Arkansas RB AJ Green Enters Transfer Portal, Seeks Sixth Year of Eligibility
AJ Green’s college football journey has taken another turn. The Arkansas redshirt senior running back is officially entering the transfer portal once again, and this time, he’ll be doing it while petitioning the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility.
Green’s story is one of perseverance, setbacks, and resilience. A former four-star recruit out of Union High School in Oklahoma, Green originally signed with Arkansas in the Class of 2021.
At the time, he was ranked the No. 114 overall prospect nationally and the No. 2 player in the state of Oklahoma. Though schools like Oklahoma recruited him as a defensive back, Green chose Arkansas to stay on the offensive side of the ball - and he’s been a running back ever since.
His path hasn’t exactly been linear. After three seasons with the Razorbacks, Green transferred to Oklahoma State ahead of the 2024 season.
But before he could ever suit up for the Cowboys, he tore his Achilles during spring practice, sidelining him for the entire year. That December, he re-entered the portal and made a return to Fayetteville, this time as a walk-on.
There was some initial buzz that he might flip to the defensive side and play cornerback, but once again, Green found himself in the backfield. He appeared in just four games in 2025 - the NCAA’s threshold for preserving a year of eligibility - giving him a strong case for a sixth year. In those four appearances, he logged three carries for 11 yards, all coming in the season opener against Alabama A&M.
That limited workload doesn’t tell the full story. Green was a key contributor during his earlier years at Arkansas, especially in 2022, when he posted a career-best 414 rushing yards on 87 carries (4.8 yards per carry) and found the end zone three times.
That year, he also added 75 receiving yards and contributed on special teams with eight kick returns for 127 yards. He capped that season with a 99-yard, one-touchdown performance in the Liberty Bowl win over Kansas - the closest he’s come to a 100-yard rushing game in his college career.
In 2023, Green continued to be a steady presence in the Razorbacks’ rotation, appearing in all 12 games. He rushed for 312 yards and two touchdowns on 67 carries, while also catching six passes for 25 yards and another score.
He flashed big-play ability with a 55-yard run against BYU and proved he could handle a heavier workload with 15 carries in a win over Kent State. His versatility showed up again in a road win at Florida, where he scored on an eight-yard reception and chipped in 34 rushing yards.
Even as a freshman in 2021, Green made his presence felt. He ran for 227 yards and a touchdown on 47 carries, averaging 4.8 yards per attempt.
He also showed soft hands out of the backfield, catching seven passes for 84 yards and a touchdown. His breakout moment came against Texas, where he rushed for 67 yards and a score on just seven carries.
Later that season, he hauled in a 48-yard touchdown reception against Texas A&M - a glimpse of the dual-threat potential that once made him such a highly sought-after recruit.
Green’s high school résumé was just as impressive. At Union High School, he played both sides of the ball and was named 6AI-2’s co-MVP.
As a senior, he rushed for 1,325 yards and 19 touchdowns, including a five-touchdown performance (three rushing, two receiving) in a single game. He also brought serious speed to the table, clocking a wind-aided 10.38 in the 100 meters as a freshman on the track.
Now, Green is looking for one more shot - a sixth year to show what he can do when fully healthy. His petition to the NCAA will hinge on that lost 2024 season due to injury and the fact that he only played in four games in 2025. If granted, he’ll have the opportunity to bring experience, versatility, and explosiveness to a new program.
Wherever he lands next, Green will offer a seasoned backfield option with a track record of production - and a hunger to finish his college career on his own terms.