5 Arkansas football players Ryan Silverfield must keep out of transfer portal

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FAYETTEVILLE — How much retention does Arkansas football want from a 2-10 team that failed to win a single SEC game?

That’s the question Ryan Silverfield will need to answer. The Razorbacks named Silverfield their next head coach on Sunday, Nov. 30. He has one month to figure out his current roster before the transfer portal opens on Jan. 2.

It’s unlikely that everyone Silverfield wants to keep will refrain from entering the portal, but here are five names who should be priorities for the new coach. Of note, this list does not include junior defensive end Quincy Rhodes, who was arguably Arkansas‘ best player this season but is likely headed to the NFL Draft.

QB KJ Jackson

A few weeks ago, Jackson’s readiness to be a starting quarterback in the SEC was a complete unknown, but he closed the season with encouraging play against rival defenses.

Jackson replaced Taylen Green in the second half of Arkansas’ loss to Texas and started the finale vs. Missouri. His final stats as a redshirt freshman were 33 of 54 for 441 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions. He added 52 rushing yards and another touchdown on the ground.

Jackson looked composed and dynamic in his limited action. Sam Pittman believed Jackson was the quarterback of the future for Arkansas before he got fired in September.

One curveball in this equation is AJ Hill, a true freshman on the Memphis roster who is one of the highest-ranked recruits in Tigers’ history as a four-star prospect. Will he follow Silverfield to Fayetteville?

RG Kobe Branham

Another redshirt freshman, Branham started 11 games this fall and was a key cog in an Arkansas offense that ranked 27th nationally by averaging 191.9 rushing yards per game.

Branham was consistently rated as one of the Hogs’ best offensive lineman by Pro Football Focus. He was a consensus three-star prospect who developed into an SEC starter after only two years of college football.

TE Jaden Platt

The redshirt sophomore was productive in his first season with the Razorbacks, catching 21 passes for 296 yards and a touchdown. He was a reliable target who got open down the field and in short passing situations.

He was also a strong run blocker who led Arkansas tight ends in snaps this fall. Platt could be a building block for the Arkansas offense under Silverfield, creating a level of comfort at tight end that would hardly exist throughout the rest of the roster.

LB Brad Shaw

Shaw just wrapped up his sophomore campaign with 50 tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks. This was his first season with meaningful playing time after being a consensus four-star prospect coming out of high school in 2024.

Shaw is one of the most physically imposing linebackers on the roster and earned more playing time as the season wore on. He’s part of an interesting group of linebackers who could return next season, including Wyatt Simmons and Tavion Wallace.

RT E’Marion Harris

The oldest player of this group, Harris’ retention would be key for Arkansas’ leadership and a semblance of continuity under a new head coach.

The two-year starter can play four different positions along the offensive line. He’s an in-state kid who has done everything his coaches have asked of him, and Harris has shown improvement each year. Perhaps he could develop and take another leap forward as a redshirt senior next fall.

Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at jfuller@usatodayco.com or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Five players Ryan Silverfield must retain on Arkansas football roster

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