FAYETTEVILLE -- New wide receiver Jalen Brown has shot to the top of the depth chart at one of the receiver spots.
Brown, 6-1, 174, transferred to Arkansas from Florida State this summer. Brown was a freshman at LSU in 2023 and then a redshirt freshman with Florida State last season. With Florida State, Brown played in eight games with two starts in 2024. He caught eight passes for 75 yards. Following Tuesday's practice Brown talked about playing for the Hogs.
"Just it being my first time here in Fayetteville, I'm hearing that it's like a crazy atmosphere," Brown said. "So, like, I'm just waiting to see what it's about and see the love from the fans and the community."
Brown credited Bobby Petrino for being the reason he can come in after no spring ball and still start the first game.
"It's just knowing what Petrino and the coaches want," Brown said. "Like, they want a person that's into the fine details, into the little things. In his offense you have to know the little things for everything else to work. So, just me focusing on the little things and preparing every day, taking it one step at a time, pushed me into the starting lineup."
Sam Pittman was asked Monday what he likes about Brown?
"Speed," Brown said. "He's fast. You know, I can throw Andy Jean in that category as well. But he runs good routes, but he's fast. And, you know, it's hard to cover speed at times. If you don't have it, it's real hard. And so to answer your question, just his speed."
Brown was asked what is different about Taylen Green and the other quarterbacks Brown has played with?
"He's different because he can extend the play," Brown said. "I don’t know, like Taylen’s difficult to take down, difficult to touch. When the play breaks down, he's still calm. He rolls out of the pocket and still has his eyes downfield. So, having a quarterback like that, and he's trusting you to make the play, it’s just a different feeling. You can't explain it."
Green is equally impressed with Brown. He praised the speedy wide receiver on Tuesday.
"I would say everybody's going to see on Saturday his playmaking ability," Green said. "Of course, everybody talks about his speed, but it’s truly his speed and his consistency every single play, whether it's a run play, he has to crack down and block the linebacker or a block a safety. Or he has to run a post or go. His effort and consistency and his work ethic is what jumps off the page and what helped him climb up that depth chart. As a quarterback, I just love receivers that are willing to do the nitty-gritty to score deep touchdowns, whether it’s a post or a fade or anything else."
While Brown said he has never been timed in the 40-yard dash, he did run track his junior year in high school.
"I was a 100-meter, 200 and 400-meter runner," Brown said. "I think it was like a 10.4, something like that, 10.5, in the 100. 200 was like a 21.8 and the 400 was like a 45, I think, you know, something like that."
Some with track speed then it doesn't translate to the football field. It's different with Brown.
"Basically just putting my talents on display every day," Brown said. "Like, if it's a ball that people think is too far, I'm going to go run it down and catch it. If it's in coverage and I have to make a contested catch, I’m going to go make it. It's just about being aggressive and just being a ball player."
This is Brown's third school in three years. How is Fayetteville?
"I love Fayetteville," Brown said. "I love the people, like, everybody's nice, everybody wants the best for you. You don't really see people like talking down on anybody's name or nothing that much like, it's just all joy and love around Fayetteville."
The season opens Saturday and Brown thinks the fans will like the offense.
"The fans are going to get to see a whole new Arkansas," Brown said. "Very explosive, very energetic. A lot, a lot, a lot of energy from both offense and the defensive side of the ball. I feel like, especially receiver room and on the offense, like we're together. Like, this is probably the most together team I ever been with. I can go talk to anybody on offense and defense like a brother, like, just confiding in them. So I feel like that is going to put us over the edge."
The kickoff is set for 3:15 p.m. Saturday against Alabama A&M and televised on the SEC Network.
