The past 10 seasons have not been Arkansas’ best, to say the least. A 9-win season last year salvaged what was among the worst stretches in Razorbacks’ history. You have to go all the way back to the 1950s to find a decade in which Arkansas did not win 9 games in at least one of those years.

It was a decade of turmoil beginning with the unceremonious firing of Bobby Petrino, who was coming off of back-to-back double-digit win seasons. That hadn’t been accomplished at Arkansas since Ken Hattfield’s 1988-89 teams, and had only happened 3 times in the history of the program.

The Razorbacks were coming off a No. 5 national ranking when the program was torpedoed, sending it into a tailspin that lasted the next 9 years with Arkansas finishing unranked in each and a coaching carousel that included 4 new head coaches over the decade.

Time certainly are better now under Sam Pittman. Despite the rocky road, there were many important players from the last decade as Arkansas turns the page under Pittman, who will be entering his 3rd year at the Razorbacks’ helm. Here’s a list of 10 of the most important players for Arkansas over the past 10 seasons.

1. QB KJ Jefferson (2019-present)

The leader of the best team in a decade, Jefferson has played an instrumental role in turning around the Razorbacks’ program. In his first full season as a starter, Jefferson guided the Razorbacks to a 9-win season. He threw for 2,676 yards and 21 TDs and rushed for a team-leading 664 yards (6 TDs).

His passing yards per attempt (9.1) ranked 3rd in the SEC and 7th in the NCAA, while an efficiency rating of 164.7 ranked 10th nationally. His pass completion percentage (67.3) ranked 4th in the SEC.

Big things are again expected from the rising junior as Arkansas seeks to build on its 2021 breakout season.

2. LB Bumper Pool (2018-22)

Nobody gives a greater effort. Arkansas’ leader on defense was a contributing factor in the team’s big turnaround in 2021. He will conclude a stellar career at Arkansas this season. His 212 career assisted tackles are the most in the SEC since at least 2015. His 80 assists in Arkansas’ big 2021 season led the SEC, while his total tackles (125) ranked 3rd in the conference.

He’s back for his super senior season as the Razorbacks attempt to continue their climb up the SEC ladder. Pool enters the season ranked 9th on the Arkansas career tackles list with 349. He needs 60 tackles this upcoming season to become the Razorbacks’ career leader.

3. QB Feleipe Franks (2020)

In terms of value, Franks’ 1-year stay can’t be overstated. The grad transfer from Florida helped stop the bleeding and provided a glimmer of hope in Pittman’s debut season as a head coach.

Beyond the numbers, which were quite good (17 TD passes to just 4 interceptions with a school-record 68.5 completion percentage), Franks was a steadying influence. There’s a reason he wore the “C” on his jersey at Arkansas — just like he did at Florida.

Pittman has credited Franks for Jefferson’s development, too, noting that if Franks hadn’t arrived, Jefferson would have been forced to play before he was ready.

4. WR Treylon Burks (2019-21)

Like Jefferson, Burks played a key role in the program’s turnaround of 2021. He led the team with 66 pass receptions for 1,104 yards and 11 TD catches. His 16.7 yards per catch average ranked 3rd in the SEC.

5. LB De’Jon Harris (2016-19)

With a nose for the football, Harris was among the most consistent players in the past decade. He led the Razorbacks in tackles for 3 consecutive seasons. He ranks 7th in program history with 364 career tackles.

6. LB Brooks Ellis (2013-16)

Another model of consistency, Ellis led the Hogs in tackles 2 consecutive seasons after finishing 2nd the year before that. He logged a career-high 102 tackles in 2015, and a year later returned an interception for a touchdown.

7. WR Cobi Hamilton (2009-12)

Hamilton makes the list because of his outstanding 2012 season. He capped his career by setting the school single-season record with 1,335 receiving yards in 2012, with included a program single-game record 303 yards against Rutgers.

He is 3rd on Arkansas’ career all-time list with 2,854 receiving yards.

8. C Frank Ragnow (2015-16)

A 1st-round draft choice (20th overall) in 2018, Ragnow anchored the Hogs’ offensive line. He was the Razorbacks’ only 1st-round draft pick this decade until Burks was taken in the 1st round in the 2022 NFL Draft.

9. TE Hunter Henry (2013-15)

Famous for the “Hunter Heave,” which miraculously allowed Arkansas to win in overtime against an Ole Miss team that needed a victory to capture what would have been its first SEC West title, Henry was a stellar tight end and a 2nd-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

He was a consensus All-American in 2015 and that year also won the John Mackey Award.

T10. RB Rakeem Boyd (2018-20)

Powering the Arkansas run game, Boyd led the Razorbacks in rushing in back-to-back seasons, including 1,133 yards (8 TDs) in 2019.

T10. OL Dan Skipper (2013-16)

An All-American as a freshman, Skipper blocked 3 field goal attempts that year, setting the Razorbacks’ single-season record.