There’s a quiet but telling trend unfolding in Eugene - and it speaks volumes about the depth and development inside Oregon’s defensive line room. When backups are hitting the transfer portal and landing at other Power 4 programs with real chances to start, that’s not a sign of weakness.
That’s a sign of strength. And redshirt freshman Xadavien Sims is the latest example.
Sims, a former four-star recruit out of Durant High School in Oklahoma, has committed to Arkansas, where he’ll have a shot to carve out a much larger role. Coming out of the 2024 recruiting class, Sims was ranked as the No. 20 defensive lineman and No. 112 overall player nationally. At 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, he brought size and potential to Oregon’s front - but opportunity was hard to come by.
In his two seasons with the Ducks, Sims saw limited action. He appeared in two games as a true freshman, logging one tackle while preserving his redshirt. In 2025, it was more of the same - just one tackle on the stat sheet, coming during Oregon’s dominant 69-3 win over Oklahoma State.
But that lack of production isn’t necessarily a knock on Sims. Oregon’s defensive line is stacked - and it’s staying that way, with the entire group returning for the 2026 season. That kind of logjam can make it tough for young players to break through, and Sims wasn’t the only one to hit the portal in search of a clearer path to playing time.
Now, he heads to Fayetteville with three years of eligibility and a real opportunity to make an impact.
Arkansas, simply put, needs help - especially on defense. The Razorbacks limped to a 2-10 finish in 2025, going winless in SEC play and closing the season on a brutal 10-game losing streak.
The defense was a major culprit, ranking 129th nationally in points allowed per game and 116th in rushing yards allowed. Those numbers paint a clear picture: the Hogs were getting pushed around up front.
Enter Sims. While he’s still raw and largely untested at the college level, he brings a high ceiling and a fresh start.
At Arkansas, he won’t be buried behind a deep rotation - he’ll be competing for snaps right away. And for a program desperate to shore up its defensive front, that’s exactly the kind of upside they’re betting on.
It’s a win-win scenario: Oregon continues to showcase its ability to recruit and develop talent, even if some of that talent finds success elsewhere. And for Sims, this is a chance to reset, compete, and potentially become a key piece in Arkansas’ defensive rebuild.