FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas signed two running backs from the transfer portal and one high school standout to go with Braylen Russell and two other returnees already on campus.
Arkansas added Sutton Smith. 5-9, 185, from Memphis and Michigan's Jasper Parker, 6-0, 205. The Razorbacks also signed Bryant four-star TJ Hodges, 6-1, 180. Also returning are Cam Settles, 5-11. 204, and Markeylin Batton, 5-10, 180. Russell, 6-1, 238, has battled injuries at Arkansas, but when able to stay on the field has been very productive.
In 2025, Russell carried 55 times for 286 yards and five touchdowns. He added four receptions for 27 yards. As a true freshman in 2024, Russell carried 67 times for 354 yards and three touchdowns. He also pulled in three passes for 18 yards.
The Tennessee and Mississippi State games were big for Russell and both resulted in wins. In the upset of Tennessee, Russell carried eight times for 62 yards including many big runs during the winning drive. At Mississippi State, Russell carried 16 times for 175 yards and caught one pass for 11 yards.
Arkansas' new offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey likes the talent in the running back room.
"We have a good mix in the running back room right now, some big bodies that can get some tough, physical yards and then we got a couple guys, we brought Sutton Smith over from Memphis," Cramsey said. "We got some young guys in Batton, young guy and TJ who can play a lot of positions for us, play a lot of roles for us. So when you really get into the offense, you’re coaching a certain human being, so you’re coached by the running backs coach, but we have the ability to put you in the slot, we’ve been able to do that, move some around. That’s a big part of the spring, finding out exactly what guys can do, where can we place them. So we can mess with the personnel and mess with thare defensive coordinator."
Smith topped Memphis in rushing last season with 669 yards and seven touchdowns on 102 carries. He also caught 20 passes for 109 yards. In the win over Arkansas, Smith gained 147 yards on 12 carries. He scored the winning touchdown with a 64-yard run with 4:51 remaining in the game.
At Michigan, Parker had 25 carries for 94 yards and two touchdowns. Settles rushed six times for 16 yards. He also caught two passes for 16 yards.
One issue that has haunted Arkansas' offense for two seasons has been fumbles. The Hogs lost a fumble late against both Ole Miss and Memphis last season. Cramsey made a point with a reporter when asked how to fix the fumble issue?
"I'm gonna tell you right now you're holding that microphone kind of loose," Cramsey said. "You might want to hold onto that microphone a little harder. That's our philosophy. It's a lifestyle. It's not something you do every now and then. It's not something you pick up. It's not something you try out. When you're walking, I know it's a it's a coach's statement. When you're walking with a book you hold on to that son of a gun tight. When you have a football in your hands.
"We haven't had a lot of opportunities to do it with rules, but they're holding it the right way. We teach them how to hold it. We teach the offensive lineman how to hold the ball. We've had a 15-20 minute meeting on ball security and when we can reach the ball out to score and when we cannot. You know, what is poor ball security? What is great ball security? OK, we show stats at every single game you play. The team that has a higher turnover margin has a much better chance of winning. So we preach it, we live it. It's on the walls, OTB. We'll get the whole community starting to say OTB and TTB. And to me that it is the lifestyle you do. It's something we talk about all the time and that's how you become better at it."
Arkansas will open spring ball on Sunday, March 15 and hold the spring game on April 25.