4 takeaways from Arkansas’ annual Red-White Game

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas football capped spring drills Saturday with its annual Red-White Game. The Red team, led by the first-team offense, beat the White team 38-12.

Here is what stood out from the action in Reynolds Razorback Stadium:

• Taylen Green exited the spring on a high note

It would be difficult to have a better spring game showing than the one the Boise State transfer had Saturday.

In the pocket, Green was poised and confident throwing the ball to all levels of the field. And he stretched his legs a couple of times and picked up 15 yards on the ground.

Green finished 17 of 22 passing for 243 yards and 3 touchdowns. He had a pair of first-quarter touchdown passes to Tyrone Broden and Andrew Armstrong, who are expected to be his top targets, to get Red off on the right foot.

“I feel like it was definitely efficient, but as [offensive coordinator Bobby] Petrino said, ‘Definitely can get better,’” Green said. “He got on to me a couple of times on some reads, so he expects perfection out of me and whole offense.

“He was definitely happy, but there’s definitely stuff to clean up. That’s what I like.”

More from Natty State Sports: Depth charts and stats from Arkansas’ spring game

The score to Armstrong was his best throw of the day. He hit the 6-4 receiver in stride in the back-left corner of the end zone from 20 yards out, placing the ball where only Armstrong could get it. It’s a connection Razorback fans hope to get used to this fall.

Green’s other noteworthy throw went to tight end Luke Hasz, who reeled in a 38-yard completion with linebacker Carson Dean in coverage.

“I thought Taylen, some of those runs could have been a lot further, but I thought he showed a lot of poise today,” Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said. “Obviously he’s a great leader and the kids playing around him believe in him.”

• Arkansas is going to be just fine at tailback

Utah transfer Ja’Quinden Jackson looked and played the part each time the Razorbacks scrimmaged or tackled to the ground this spring. That was the case again Saturday.

Jackson, who stands 6-2 and 228 pounds, was the offensive standout of the day aside from Green. He finished with 3 total touchdowns, including 2 on the ground, and 68 rushing yards on 9 carries.

Pittman said he was doing an interview with the SEC Network+ broadcast on a couple of the back’s best runs. But he was pleased with the Jackson’s play overall.

“He’s had a really good spring,” Pittman added. “He’s a guy that’s probably even better when it’s live. He looks better because he bounces off people. He uses the stiff arm a little bit more. He’s got a violent stiff arm. He always seems to be moving forward. When he gets hit hard, he grins and gets up.

“He’s just a tough kid. He was a really good get out of the portal. He brings a lot to the team, as well, off the field.”

Prior to coming to Arkansas, Jackson caught only 10 passes at Texas and Utah, and nine came last season with the Utes. He believes he is a greater threat catching the ball out of the backfield than he gets credit for.

“I just feel like I’m underrated when it comes to the passing game,” Jackson said. “A lot of people feel like I’m not a great route runner or I can’t catch. I played quarterback. Quarterbacks have to catch the ball every play, so I don’t get that.”

Running back Rashod Dubinion finished with 38 yards on just 3 carries, and freshman Braylen Russell added 38 yards and 1 score — from 32 yards away — on 5 touches. Jackson and Dubinion appear to be the clear-cut Nos. 1 and 2 in the backfield.

“Me and him go at it every day,” safety Jayden Johnson said of Jackson. “He’s big, fast, strong, can move, good eye vision, for sure, can catch out of the backfield, for sure. I just think he brought that fight to the offense that we needed.”

• Brad Spence looked like a piece to build around

Given the talent lost to the NCAA transfer portal following the 2023 season, linebacker was a key position to watch for Arkansas in spring drills.

The Razorbacks may need an additional body or two at the second level to feel great about the group entering the fall. But sophomore Brad Spence on Saturday looked the part of a potential big-impact player.

At 6-2 and 237 pounds, Spence finished with a handful of tackles, three stops behind the line of scrimmage and a sack.

Pittman said he believes Spence grew a lot in the team’s 15 practices and earned his start with the first-team defense in the final scrimmage.

“His knowledge of what he’s supposed to be doing has really improved,” Pittman added. “Therefore, he’s able to play [freely] and use his God-given ability.”

Johnson and defensive lineman Cam Ball were impressed with Spence’s work this spring as well. Johnson said Spence took on a “captain role” defensively, and Ball noted Spence communicated well with players up front.

“From a defensive lineman’s standpoint, he makes sure we get the call play in and play out,” Ball said. “I wouldn’t necessarily say we lacked [that] last season, we just needed more of it. 

“Brad has made that his main priority to do that to the defensive line.”

• Different feel with the offensive line

Throughout spring practices, numerous players made mention that the offensive line group had improved chemistry and camaraderie relative to the 2023 season. Josh Braun was a central figure in that.

The second-year transfer from Florida said the offensive line is “actually a unit. We’re a brotherhood.”

“On paper, it is a completely different unit,” Braun continued. “We’ve got a different man leading us. We’re the tightest O-line unit I’ve been a part of, and that’s a breath of fresh air. Coach [Eric] Mateos said today, ‘We’ve just got it rolling.’

“At the beginning of the semester, we started this journey. Now we’re finally getting it on the track.”

Green liked the way the offensive line prepared and worked together. And he singled out Braun, who was to his left at the interview table, saying he loves working with him.

“It’s definitely not [what] I call ‘me-ball,’” Green said. “It’s us. It’s a team sport. I couldn’t make the plays out there without them.”