If Arkansas is serious about jump-starting its rebuild and giving Razorback fans a reason to believe again, there’s one name they need to circle, underline, and highlight in bold: Caleb Hawkins.
The North Texas running back officially hit the transfer portal, and if his New Mexico Bowl performance was your first time seeing him, you weren’t alone - but you also got a front-row seat to what he does best. Hawkins put on a show, racking up 30 carries for 198 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, plus 25 receiving yards and another score through the air.
It wasn’t just a breakout game; it was a full-on takeover. North Texas needed every bit of his production to edge out a 49-47 win, and Hawkins delivered like a veteran - not a freshman.
Yes, a freshman.
That’s what makes this even more compelling. Hawkins just wrapped up a season where he rushed for 1,236 yards and a nation-leading 23 touchdowns. Add in 345 receiving yards, and you’ve got one of the most versatile, productive backs in the country - and he’s only getting started.
The Portal Prize Everyone Wants
Now that Hawkins is in the transfer portal, he instantly becomes one of the top prizes on the market. And with at least two years of eligibility left, he’s not just a short-term fix - he’s a foundational piece. In today’s college football landscape, where roster turnover is a constant and continuity is a luxury, landing a player like Hawkins is a rare shot at stability and star power in one package.
Arkansas needs to be all-in.
This isn’t about plugging a hole in the depth chart. This is about building around a difference-maker - someone who can be the face of the offense, the identity of the program, and the spark that reignites Razorback football.
The Oklahoma State Factor
Of course, it won’t be a free run to the finish line. Oklahoma State is very much in the picture - and with good reason.
Hawkins’ head coach at North Texas, Eric Morris, is now with the Cowboys. Hawkins is also an Oklahoma native.
So, there’s familiarity, proximity, and continuity all pointing in Stillwater’s direction.
But that’s where Arkansas has to think bigger.
Why Arkansas Makes Sense
New Razorbacks head coach Ryan Silverfield has a track record of building rosters and developing talent. He’s not just looking to compete - he’s looking to build something sustainable. And Hawkins fits that vision perfectly.
Arkansas can offer something Oklahoma State can’t: the SEC stage. The toughest conference in college football.
The biggest spotlight. The best defenses.
If Hawkins wants to prove he’s the best back in the country, there’s no better proving ground than the SEC.
And more than that, Arkansas can offer him the role. Not as a cog in a committee, not as a complementary piece - but as the guy.
The focal point of a rebuild. The engine of the offense.
The player who gets the ball when the game’s on the line, who fans rally around, and who opponents game-plan for every week.
A Star Worth Building Around
Arkansas fans have been waiting for a player like this - someone who brings both production and excitement. Hawkins checks every box. He’s explosive in the open field, tough between the tackles, dangerous as a receiver, and still just scratching the surface of what he can become.
This is the kind of move that can change a program’s trajectory. Arkansas has the need, the opportunity, and the platform. Now it’s about making the pitch and closing the deal.
If Ryan Silverfield wants to make a statement early in his tenure, this is it. Go get Caleb Hawkins.
Hand him the keys. Let him be the face of the rebuild.
Because with Hawkins in Fayetteville, Arkansas football wouldn’t just be back on the map - it’d be must-watch again.