Ryan Silverfield isn’t wasting any time selling the idea that Arkansas can climb back into SEC contention, and on Monday night he pointed straight to the coaches around him as a big reason why.
At the Little Rock Touchdown Club’s first event of the year, Silverfield talked about the direction of the program as he opens his first season leading the Razorbacks. Arkansas has already undergone a major roster overhaul, with more than 40 players coming in through the portal this offseason, but Silverfield made it clear he views the staff as just as important to the rebuild.
“We have so many great coaches, and I couldn't be more thrilled with the type of men they are and the type of coaches they are, so I have so much faith and belief in our coaches,” Silverfield said.
The centerpiece of that staff is a pair of veteran coordinators in Tim Cramsey and Ron Roberts, two coaches with a combined 61 years of experience. Silverfield has leaned on both as he reshapes the Razorbacks after taking over near the end of 2025.
Cramsey arrives as Arkansas’ new offensive coordinator after spending the last four seasons running the Memphis offense under Silverfield. That unit became one of the country’s most reliable attacks during his run there, finishing in the top 25 over the past four years and standing out as one of the most consistent offenses in the American Athletic Conference in that span.
Now Cramsey faces a different challenge. He’s stepping into the SEC for the first time, and he inherits an Arkansas offense that has struggled to find steady success in recent years. He’ll also be working with new quarterback KJ Jackson, who has limited on-field experience.
Still, Cramsey’s résumé gives Arkansas reason to believe. He is entering his 17th year as an offensive coordinator in college football, and Silverfield is banking on that track record to help turn the Razorbacks into one of the SEC’s better offenses.
Silverfield also made a point to highlight Roberts, the longtime defensive coordinator who was brought in to fix a side of the ball that has been stuck near the bottom of the SEC for several seasons. Roberts brings extensive SEC experience and has spent more than 30 years coaching defense.
“Defensive coordinator Ron Roberts has had success as a coordinator in the SEC for a long time,” Silverfield said on Monday.
Silverfield added that he tried to hire Roberts for the same job at Memphis years ago, but Roberts chose Baylor instead before later coaching at Auburn and Florida. He joined Arkansas earlier this year.
Roberts will be tasked with overhauling a defense that was described as the worst in the SEC last season after allowing more than 400 yards per game. That’s a steep climb, but Silverfield believes Roberts has the background to help change the picture quickly.
“I want it to be hard for people to find a way to get a first down. I want people to say they’re fundamentally sound.”
@RazorbackFB DC Ron Roberts, on what he wants opposing offenses to say after playing Arkansas. #WPS pic.twitter.com/1sAyYqMldg
Silverfield’s message Monday was pretty simple: Arkansas’ reset is about more than transfers and depth charts. He’s counting on proven coordinators to help drive the next step.
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