Nick Saban and other experts evaluate Arkansas' Ryan Silverfield

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Ryan Silverfield took the stage as the face of Arkansas football on Thursday at SEC media days in Tampa. Nick Saban, offering commentary for SEC Network, joined other college football pundits and experts in evaluating Silverfield and his extremely difficult situation in Fayetteville. Analysis pointed to his Memphis tenure, his emphasis on offensive line play, and the willingness to patiently build the program the right way, something Saban leaned into:

"Ryan Silverfield probably has the toughest job of all these guys," Saban said. "I do think from talking to him, he's got the right disposition and patience about it, he loves the place, and I think he knows what he needs to do to build it there."

SEC Network analyst Cole Cubelic: 

"I think he can be a good head coach at Arkansas, I think he can be a good head coach anywhere. I love his offensive scheme, his background. His emphasis is going to be at the line of scrimmage, which in this league you need to have a certain standard on the offensive line and defensive line and knows what it's going to take. You're not going to be able to win, this is kind of a sport and a league which I believe people have shifted their belief and mindset that skill wins. But then where people are missing the boat is the trenches gets you beat, and Ryan Silverfield isn't going to let that happen. That emphasis will be there. He's a good recruiter, I think geographically, having spent time at Memphis and the relationships he has there will help him recruit and get guys from a different state to Arkansas, which has to happen if you're going to win there. 

"He's a guy that players love playing for. You go watch his teams wherever he's been. They play hard. It's one of the trademarks that I love from a coach, whether you're down 30, won three games or 10 games. Do your players play hard consistently? And his [team] brings that almost every time."

CBS Sports college football reporter Brandon Marcello:

"He has a very veteran-type of approach as a coach. He kept it (Memphis) afloat… usually, a smaller program like that, there's going to be a drop-off no matter who the coach is. He kept it going … He's a proven coach … [Ryan Silverfield] looks like he's going to be the guy, he's supercharged, filled with emotion and energy. That's something Arkansas has needed."   

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