasons when he was in high school because they were a district opponent. Give him the same benefit of playing in the same system for a second year. The offense was a top-three offensive unit last season (in the SEC) and with a spring to sharpen the weapon, it should be exciting.”

The promising start so far has Razorback Nation sharing in the anticipation of a redeeming performance after being humiliated in Fayetteville by the Rebels last season. A successful run through the SEC will go a long way toward Green cementing his own credentials in Razorback football quarterback history.