Taylen Green will lead young 2025 Arkansas Razorbacks QB room

The Arkansas Razorbacks will face one of the most brutal schedules in SEC history, if one can believe that, given brutal schedules are the norm for the Hogs. Since the Hogs are now benefitting from a second season under the tutelage of Bobby Petrino, a proven offensive genius, one can reasonably expect their offense to take a significant leap forward, and, as a result, Taylen Green, the starting quarterback, has a greater likelihood of meeting the demands of the schedule.

While no traditional quarterback controversy is present for the Razorbacks, they have quite the battle going for the second-string quarterback position. That quarterback battle is between KJ Jackson, a redshirt freshman, and Madden Iamaleava, a true freshman. Such competitiveness behind Taylen Green should make all in Razorback Nation feel calmer about the quarterbacks available to serve in the event Green cannot play and about the Hogs' future at this critical and most visible position.   

While we know the Razorbacks' defense must improve to permit them a successful season, no team will experience success without quality play and leadership from the quarterback position. Given this, this article provides a preview of Arkansas's quarterback depth chart to understand the players who will lead the Hogs' offense.

Razorback 2025 Spring Quarterback Depth Chart

Taylen Green

The Razorbacks return their team leader and best player, Taylen Green. According to ESPN, in 2024, Green completed 230 of 381 pass attempts, which is 60.4%, for 3,154 yards, averaging 8.3 yards per pass, delivering 15 touchdown passes and nine interceptions. While those are solid numbers, especially playing in the SEC, Green will still need to improve those numbers and his performance, given that life in the SEC consistently is the most challenging in the nation.  

However, Bobby Petrino is optimistic about the 2025 season. As shared by Andy Hodges, a Razorback beat writer at Sports Illustrated, Petrino stated, "Taylen knows the offense. He's much more comfortable in it." Petrino has one of the most challenging offenses in college football history to defend. At the same time, his sophisticated offense requires time for players to learn it, especially for a quarterback. Green has had the requisite time to learn the offense, which gives him more confidence when he steps on the field to employ his full talent.

Green's much greater knowledge of Petrino's offense can help him eliminate errors, especially the unforced errors that were costly in several games last season. This will also give Petrino more flexibility to open up his offense, making things even more challenging for opposing defenses

KJ Jackson

Given how vital familiarity with an offense is for coaches, one can expect redshirt freshman KJ Jackson to emerge as the second-string quarterback. Jackson is entering his second season of learning Petrino's offense, which supplies him a competitive advantage over freshman Madden Iamaleava. Sam Pittman, Arkansas's head football coach, has already suggested that Jackson is currently the front-runner for the second-string quarterback position.

Kent Smith, a Razorback beat writer at Sports Illustrated, reported Pittman's statement suggesting Jackson has the edge in the competition for second-string quarterback: "It's a good competition in there, but I like KJ, and he's made some good throws. Learning continues. [Jackson] continues to learn, but I think we'll all feel really comfortable when he goes in the football game."

When one steps on the field in the SEC, the speed of the game is not like anything else he has experienced. Pittman recognizes this, of course, which why the words "we'll all feel really comfortable when he goes in the football game" are doing much work, work quite favorable for Jackson.

Madden Iamaleava

Although Pittman is more "comfortable" with Jackson at this point, Jackson should not feel comfortable that the second-string quarterback position is firmly decided, given that it is not. If Madden Iamaleava, the four-star freshman quarterback from Long Beach, California continues to shine in practice, it is not inconceivable that he can seize the second-string quarterback position.

Kent Smith shared comments Petrino made last week about Iamaleava: "You know, Madden's a special talent now. He can really get the ball out of his hands. He sees stuff and has a great, quick release. I know there's times he drops back and he doesn't know what the play is, but somebody pops open and he can stick it and put it right on their hands. The last guy that I coached that did that a lot as a true freshman was Lamar Jackson."

While Petrino's statement reveals that Iamaleava needs more time to learn the offense, he is impressed with Iamaleava's talent, honoring him by comparing him to "a true freshman Lamar Jackson." Petrino does not want his quarterbacks to hold the ball in their hands too long, especially not in SEC play. Therefore, when Petrino notes that "He can really get the ball out of his hands," that statement is another significant sign that the freshman quarterback can take the second-string quarterback position and indicates he can be the future quarterback.