New Arkansas OC Tim Cramsey Brings a Player-First Philosophy - and a System Built for Adaptability
FAYETTEVILLE - When Memphis pulled off a gritty win over Arkansas back in September, it wasn’t just the scoreboard that left an impression - it was the poise of a backup quarterback and the philosophy behind the play call that sealed it.
With 1:18 left and Arkansas trailing 32-31, the Razorbacks were threatening in the red zone when Mike Washington’s fumble flipped the script. The Hogs still had all their timeouts, meaning a defensive stop could’ve kept hope alive. But then came a moment that told you everything about how Memphis operated under offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey.
Starting quarterback Brendon Lewis had to leave the game after his helmet popped off. That brought in backup Arrington Maiden on a critical third-and-8.
High-pressure moment. Most teams would play it safe.
Not Memphis. Maiden took the snap, ran straight up the gut for 11 yards, and dragged 387-pound Arkansas defensive tackle Ian Geffrard with him to move the chains.
Game over. Memphis ran out the clock.
Arkansas walked off with the second of what would become 10 straight losses.
Fast forward three months, and Cramsey is now sitting inside the Smith Center in Fayetteville - the new offensive coordinator for Arkansas, hired by head coach Ryan Silverfield. On the Razorback Daily Podcast, Cramsey broke down that moment with a clarity that speaks volumes about his approach.
“What I tell the backup quarterbacks all the time is - when you go in, you’re not going in to hand the ball off or take a knee,” Cramsey said. “You’re going in to maximize your skill set.
I know what you can do just as well as the starter. When you go in, I’m going to use your strength.”
That’s not just a soundbite. It’s the core of how Cramsey and Silverfield see the game: build the scheme around the players, not the other way around.
Silverfield didn’t mince words at his introductory press conference on December 4. “I think you get so many coaches who will say, ‘Well, he didn’t fit my system.’ No, you’re a bad coach.”
That mindset is what Arkansas is betting on as it tries to reboot an offense that struggled to find consistency in 2025. Cramsey was officially announced as offensive coordinator on Tuesday, bringing nearly two decades of experience to the table. His résumé includes stops at New Hampshire, Florida International, Montana State, Nevada, Sam Houston State, and Marshall before linking up with Silverfield at Memphis in 2022.
Cramsey’s roots trace back to his days as a quarterback at New Hampshire from 1994-98, where he played under position coach Chip Kelly. He later coached alongside Kelly, learning the foundations of the up-tempo, spread-style attack that became Kelly’s signature. But Cramsey hasn’t stayed stuck in the past - his system has evolved, and it’s all about adaptability.
He describes his offense as 11-personnel based - one running back, one tight end - but that’s just the starting point. The real identity? Multiplicity.
“It’s a multiple personnel, multiple formation offense with multiple pre-snap movements,” Cramsey explained. “The NCAA forces you to play with five offensive linemen and a quarterback.
The next five guys are the ones who make the play successful. That’s where the flexibility comes in.”
What that looks like on the field is a chess match - lining up in 12 personnel (two tight ends), then shifting into 10 personnel (four wideouts), then morphing into 21 personnel (two backs, one tight end) - all without subbing. It forces defenses to play honest and think fast.
That tempo and unpredictability are hallmarks of Cramsey’s system, a nod to his time with Kelly, but with a modern twist. Today’s game has changed, and Cramsey has kept pace by emphasizing pre-snap motion and no-huddle looks to control the rhythm.
Speed is a priority in recruiting. “We can educate you on the game.
If you’re fast, you’re fast,” he said. But it’s not just about burners.
Cramsey wants toughness, too. And above all, he wants to tailor the system to the guys in the room.
“I don’t expect my players to match my scheme. My scheme needs to match my players,” he said. “Find out the type of quarterback we have in this program and what maximizes his skill set.”
That flexibility has shown up in his track record. He’s coached quarterbacks who’ve rushed for 1,500 yards in a season.
He’s coached others who’ve thrown for over 5,000. The common thread?
He builds around their strengths.
That’s the blueprint he’s bringing to Arkansas - a system that doesn’t ask players to fit into a mold but instead molds itself around the players. For a program looking to find its footing again, that kind of adaptability might be exactly what the Razorbacks need.