Arkansas Signals Serious Intent with Key Staff Moves Under Ryan Silverfield
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - When a college football program hits the reset button, the first few moves from a new head coach often reveal more than any press conference ever could. For Arkansas, the early signs under Ryan Silverfield are clear: this rebuild isn’t going to be a slow burn. It’s going to be strategic, calculated, and rooted in infrastructure.
The reported decision to bring Scott Gasper with him from Memphis is the kind of behind-the-scenes move that tells you this program is finally getting serious about modern roster management. Gasper, who served as general manager under Silverfield at Memphis, isn’t a splashy hire for fans craving immediate on-field fireworks. But make no mistake - this is a foundational piece for a Razorbacks program that’s been lagging behind the SEC arms race in terms of off-field support.
Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek didn’t mince words in a Sunday release: “It became clear during our conversations that Coach Silverfield shares our vision of making the College Football Playoffs and competing for a national championship.” That’s a bold statement - and one that’s now backed by a significant financial investment in the football program’s infrastructure.
Gasper’s track record speaks for itself. At Memphis, he helped build one of the best-supported personnel departments in the Group of Five.
The Tigers just landed the No. 3 recruiting class among G5 schools, trailing only Boise State and South Florida. That haul included a pair of four-star prospects in quarterback A.J.
Hill (No. 145 overall) and wide receiver Xavier Johnson (No. 215 overall). Hill, in particular, is a name to watch - a 6-foot-4, 215-pound signal-caller with over 10,000 career passing yards and 115 touchdowns.
Memphis head strength and conditioning coach Noah Franklin is expected to be hired at Arkansas, sources tell @CBSSports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 1, 2025
The ex-Oklahoma State and NFL offensive lineman was Ryan Silverfield’s head strength and conditioning coach at Memphis the last six seasons. pic.twitter.com/X2vDjTsCIa
He’s the third-highest-rated recruit in Memphis history. If he enters the portal and follows Silverfield and Gasper to Fayetteville, that’s a potential game-changer for Arkansas’ quarterback room.
While Gasper’s title may not scream “headline hire,” his value to a program in transition can’t be overstated. Since taking over as GM at Memphis in February, he’s overseen everything from transfer portal evaluations to compliance coordination, recruiting logistics, and long-term roster planning. He’s also no stranger to the JUCO pipeline, having coached quarterbacks at East Mississippi Community College during their national title runs in 2013 and 2014.
That kind of experience is exactly what Arkansas has lacked. Under former head coach Sam Pittman, the Razorbacks often found themselves outmanned not just on the field, but in the front office.
Thinner scouting departments, fewer recruiting staffers, and slower responses to the ever-changing transfer portal landscape made it difficult to keep pace in the SEC. That’s no longer going to fly - and Silverfield knows it.
By bringing Gasper along, Silverfield is importing a system that’s already proven effective. At Memphis, the program consistently overachieved thanks in large part to its early investment in off-field staff and roster strategy. Gasper was a key cog in that machine, and now he’s tasked with helping Arkansas build something similar - but on an SEC scale.
Yurachek has already emphasized that the transfer portal will be a crucial battleground for Arkansas moving forward. That’s not just about identifying talent; it’s about having the infrastructure to act quickly and smartly. Gasper’s background across multiple programs - including East Carolina, West Virginia, and Indiana - gives him a well-rounded view of what it takes to build and maintain a competitive roster in today’s college football landscape.
And the staff additions don’t stop there. Silverfield also appears poised to bring Memphis strength and conditioning coach Noah Franklin to Fayetteville.
Franklin, who has been singled out by Silverfield in past interviews as a key factor in Memphis’ success, brings NFL experience from his time with the Oakland Raiders. That’s another piece of the puzzle for a program that’s trying to elevate its player development to a new level.
What we’re seeing here is a clear shift in philosophy. Arkansas isn’t waiting around to build the infrastructure required to compete in the modern era. Silverfield is hitting the ground running, bringing in people he trusts - people who’ve helped him succeed before - and giving the Razorbacks the kind of off-field support they’ve too often lacked.
It’s not the kind of move that lights up message boards or dominates headlines. But it’s the kind of move that wins games in November. And if Arkansas is serious about closing the gap in the SEC, this is exactly the kind of investment they need to keep making.