Three big questions as Arkansas prepares for first spring practice

With Arkansas’ first spring soccer observe set for Thursday, listed below are three large questions because the Razorbacks look towards the 2024 season. 

Can Bobby Petrino present a spark for a dormant offense?

The final time Bobby Petrino was in Razorback apparel, it was at a reasonably awkward press convention in April of 2012. No matter Petrino’s previous at Arkansas, most Razorback followers are targeted on the current, and whether or not he can present a spark for an Arkansas offense that was largely silent in 2023, averaging simply 20 factors per sport in SEC play.

Petrino’s fascinating and flashy offenses in Fayetteville in his tenure as Arkansas have followers dreaming of the previous, however except the unit turns into competent within the current, Petrino might shortly fall out of the followers’ good graces. 

Who’s Petrino’s QB1?

Arkansas hasn’t needed to have a real QB competitors in over a decade, (not counting the Chad Morris debacle, after all) so having two or three Hogs that every one have a authentic shot to be the beginning quarterback come August thirty first is uncharted territory for Sam Pittman. 

Boise State switch Taylen Inexperienced looks like the favourite to win the job, however do not depend out UNC switch and former Morrilton Excessive College QB Jacoby Criswell, who noticed a good quantity of motion for Arkansas in 2023. Younger weapons in KJ Jackson and Malachi Singleton will even have an opportunity to develop into QB1, however most appear to consider it’s going to come right down to both Inexperienced or Criswell. 

Regardless, Arkansas wants a gradual hand to information the offense in 2024, or ghosts of Chad Morris’ 2019 QB “competitions” will begin surfacing in Northwest Arkansas. 

Which returning receiver turns into “the man”?

Whereas just a few questions are current on protection, offense is the main target for Arkansas this offseason, and chief among the many offensive issues is the receiving core. 

Two distinguished Razorbacks will return from 2023 in Isaac Teslaa and Andrew Armstrong, however Tyrone Broden and Isaiah Sategna are searching for breakout seasons. Andrew Armstrong was the first receiver for Arkansas in 2023, hauling in 56 passes for 755 yards and 5 touchdowns, however like his friends, was restricted by poor offensive line play and workers adjustments. 

With a secure workers and an offensive line that hopefully would not leak like a sieve, a main receiver ought to emerge for Arkansas’ beginning QB to have a reference to. Just like the QB competitors, it appears to be a contest between two essential contestants in Teslaa and Armstrong, however do not be shocked if Sategna or Broden get some further reps in spring ball – each receivers had their flashes of brilliance in 2023.