Nate Allen

FAYETTEVILLE - Offensive tackle Noah Gatlin, considered by far the Arkansas Razorbacks’ most promising offensive lineman of 2018, is retiring from football because of repeated serious injuries, multiple media outlets reported Friday.

Gatlin of Jonesboro played four games, the maximum allowed to redshirt as a 2018 freshman, and started two of them for former Arkansas Coach Chad Morris’ Razorbacks.

Gatlin was all set to start at tackle for Morris’ 2019 Razorbacks when he suffered an torn anterior knee ligament during the first preseason practice. Thereupon he underwent major surgery and missed the entire 2019 season.

Even with no spring practice because of covid-19 restrictions, new Coach Sam Pittman and new offensive line coach Brad Davis saw enough in Gatlin to start him at tackle in the season opening loss to Georgia.

Gatlin didn’t finish that game because of injury but returned to start five games before suffering a concussion from which he apparently not cleared to play the remainder of the season.