As students move back into dorms and housing across campuses, we can not forget about grades. After all, the players on the teams we report on are student-athletes. With this, we at Last Word will be presenting a weekly “Report Card” on Arkansas football. The week leading up to the game, we will present five keys to success for the Razorbacks. We will then “Grade” how they performed. We would like to kick off this report with a brief overview as the Razorbacks enter the 2025 season.
2025 Report Card: Grading the Razorbacks Outlook
In this piece, this card will evaluate four areas of the program based on the 2025 potential. Each category will receive a grade based on numerous factors, including strengths, weaknesses, player performances, and projections for the upcoming season.
Offense: B+
In 2024, the Arkansas offense exploded for a historic year statistically. With this, we begin the report card for Arkansas on offense. Taylen Green threw for 3,154 yards and 22 touchdowns, cementing his status as one of the best seasons in program history in his “freshman season” with Arkansas. With this success, there is hype around the potential of an even greater 2025 season.
There has been an emphasis by staff on ball security for a great reason. Last season, Arkansas had substantial issues maintaining possession as they threw nine interceptions and coughed up 12 fumbles. In their losses last season, the deficit was a 15-1 spread not in the Razorbacks’ favor. This has been drilled into the players as a key obligation to maintain possession. With this, there could have been potentially 8 or 9 wins in 2024.
The Line
The next three areas we will discuss have seen an influx of new talent. Starting with the offensive line, which has been an Achilles heel for Arkansas, has been potentially transformed into its strength. Pulling multiple players from the transfer portal from all across the nation has served this group well and may matriculate to others offensively. First of these, we project the running backs. Returners, such as Braylen Russell, as well as newcomers, can utilize the experience up front for perhaps stellar seasons. The physicality of these backs will be critical when entering the teeth of SEC play.
Pass Catchers
The final group is the wide receivers and tight ends. Perhaps the largest void to fill, Arkansas again worked the portal for talent. Transfers such as O’Mega Blake, of Charlotte, and Raylen Sharpe, of Fresno State, combined with youth like local talent Courtney Crutchfield and Antonio Jordan, make this group exciting to follow. Now, to the tight ends, as this group has created a buzz. The 6’6 Andreas Paaske adds instant versatility and a red-zone target. He, along with Rohan Jones of Utah and Arkansas, has players with high ceilings.
Arkansas is equipped with a high-powered offense led by a cerebral signal-caller in Petrino. This, paired with an emerging talent at quarterback, a rebuilt offensive line, and talent at every position, makes this offense one to watch not only in the SEC but nationally. We grade the Arkansas offense a B+ entering 2025.
Defense: C+
Now, we grade the defense on the report card. An area in 2024 that saw improvement, yet still had inconsistent moments, was the defense. Led by co-coordinators Travis Williams and Marcus Woodson, this group is looking to rebound. That is particularly true after allowing 25 points per game along with 376 yards on average, which does not equate to success. There are many questions that we at Last Word have discussed. This unit will need to be solid and consistent in the trenches. Cameron Ball and others will need to gain confidence early in the season and maintain this for another daunting schedule. The ability to disrupt backfields and produce pressure and sacks is an area of importance, but consistent play is key.
The Linebackers
In the linebacker room, there is depth a immense talent. Xavian Sorey Jr, who had 99 tackles and two sacks in 2024, led this unit along with Stephen Dix Jr, who pitched in with 72 tackles last season. Along with some new additions, this is looking to be the strength of Arkansas defensively.
The Defensive Backs
The secondary is under new leadership as Deron Wilson takes over as coordinator. While both young and unproven as a coach, Wilson looks to rejuvenate this group. A mixture of youth and experience is competing for positions as freshman Jaylon Braxton and Georgia transfer Jaheim Singletary are looking to snag starting roles. An aggressive scheme created havoc on offenses for Arkansas at times as they generated 14 turnovers last campaign.
This scheme will be tested as we look down the schedule of opponents for Arkansas. Will this unit’s inexperience play together doom them? Or, can they disrupt offenses like Ole Miss, Memphis, and LSU this season? We graded this unit based on untested talent in what might be uncomfortable environments. Also, there will need to be consistent resilience in a brutal schedule. With this, entering this season, we give the Arkansas defense a C+ grade.
Special Teams: B
We now look to the report card for Arkansas and grade the special teams. Have you forgotten about special teams? If so, Arkansas has a unit that you may want to watch, as it is a hidden weapon. Led by coordinator Scott Fountain, this unit is solid. Kicker Scott Starzyk returns with reported improved leg strength. After converting 14-of-18 field goals, including a 77.8% accuracy inside 45 yards, all eyes will be on the kicking game. While an area of improvement will be on longer kicks, as he was only 2-for-5 beyond 40 yards.
Freshman All-SEC punter Sam Dubwig gives Arkansas an edge in the very important battle of field position. Last season, Dubwig averaged 43.2 yards per punt while pinning opponents inside their 20-yard line on 42% of his punts. This precision will be critical against opponents.
The one looming question is, who will return kickoffs and punts for Arkansas? After losing Andrew Armstrong to the NFL, this is an area of great importance for Fountain. Kam Shanks, in addition to the aforementioned Raylen Sharpe project to be the one to fill this void. Sharpe has a 4.3 speed on the 40-yard dash and brings the big-play ability. The inexperienced play will be something to watch as the season progresses. With a unit that only allowed one blocked punt last season, Fountain continues to showcase his talent for demanding discipline.
The grade for this unit was not an easy one. We grade them a B based on the ability and potential in the return game, combined with consistency in kicking.
Coaching: B
As we continue our report card on Arkansas, we look at coaching. While Sam Pittman’s overall record, 30-31, has drawn scrutiny within the fanbase, Pittman remains confident in his program to remain successful. Focused on the relationship-building over money money-spending approach has benefited Arkansas. The retention of the core staff of coordinators is massive for sideline continuity as Pittman leads the Razorbacks into a critical season despite constant rumors of whether Petrino will take back over the program.
The staff that is in place has shown in their short time in Fayetteville that the development of talent is taking place. In addition to developing, the recruitment of new talent, whether from high school or college, proves that they have made Arkansas an attractive destination. In this modern era of the sport, especially in the SEC, making Fayetteville, Arkansas, attractive is not the easiest of achievements.
At SEC Media Days, Pittman brushed off hot seat talk, focusing on relationship-building. His recruiting prowess, landing four-star linebacker JJ Bush over LSU and three-star quarterback Grayson Wilson, bolsters the future. Retaining Bobby Petrino, whose offensive scheme maximizes Green’s talent, is a plus. We spoke of the potent offense and talent on defense. Along with a steady and sneaky special teams, this staff receives a B from us.
This reflects continuity on the sidelines, along with recruiting vision, and success on the field.
Overall Grade B-
Entering 2025, Arkansas has a largely untested but talented roster. Once you blend in the depth at the offensive line, youth and aggressiveness on defense, and leadership and poise at quarterback, Arkansas can be a threat. The schedule is again daunting once they get past the first game. Overall, we grade the whole Hog a B- entering the season. This reflects the potential to surprise teams, resilience from the head coach, and a talented roster with experience. The Razorbacks are an interesting team to pay attention to as they look to climb to the top tier of the Southeastern Conference.
Main Image: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
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