Arkansas’ first road trip of the season comes with a fresh depth chart and a familiar look in most spots.
The Razorbacks released their Week Two two-deep on Monday ahead of Saturday’s game against Utah at Rice-Eccles Stadium. It’s a matchup of first-year head coaches, with Arkansas led by Ryan Silverfield and Utah by Morgan Scalley. Both teams opened with wins over FCS opponents, though they got there in very different ways.
Arkansas leaned on its defense in a 31-14 win over North Alabama, while the offense had a rough time generating movement between the tackles. Utah, meanwhile, shook off a sluggish start and poured it on Idaho from midway through the second quarter on, finishing with a 59-7 win and 633 yards of offense.
For Arkansas, the depth chart after Week One shows stability more than shakeup.
At quarterback, KJ Jackson is listed first, with AJ Hill behind him. In the backfield, Sutton Smith remains the starter, followed by Braylen Russell and Cam Settles.
The receiver group includes Chris Marshall at WR-X, with Antonio Jordan now listed second and Courtney Crutchfield third. One change worth noting is Jordan moving ahead of Crutchfield.
At WR-A, Jamari Hawkins and Ismael Cisse are again listed in an “-OR-” situation, with Jelani Watkins behind them. Hawkins and Cisse will split time in the slot for a second straight week.
CJ Brown holds the top spot at WR-Z, followed by Donovan Faupel and Monte Harrison.
Tight end remains Jaden Platt, Ty Lockwood, and Matt Adcock.
Up front, there were no personnel changes along the offensive line despite the struggles in Week One. Kavion Broussard is at left tackle, Malachi Breland at left guard, Caden Kitler at center, Kobe Branham at right guard and Bryant Williams at right tackle.
On defense, Arkansas is keeping the same setup across the line. Quincy Rhodes Jr. is first at end, with Xadavien Sims and Caleb Bell behind him.
At nose tackle, David Oke and Carlon Jones are listed “-OR-,” with Danny Beale next. Hunter Osborne starts at defensive tackle, with Trajen Odom and Antonio Sandel-Bascomb behind him.
Silverfield had expressed concern about the defensive line before the season, but the group held up against North Alabama. The bigger challenge now comes against Utah quarterback Devon Dampier and running back Wayshawn Parker.
At JACK, Steven Soles Jr. is listed ahead of Charlie Collins. Bradley Shaw leads one linebacker spot, with Ben Bogle and Jeremy Evans behind him. Ja’Quavion Smith is first at the other linebacker spot, followed by Phoenix Jackson and Wyatt Simmons.
In the secondary, Joker Johnson and DJ Hairston are listed at corner, Miguel Mitchell and Kyeaure Magloire at safety, Christian Harrison and Tay Lockett at free safety, Shelton Lewis and La’khi Roland at the other corner, and Khmori House and Carter Stoutmire at STAR.
Special teams also stayed put. Max Gilbert is the kicker, with Braeden McAllister behind him.
Gavin Rush and Jesse Ehrlich are listed at punter and holder, while McAllister and Gilbert are both listed for kickoff duty. Adam Johnston remains the long snapper.
Jamari Hawkins is the kick returner, and Sutton Smith is back as the punt returner.
From linebacker through special teams, Arkansas made no changes at all from the previous week.
In Other News...
KJ Jackson's Arkansas Debut Left One Big Concern Before Utah
KJ Jacksons first start for Arkansas checked the most basic box on a September Saturday: the Razorbacks won, and they did it with their new quarterback running the show. In a 31-14 victory over North Alabama, the junior completed 24 of 35 passes for 267 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, while adding 27 rushing yards to help settle the offense into a rhythm.
Still, the debut did not leave the kind of clean, finished feeling Arkansas would want heading into Utah. Jackson and head coach Ryan Silverfield both pointed to the need for improvement even after the win, a reminder that the Razorbacks got production but not a fully polished performance from the position they are counting on most. [Read more 🡒]
KJ Jackson Faces A Razorbacks Test That Could Expose Early Problems
KJ Jacksons Arkansas debut had enough to make the Razorbacks feel encouraged and enough to leave a little unease hanging over the offense. In the season-opening win over North Alabama, he completed 24 of 35 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns, but the outing also included an interception and a lost fumble, two reminders that clean quarterback play will matter a lot more once the competition level rises.
Utah brings the kind of defense that can turn those loose edges into real problems, especially if Arkansas does not get steadier play up front and more help on the ground. The Razorbacks will need to trim the turnovers and cut down on penalties to give Jackson a chance to settle in, and this next test should say a lot about whether the early flashes were a sign of growth or just a product of the opener. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Depth Chart Hint Points To One New Offensive Ris
Arkansas released its Week 2 depth chart ahead of Saturdays matchup with No. 21 Utah, and the biggest takeaway was a familiar one: consistency. Most of the chart looks exactly the same as it did a week ago, but wide receiver Jelani Watkins earned an official mention after his Week 1 performance, giving the staff at least one fresh name to highlight as the Razorbacks prepare for a tougher test.
For a team trying to sort out its offensive identity early in the season, Watkins placement is a small but notable sign that production can still move the needle. The rest of the chart staying put suggests Arkansas is not ready to make sweeping changes yet, but it also leaves the door open for a few new wrinkles if the Razorbacks need more juice against a ranked Utah defense. [Read more 🡒]