With the transfer portal reshaping its roster, Arkansas will lean on some new faces to step up when it takes on Texas Tech in the Liberty Bowl on Friday night in Memphis, Tennessee.
After a 6-6 season—an improvement of two wins over 2023—the Razorbacks have seen significant roster changes since the transfer portal opened two weeks ago. On offense, they lost key contributors including second-leading receiver Isaiah Sategna, center Addison Nichols, and guards Joshua Braun and Patrick Kutas.
In addition, leading rusher Ja’Quinden Jackson (790 yards, 15 touchdowns) and top receiver Andrew Armstrong, who led the Southeastern Conference with 1,140 receiving yards, opted out of the bowl game. On defense, safety TJ Metcalf and linebacker Brad Spence are also gone.
Despite these departures, the remaining players are determined to finish the season on a positive note in front of what should be a large contingent of Arkansas fans, who are expected to make the short trip to Memphis.
“Going 7-6 with a winning record would be good,” linebacker Stephen Dix said. “But we know we’re capable of so much more. When we look back at the games, the coaches showed us how small the margins were in our losses to really good teams.”
The Razorbacks will look to quarterback Taylen Green to lead the offense. The Boise State transfer has thrown for 2,812 yards and 13 touchdowns while also rushing for 521 yards and seven scores. His top returning target for the bowl game is Isaac TeSlaa, who caught 25 passes for 439 yards this season.
Texas Tech, coming off an 8-4 regular season, has also experienced significant roster turnover, though not as extensive as Arkansas. The biggest hole for the Red Raiders is at quarterback, with Behren Morton sidelined after shoulder surgery. Morton threw for 3,335 yards and 27 touchdowns during the regular season.
Leading receiver Josh Kelly, who had 89 catches for 1,023 yards, has opted out to focus on preparing for the NFL draft. The status of leading rusher Tahj Brooks, who rushed for 1,505 yards and 17 touchdowns, remains uncertain, according to head coach Joey McGuire. Brooks has attended all bowl practices but is still weighing whether to opt out. McGuire said other players who entered the transfer portal would still play in the bowl due to their contributions throughout the season.
“If Brooks plays, that’s obviously huge for us,” McGuire said. “If not, we’ll see how freshman running backs J’Koby Williams and Cam Dickey step up.”
Freshman Will Hammond, who has completed 15 of 23 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown in limited action, will start at quarterback for the Red Raiders. He’ll have second-leading receiver Caleb Douglas, who caught a career-high 55 passes for 762 yards and six touchdowns, as his top target.
Arkansas enters the game as a two-point favorite, despite Texas Tech’s impressive wins over CFP quarterfinalist Arizona State and Iowa State. Arkansas’ signature win came in October against Tennessee, which reached the CFP but lost to Ohio State in the first round.
The Razorbacks lead the all-time series 29-8, though Texas Tech won the last meeting 35-24 in 2015.
