Arkansas coach Chad Morris doesn’t want to play more than one quarterback. He’ll continue to do so, though, until he can find a lone viable option.

Through the first two weeks of the 2018 season, Ty Storey and Cole Kelley have proven to be frustratingly inconsistent. They’ve both started one game only to be replaced by the other. In both instances, the replacement, despite reportedly having the worse week of practice coming into the game, did a better job guiding the offense.

This back-and-forth struggle has defined Arkansas’ quarterback battle since last spring. There’s no reason to believe a solution is imminent. At least that seems to be the case if Storey and Kelley continue to be the only options in consideration.

So, is it time for the Razorbacks to give another quarterback some important in-game snaps?

The Hogs (1-1) don’t appear to be considering that option entering a matchup with North Texas (2-0) this Saturday. Morris didn’t say Monday which quarterback would start, but he was clear it would once again be either Storey or Kelley. Offensive coordinator Joe Craddock did reveal one interesting bit of information when he stated true freshman Connor Noland had become the clear No. 3 option. With that in mind, it’s not unreasonable to assume why or why not Arkansas would take a chance on giving Noland meaningful snaps soon.

Let’s take a look at the cases to be made for and against giving Noland a chance to take over as the top quarterback.

Why Arkansas should give Connor Noland a chance

Arkansas’ chances at becoming bowl eligible took a major hit with a loss at Colorado State in Week 2. If the Hogs aren’t going to be playing this postseason, they might as well start preparing for the future. Noland is their most talented option in the hope to find a future star.

It also wouldn’t hurt to give Noland some incentive to not give up on football in the future. The two-sport athlete is a talented right-handed pitcher who is expected to have a role with the Diamond Hogs next spring. If he shines in baseball before he’s given a chance to do the same in football, there’s always the chance he opts to focus on baseball and increasing his professional prospects. Potentially giving up on football would likely be far more difficult if he has a chance to prove he’s the quarterback of the future early in his career.

Why Arkansas shouldn’t give Connor Noland a chance

It’s easy for fans and media to say this team has no chance at a bowl game in Morris’ first season. However, the coaching staff isn’t going to concede that any time soon. They are far too competitive and prideful. Plus, the window for a coach to prove his worth is continually shrinking. One terrible season, even in the first year, raises the pressure significantly. It’s an understandable, and probably accurate, assumption if the coaching staff simply doesn’t believe a true freshman can overcome the learning curve enough to help them win games now.

There’s also the fear of harming Noland’s career more than helping it if he plays this season. At best, the Razorbacks appear to have a below-average offensive line. Asking Noland to lead this up-tempo offense behind a shaky line could be a recipe for disaster.

For now, it appears the Hogs are set on waiting for Storey or Kelley to take control. But if neither can help Arkansas produce a victory over North Texas, the potential benefits of giving Noland his chance might begin to outweigh the possible negatives of doing so.