By Nate Allen

FAYETTEVILLE -  Razorbacks  third-year sophomore to be backup quarterback Malik Hornsby has withdrawn from the transfer portal and apparently plans to continue attending the University of Arkansas at Tuesday’s start of the spring semester.

Hornsby, impressing during Arkansas’ 24-10 Outback Bowl victory over Penn State netting 67 yards on four carries briefly relieving temporarily injured starting quarterback KJ Jefferson, put his name in the transfer portal Jan. 7 and was reported Friday to have withdrawn it.

A speedster from Missouri City, Texas trying to develop as a passer, Hornsby netted 136 rushing yards and a touchdown and completed  5 of 12 passes for 46 yards as Jefferson’s 2021 backup after redshirting in 2020 behind now in the NFL  Razorbacks 2020 graduate transfer Feleipe Franks and Jefferson.

The Hogs will start spring ball with Hornsby and redshirt freshman Lucas Coley competing behind Jefferson.

Kade Renfro, the walk-on transfer from Ole Miss quarterbacking Arkansas’ scout team, is expected to compete next fall but likely to miss spring ball since a spring practice injury required knee surgery.