Tennessee football is set to return to the site where it was upset in 2024. The Vols will meet Arkansas in Fayetteville early in its SEC slate.
With fall camp around the corner, I spoke with Kyle Sutherland of HawgBeat to get the inside scoop on where the Razorbacks are at this summer.
Advertisement
Here’s what he said.
More From RTI: Josh Pate Places Tennessee Football’s Josh Heupel in Bottom Half of SEC Head Coach Rankings
What’s the early impression from Ryan Silverfield and how he’s running the Arkansas program? What are the expectations for year one?
Since all Silverfield has at this point to sell is a vision, I would say between some of the high school recruits Arkansas has been in position for and what it did in the portal deserves some credit. An early season road win at Utah would create some belief within the fanbase, but to me predicting over five or six wins at this point is unrealistic. The fanbase is past tired of losing, but anything above 5 wins would help the morale and anything below it would be ‘here we go again’.
What does the quarterback situation look like? Will it be KJ Jackson, and if so, what does he bring to the table?
If they played a game tomorrow it’s hard to say it wouldn’t be KJ Jackson, but it is down to (or as the coaches say, “coin flip”) Jackson and Memphis transfer AJ Hill. During the spring they split reps the 1’s and 2’s. Both have minimal game experience, but KJ has it against the SEC and is obviously more familiar with the Arkansas program. The biggest thing with KJ is he’s shown promise but he also seems like one of those players who fully commits and adapts to the situations he is in. Arkansas needs someone leading the offense who is 100% locked in.
What does the offense around the quarterback position look like? Strengths? Weaknesses?
I think the offense can be really, really good if everything meshes. Three are back from a very good offensive line, Sutton Smith is a great addition in the backfield and can form a solid 1-2 punch with Braylen Russell if Russell stays healthy, plus they should have some nice pieces at wide receiver. Chris Marshall has had a lot of struggles off the field throughout his college career, but his talent is undeniable. Past Marshall, Arkansas native CJ Brown has proven reliable but there will have to be others that step up (Courtney Crutchfield, Ismael Cisse, Antonio Jordan, etc.). Tight end and wideout past Marshall are my biggest questions, though quarterback is also near the top of the list.
What are the projected strengths and weaknesses for the defense?
Strengths I think will be the line because they added what I feel are some quality pieces around Quincy Rhodes Jr., plus returning guys like David Oke and Charlie Collins I feel like will really take strides forward assuming they stay healthy. Collins, along with guys like Jamonta Waller and Steven Soles Jr. should be great compliments at the JACK position opposite of Rhodes. I also think the secondary should be really improved (though let’s be real, it can’t get much worse than 2025) with the additions of Joker Johnson, La’Khi Roland, etc. Linebacker is more of a question than a weakness to me. They love FCS transfer Ja’Quavion Smith, but will returners Bradley Shaw and Wyatt Simmons take the next step?
Do you have an early prediction for the game, or is it too far out to tell?
Certainly too early to tell, but the small number remaining from Arkansas’ 2024 team will be the ones looked to for tips on that matchup because not only were they in person for the Top 5 upset, but they are veterans by now. Since it is currently in a FLEX, hopefully both teams will have done enough by then to earn a prime time slot.
