When Chad Morris was hired as the new coach at Arkansas, people had varying opinions about the move.

Count USA Today reporter Paul Myerberg among those who were optimistic and excited.

Myerberg went on “Sports Talk with Bo Mattingly” on Tuesday and discussed why he feels Morris is a great fit for the Razorbacks. The USA Today reporter said he has been a fan of Morris since the Arkansas coach was an assistant at Clemson from 2011-14 and while he was the coach at SMU from 2015-17.

“I’m a huge Chad Morris guy, ever since Clemson,” Myerberg said. “I was there at SMU his first couple weeks there and I knew how bad that team was that he took over. That SMU team the year before was one of the worst football teams I’ve ever seen in my life. What he did at SMU is going to be mirrored at Arkansas. And you can make the case that it will happen faster, even if the success doesn’t match up, just because the competition level obviously is intense.

“I’m a huge believer. I think he is a relationship builder. I think he’s a QB whisperer. I think he’s a guy who knows how to recruit to his scheme and to his style. He knows how to motivate guys. He knows how to deliver a message. He can talk to kids. He can translate things. He’s a communicator. I’m just a big fan. When the market opened, and knowing who available, I just thought Chad Morris was a home run. A-plus.”

Morris inherited an SMU team that went 1-11 in 2014. He turned it into a bowl team by 2017, when the Mustangs went 7-5 and made the Frisco Bowl.

Morris will try to lead a similar turnaround at Arkansas, although as Myerberg pointed out, the competition will be much more difficult in the SEC. The Razorbacks went 4-8 last season and haven’t won more than eight games since 2011.

Morris makes his Arkansas coaching debut when the Razorbacks open their season against Eastern Illinois on Sept. 1.

To listen to Myerberg’s comments, click below: