With Arkansas football stuck in a rough stretch, the offseason chatter is already drifting toward a bigger swing at offensive coordinator - and one name that fits the “what if?” category is Mike Norvell.
Florida State fired Norvell on Sunday after three straight seasons of regression, and that immediately opens the door to a wild idea: could he end up back alongside Arkansas head coach Ryan Silverfield in Fayetteville?
The connection is obvious. Silverfield took over a Memphis program that Norvell helped turn into a steady American Conference contender in 2020, and Silverfield was on Norvell’s staff with the Tigers from 2016-19. That shared history makes the fit at least easy to imagine, even if it feels far-fetched right now.
Arkansas’ offense has not given fans much to cheer about. It was sluggish again Saturday against Missouri, and while there were brief signs of life against Tennessee and Vanderbilt, Tim Cramsey’s group has mostly been a problem this season.
Cramsey, who came to Arkansas with Silverfield after serving as his OC at Memphis from 2022-25, also brought QB AJ Hill, WR Jamari Hawkins and RB Sutton Smith with him. But so far, he hasn’t shown he can consistently build an SEC game plan that holds up week after week.
There have been a couple of decent outings - Vanderbilt being one of them - but the overall body of work has been uneven, and the Missouri game was another reminder of how often the offense has stalled.
Norvell’s background makes him an intriguing option if Arkansas decides to change course. He has coached on the offensive side at Tulsa, Pittsburgh and Arizona State, then went on to become the head coach at Memphis and Florida State. And with FSU still owing him $50.3 million, a lower-profile coordinator job would not exactly be out of reach for the 45-year-old.
It sounds outlandish, but college football has already produced stranger twists. Sam Pittman bringing back Bobby Petrino to run the offense in 2023 is proof enough that these kinds of reunions can happen.
Norvell also has a direct tie to Arkansas beyond the coaching tree. He played wide receiver at Central Arkansas in Conway from 2001-05 and spent 2006 there as a graduate assistant.
After how things ended at Florida State, it’s difficult to picture a major Power Four program making a big run at Norvell if it has a head-coaching opening after the season. If Silverfield does decide to move on from Cramsey after only one year, he would have the chance to make the call himself.
And with fans frustrated - plus the possibility of a new athletic director in place - Arkansas may need a bold offensive hire to create any real momentum for Year 2. Norvell, with his name recognition, his résumé and his history with Silverfield, would fit the bill as a true splash coordinator hire.
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