An early position-by-position breakdown of the Arkansas offense in 2018, factoring in commitments and early signees:
Quarterback
Departures: Austin Allen
Additions: Connor Noland
Overview: Quarterback is the position at the forefront of a lot of minds when looking ahead to 2018, especially since Chad Morris’ hiring earlier this month. With his in-the-left-lane style of offense, some have called Cole Kelley’s athleticism into question.
Fact is, Kelley will enter the spring as the most talented quarterback on the roster, and has to be seen as the favorite for the starting job barring something unforeseen or Connor Noland coming in and flat-out stealing the show.
Kelley is the lone player at the position with any experience outside of garbage time, throwing for 1,038 yards and eight touchdowns against four interceptions last season stepping in for the injured Austin Allen. The two finished the season with similar numbers.
It will be interesting to see how the group competes in a few months. Noland as well as Daulton Hyatt, a four-star sophomore from Alabama, and Ty Storey appear to be the likely options for the backup role at the moment.
Running back
Departures: David Williams
Additions: None
Overview: This is a position Arkansas should feel really good about early on.
Chase Hayden left the Auburn loss with a significant lower leg injury, but led Arkansas with 338 rushing yards and four touchdowns to that point. Devwah Whaley also returns as a proven back, rushing for 559 yards and seven touchdowns — less than 100 yards and a touchdown behind David Williams for the team lead.
One would guess T.J. Hammonds also finds the ball in his hands more than last season. The freshman ran for 273 yards on just 32 carries (8.2 yards per) and showed the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield with a 60-yard score on a screen play against Coastal Carolina.
Arkansas, as of now, does not have a running back penciled into its recruiting class, but Maleek Williams is another name to keep an eye on. Williams was a four-star back in the 2017 class out of Punta Gorda, Florida.
Wide receiver
Departures: None
Additions: Michael Woods
Overview: Dependent upon offseason and spring progressions, receiver can be a strength for Arkansas. There’s no doubt Chad Morris will have an abundance of athleticism out wide and that's ideal.
Razorbacks receivers had issues working themselves open for Austin Allen in 2017. There is plenty of talent and potential here, and development is key. Jonathan Nance, Deon Stewart and Jordan Jones led the receiving corps last season, accounting for 55 percent of the passing production and 11 total touchdowns. That’s a lot of speed.
And it doesn’t stop there. To the naked eye, Brandon Martin and La’Michael Pettway have lots of untapped potential, and Jared Cornelius returns as the group’s veteran been there, done that voice. Players we didn’t see last season, like Koilan Jackson, Maleek Barkley and Jarrod Barnes, ooze athleticism as well.
T.J. Hammonds could find himself on the perimeter or slot in Morris’ new offense. Can’t forget De’Vion Warren, either, who got run at receiver after spending most of his time as a very effective return man. Michael Woods is Arkansas’ signee at receiver. Schools such as Washington State, Houston and Texas Tech, who run offenses similar to what Morris is expected to implement, were all in the running for Woods.
Tight end
Departures: None
Additions: None
Overview: As of now, Arkansas returns all of its production. Tight ends totaled just 467 yards and two touchdowns through the air last season. For reference, Jeremy Sprinkle finished his Arkansas career with 380 yards and four touchdowns as a senior.
Cheyenne O’Grady led the group with 21 catches and both touchdown grabs. While he had the most receptions at the position, Jeremy Patton was by far the most productive when given touches. He averaged more than 17 yards per catch but had only 11. Austin Cantrell (13) had more.
Will Gragg is another name I expect to hear more from. Gragg played in 10 games last season, bringing in five passes for 61 yards with a long of 33 in Arkansas’ loss at LSU. We don’t know exactly what Chad Morris’ plan for tight ends is, but he’s got a nice crop in Year 1.
Patton, O’Grady and Gragg are big, athletic guys who are more than capable of contributing. Cantrell is another option, but lacks what the others bring to the table. Perhaps he can find a role. The Razorbacks should be good here.
Offensive line
Departures: Frank Ragnow, Paul Ramirez, Jake Raulerson
Additions: Silas Robinson, Luke Jones, Noah Gatlin
Overview: Losing Ragnow, college football’s top-rated offensive lineman by Pro Football Focus and the Razorbacks’ leader, to injury was a seismic blow and furthered Arkansas’ continuity issues up front.
Junior Hjalte Froholdt and Johnny Gibson were the only lineman to start every game in 2017 and hold the longest active starts streak for offensive players at 25 and 15 games, respectively. No other lineman has made more than seven consecutive starts.
Colton Jackson started 10 games in 2017, and looks to be the top option at left tackle in the spring. Froholdt started each game at left guard and Zach Rogers took over at center the final five weeks while Gibson and Brian Wallace held down right guard and right tackle, respectively, in the back half of the season.
While injuries stretched Arkansas thin and Kurt Anderson saw eight players in and out of his lineup, the Jackson-Froholdt-Rogers-Gibson-Wallace front (78 career starts) worked together over the final five games, which could bode well moving forward. That number would have placed Arkansas 34th in the country entering last season, per Phil Steele.