The Arkansas football program may have struck out on its attempts to attract former Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant to Fayetteville but there’s still hope the Razorbacks can land an instant impact player heading into the 2019 season.
As it turns out, Chad Morris may just reconnect with one of his former quarterbacks.
Morris landed the Arkansas job thanks in part to the success of his SMU offenses, which improved in each of his three seasons with the program. His final two seasons with SMU, his quarterback was a Texas native by the name of Ben Hicks. It just so happens that Hicks has declared his departure from SMU and is seeking to transfer as a graduate for the final season of his collegiate career.
Considering the glaring hole on the Arkansas roster for an established signal caller that’s had success in Morris’ system, Hicks would appear to be a natural fit for the Razorbacks. According to Nikki Chavanelle of HawgBeat.com, Arkansas plans to host Hicks for a visit leading up to spring practice. Should both parties agree that the fit is right, Hicks could enroll early for spring practice in Fayetteville, according to Chavanelle.
During his three seasons at SMU, Hicks has completed 56.7 percent of his passes for 9,081 yards, 71 touchdowns and 34 interceptions. With the news that Ty Storey has entered his name in the NCAA transfer portal and Cole Kelley having already left the Razorback program, there’s a chance Arkansas does not return a single quarterback with a start in his career this spring.
If Storey transfers from the program, Arkansas would project to have four QBs on the roster: redshirt sophomore Daulton Hyatt, redshirt freshmen Connor Noland and John Stephen Jones and 2019 signee KJ Jefferson.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
