Arkansas Football Staff Overhaul Continues with Eight More Hires
FAYETTEVILLE - The Arkansas Razorbacks are continuing their full-scale football staff rebuild, announcing eight more hires on Friday as the program reshapes its identity under new leadership. The moves include a mix of seasoned college coaches, NFL experience, and some familiar faces returning to Fayetteville - all part of a broader effort to inject new energy and direction into the program.
Let’s break down the newest additions and what each brings to the table.
Key On-Field Coaching Hires
Kynjee’ Cotton has been named the Razorbacks' new defensive line coach and defensive run game coordinator. Cotton arrives from the NFL, where he most recently served as an assistant defensive line coach with the Miami Dolphins. His hiring hadn’t been previously reported, making it the biggest surprise of the latest wave of announcements.
Cotton’s coaching journey has taken him through a variety of college programs, including stints coaching defensive ends at Samford and Kennesaw State, and a recent role as a defensive analyst at LSU. He started his coaching career as a student assistant at Alabama State, where he also played, and has made stops at UAB, Birmingham Southern, North Carolina, and West Georgia. That wide-ranging experience - from strength and conditioning to on-field coaching - gives him a broad understanding of defensive line play and player development.
Deron Wilson is returning to Arkansas as co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach. Wilson was part of the Razorbacks’ staff from 2023 to 2024 under Sam Pittman before briefly accepting the defensive coordinator job at Georgia State. He didn’t coach a game there, opting instead to join Florida as the defensive backs coach for the 2024 season.
At Florida, Wilson worked alongside Ron Roberts, now Arkansas’ new defensive coordinator. That familiarity should help streamline the transition as the Razorbacks look to tighten up a defense that struggled with consistency last season.
Clint Trickett takes over as quarterbacks coach. Trickett, 34, spent the past year coaching QBs at Jacksonville State and brings with him a solid résumé that includes stops at Georgia Southern, Marshall, and Florida Atlantic. Notably, he worked with new Arkansas offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey during his time at Marshall - a connection that could pay dividends as the Razorbacks install a new offensive system.
Marcus Johnson joins the staff as offensive line coach. Johnson brings 15 years of college coaching experience and is currently working as an assistant offensive line coach at Ohio State.
A former Ole Miss standout who played in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings, Johnson has coached O-lines at Duke, Mississippi State, Missouri, and Purdue. His NFL ties include overlapping with Arkansas head coach Ryan Silverfield during their time in Minnesota - another connection that likely played a role in this hire.
Morgan Turner will continue as tight ends coach, a position he’s held for the past three seasons under former head coach Sam Pittman. Turner’s return provides some continuity in a room that’s seen solid development over the past few years.
Support Staff Additions
The Razorbacks also added three key support staff members:
- Scott Gasper has been named senior director of football personnel. This role is crucial in managing recruiting operations, roster construction, and the day-to-day logistics that keep the program running behind the scenes.
- CJ Wilford joins as an assistant coach and quality control analyst. On social media, Wilford identifies himself as a safeties coach, suggesting he’ll work closely with the defensive backs. He spent this past season coaching safeties at Georgia State and previously worked as a quality control coach at Florida and a defensive backs analyst at Louisiana - both stops where he worked alongside Ron Roberts.
- Nick Mathews comes on board as an offensive quality control analyst. In his social media bio, he lists himself as an assistant quarterbacks coach. Mathews was a research analyst at Memphis this season and previously worked in a support role under Pittman at Arkansas, giving him some familiarity with the program.
What’s Next for the Staff?
While 13 assistant coaches have now been announced this week, it’s still unclear which 10 will be designated as off-campus recruiters - the maximum number allowed under NCAA rules. However, there’s no cap on the number of on-field coaches a program can have, so Arkansas may continue to build out its staff with flexibility in mind.
The common thread in these hires? Familiarity and fit. Whether it’s coaches reuniting with former colleagues or bringing in NFL experience to bolster the trenches, the Razorbacks are clearly prioritizing alignment - both schematically and culturally - as they look to turn the page and build a more competitive roster heading into next season.
With more pieces falling into place, Arkansas is quietly assembling a staff that blends experience, continuity, and upside. The real test, of course, will come on Saturdays - but for now, the Razorbacks are laying down the foundation for what they hope is a new era of success.