Wasson: Taylen Green might be the most entertaining player to watch in the SEC
By David Wasson
Published:
The Southeastern Conference is literally littered with superstar talent. The Heisman Trophy routinely gets doled out to SEC players, the College Football Hall of Fame might as well open an SEC-only wing, and Roger Goodell spends more time announcing SEC players in the first round of an NFL Draft than he does talking to his wife.
It has been a hot second since the words “Arkansas Razorbacks” and “superstar SEC talent” have been mashed together in the same sentence. And while this isn’t that, we are here to make an Official SDS Proclamation:
Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green is one of the most entertaining players in the SEC.
Don’t believe us? Take a gander at Green absolutely disregarding both common sense and the concept of gravity in the opening moments of last Saturday’s Razorbacks game at Auburn…
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) September 21, 2024
Poor Jarrin Thompson, just out there for Auburn minding his business trying to play safety and make a routine football play when suddenly he ends up being a central character in a Mortal Kombat video game scene.
This play came in the first 2 minutes of Green’s first career SEC start, and was solidly indicative of what Auburn was forced to deal with for the remaining 58 minutes at Jordan-Hare Stadium. When the shouting was over with, Green totaled 80 rushing yards on 18 carries, avoided being sacked, and most importantly guided the Hogs to a 24-14 road victory.
Green’s outing was exactly what Arkansas hoped it would get when they dipped into the transfer portal to get him from Boise State in the wake of KJ Jefferson bolting for UCF during the offseason. The 2022 Mountain West Freshman of the Year, Green passed for 2,042 yards with 14 touchdowns and 6 interceptions during his first season as a starter in 2022.
Green, who finished his Boise State career with 1,024 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns, recorded 1,752 passing yards with 11 touchdowns and 9 interceptions in 2023 to lead Boise State to a Mountain West title.
Can you say dual-threat?
That unique skill set – not to mention nifty martial arts moves – has been in full bloom ever since he changed his ZIP code to 72701. Green has thrown for 957 yards and 4 touchdowns in 4 games so far this season, and has gained 325 yards on 59 carries with 4 more TDs.
This ability to dissect defenses with his right arm and 2 legs (jumping scissor kicks notwithstanding …) has opposing coaching staffs grinding their teeth during brief bouts of sleep.
“When a player has the ability to make explosive plays, it enhances your focus level from play to play,” Texas A&M coach Mike Elko said Monday when asked about Green. “Regardless of down-and-distance, area of the field or situation, he has the ability to create a play down the field.”
That begs the question of how a defense, whether it be in College Station or Columbia, attempts to counter that maddening level of versatility? It isn’t like you can just throw a spy Green’s direction to neuter the running threat, because Green would simply throw the rock to the open man.
“It’s way more complicated than that,” Elko admitted. “What you try to do within each of your coverage structures is figure out who the guy that needs to pay attention to them as the play develops. … We’re a little bit fortunate because we had some preparation for this against Notre Dame.”
Before Arkansas fans get too wild and crazy, they should slow their roll just a smidge. Yes, the Hogs are 3-1 and could even be 4-0 had they not lost the plot late in a double-overtime loss to No. 16 Oklahoma State. And yes, their new guy under center is 6-6 and 230 pounds of instant excitement – not to mention a potential future U.S. Olympic Team candidate in judo.
But with 4 interceptions from Green through 4 games, we still need to see a smidge more out of the Razorbacks on both sides of the ball before we knight them legitimate contenders among the SEC’s elite. Arkansas can go a long way in that regard this week against No. 24 Texas A&M at 3:30 pm ET.
Still, Green is … different. Green is … challenging to defend. Green is … fun to watch. Green is … ready to attempt to hurdle grown-ass defenders in the middle of the field.
And Taylen Green is among the most entertaining players in the SEC.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
