Former Memphis QB AJ Hill, WR Jamari Hawkins join Ryan Silverfield with Arkansas football

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FAYETTEVILLE — A pair of Memphis playmakers are joining Ryan Silverfield with Arkansas football.

Wide receiver Jamari Hawkins and quarterback AJ Hill both committed to the Razorbacks on Monday, Jan. 5. They are the second and third Tigers to follow their coach out of the transfer portal, joining offensive lineman Malchi Breland.

Hill will be a redshirt freshman in 2026 and has four years of eligibility remaining. He completed 19 of 32 passes for 223 yards with one touchdown and one interception in limited action this fall with the Tigers.

Hill was one of the highest-ranked recruits in Memphis history when he signed with the Tigers as a member of their 2025 class. The 247Sports Composite rated Hill as the No. 187 player overall and the No. 15 quarterback. He also had offers from Arkansas, Florida and Alabama coming out of high school.

Hill could compete with KJ Jackson to be the Hogs’ starter under center in 2026. Jackson will be a redshirt sophomore and played well when Bobby Petrino gave him snaps during the final two games of a lost season. Jackson completed 33 of 54 passes for 441 yards and three touchdowns. He ran for 52 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries.

Hawkins was a developmental project for Silverfield at Memphis. He was a three-star recruit coming out of high school who redshirted during his first season of college football. He then had three catches over the next two years.

But Hawkins became a critical piece of the Tigers’ offense in 2025, hauling in 38 catches for 623 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 16.4 yards per reception and was an over-the-top threat for offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey, who is now at Arkansas.

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: Former Memphis QB AJ Hill, WR Jamari Hawkins commit to Arkansas football

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