Bentonville native CJ Brown says wearing Arkansas on his chest carries a little extra weight.
The Razorbacks wide receiver, who is entering his junior season, grew up just 30 minutes from Razorback Stadium and understands what it means to play for the state’s flagship program. That local connection, he said Wednesday in Fayetteville, creates a responsibility he doesn’t take lightly.
"I feel like that's part of my responsibilities," Brown said Wednesday. "Represent the state well.
I'm from here. I gew up here.
My mom has to go to work on Sunday, and her colleagues ask her about it. So I feel like I'm obligated to play well."
Brown has done plenty to back that up. Last season, he caught 28 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns, and he has also stood out during the offseason. There’s a good chance he finishes this year as one of the primary targets for either KJ Jackson or AJ Hill.
His Arkansas career hasn’t been spotless, though. As a freshman in 2024, Brown put the ball on the carpet against Texas, the Razorbacks’ biggest rival. He hasn’t let that moment hang over him, and now he’s in position to help lead an offense that will need big plays in Ryan Silverfield’s first season.
Brown’s mindset matches his coach’s: no time for staring backward. Arkansas went 2-10 last season, the third time in eight years the program finished with that record, but Brown made it clear that chapter is closed.
"I can't do anything [about] what happened last year," Brown said. "But my actions that I take right now can affect what goes on this coming season. So I feel like we're more like a forward-facing kind of attitude toward it all."
The biggest offseason storyline around the Razorbacks has been the quarterback competition between Jackson and Hill. Brown isn’t picking sides. He just wants the best man for the job.
"I think they're two obviously great players," Brown said. "Two great competitors.
I was telling y'all in the spring, competition is going to bring the best out of a player, and the best man is going to win. That's who I want to be my quarterback.
I want the best quarterback out there."
In Other News...
Arkansas Fall Camp Just Raised A Big Question About This Teams Toughness
Arkansas fall camp has started to answer one of the biggest questions hanging over this roster, and it is showing up in the way players are talking about their bodies. Kobe Branham and Khmori House both pointed to noticeable gains in strength and conditioning compared with previous seasons, a change that has drawn attention to Noah Franklin, the new strength and conditioning coach who followed head coach Ryan Silverfield over from Memphis.
The timing matters because the Razorbacks are about to play through the kind of heat that can expose any weakness in a teams preparation. If Arkansas can sustain the pace it has built in camp, that could become a real edge as the season wears on, especially for a group trying to prove it can be tougher and last longer than it did a year ago. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Starter Battle May Come Down To One Costly Problem
Ball security has become one of the defining themes of Arkansas fall camp, with coach Tim Cramsey making it clear the Razorbacks want that part of the offense cleaned up before the season arrives. The quarterback picture remains open enough that every practice rep matters, and the staff is using those sessions to sort out who can best protect the football and keep the offense on schedule.
KJ Jackson has the edge in the conversation after starting the previous season finale, and his steadiness has given Arkansas a reason to feel good about where things stand. Still, the competition is not just about arm talent or command of the huddle. It may come down to which quarterback proves he can avoid the one mistake Arkansas can least afford, especially in a race where every turnover could tilt the job one way or the other. [Read more 🡒]
Arkansas Fans Just Got A Bigger Ask In Ryan Silverfields First Push
The pace of support for Arkansas footballs ALL IN Fund has been strong enough to change the plan in a hurry. The Razorback Foundation said the $30 million campaign launched less than 10 months ago has already brought in nearly $25 million, a sign that donors have bought into the push to give the program more resources as Ryan Silverfield begins shaping his first run as head coach.
Now the ask is even bigger. The foundation has raised the goal to $50 million, with the money aimed at scholarships, facilities and other support for Razorback student-athletes, and donor perks still part of the pitch. For Arkansas, the early response is encouraging, but the new target also shows just how much more the program still hopes to build around Silverfields vision. [Read more 🡒]