When Arkansas announced the return of Bobby Petrino, fans were in neck braces as they looked at the news from whiplash. Yes, there is some wordplay in the previous sentence, but in all seriousness, what Petrino brings is a wealth of knowledge along with an effective scheme. As with any offense, this is all predicated on the play of the quarterback position. Can Petrino remain on the same page with his signal-caller Taylen Green?
In Fayetteville, Arkansas, this position was in jeopardy entering the 2024 season; yet, we learned quickly that Boise State transfer Taylen Green was the hand-picked player for Petrino. With the track record of next-level talent coached by Petrino, a second season for Green will be one to watch. What happened in season one? Why does this give hype to this unit in 2025? We find out.
Arkansas’s Dynamic Duo Taylen Green and Bobby Petrino
We Have Seen This Before
It was a magical time in Fayetteville from 2008 to 2011, as former quarterback Ryan Mallett marched the Razorbacks to many wins. As many remember, Mallett and the Razorbacks made history in their only BCS Bowl Appearance, The Sugar Bowl, in a loss to Ohio State. In the end, Petrino finished his time at Arkansas with a 34-17 overall record as head coach.
In his first season as Offensive Coordinator, Petrino proved to the fans he had not lost a step in his ability to carve defenses like ham. To further this point, the Razorbacks had a 5,973-yard season in total, which ranks as the fourth-best single-season in program history. We understand, based on these numbers and others, why Petrino targeted Green to run this scheme.
The Grass Is Greener
We alluded to the success last season for this offense. To be more specific, we will analyze how Green was able to thrive. In a season that created much hesitation in perhaps the most influential position on the field, Green quickly hushed any doubters. Just how good was Green in 2024?
Mallett holds the record for most passing yards in a single season, with 3,869 yards thrown in the 2010 season. In 2024 for Arkansas, Green tossed 3.756 yards, which slots him second all-time for Arkansas. Furthermore, Green is now just the fifth player in program history to throw for 3,000-plus yards in a single season. This effectiveness in the scheme also fueled other players for impressive seasons.
Fans witnessed a dominating performance from the wide receivers last season. In addition to the historic numbers as a whole, we saw Andrew Armstrong thrive with Green. In total, Armstrong snagged a team-high 78 receptions for 1,140 yards. This made Armstrong the first wideout for the Razorbacks to exceed 1,000 yards since Treylon Burks in 2021. With this feat, Armstrong is now just the sixth receiver to accomplish this since joining the SEC in 1992.
A Season Of Hype
Based on the discussed factors, the pairing of Petrino and Green has been money!
Will this duo cash in for a special season in 2025? We project that, based on the above numbers plus historical perspective, this is a season of hype. With a retooled roster including a more experienced offensive line, Taylen Green has the opportunity to take the next step under Petrino for Arkansas.
What is the next step, you may ask? Take the wins for this program to the next level, which has the potential to happen under Sam Pittman. With the knowledge of Green combined with the cerebral nature of the play caller, this offense could resemble an arsenal.
In closing, this pairing will be frequently discussed at the upcoming SEC Media Days event, and with good reason. Petrino has shown that his keen eye for talent is just as potent as his offensive scheme. Moreover, along with Green under center, Bobby Petrino has changed the trajectory of the 2025 season for Arkansas football. Can Petrino and Green remain on the same page?
Main Photo: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
The post Taylen Green and Bobby Petrino Must Be On Same Page appeared first on Last Word on College Football.