Identifying storyline to watch in Arkansas spring game

The Arkansas Razorbacks play in their spring game on Saturday, and there are a few questions surrounding the team. Ahead of Saturday’s spring games, ESPN broke down a storyline to watch for in all of the games. For Arkansas, the biggest question remaining is how the team will replace the production of wide receiver Treylon Burks.

Burks was the clear favorite target for Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson last season. Jefferson, who threw for 2,676 yards with 21 touchdowns and four interceptions, looked Burks’ way a lot in the passing game. Last year, Burks had 66 receptions for 1,104 yards and 11 touchdowns. But with Burks now in the 2022 NFL Draft, other weapons must step up on offense. Who those weapons will be is ESPN’s biggest question for Arkansas entering Saturday’s spring game.

“Treylon Burks perhaps wasn’t one of the most well-known names at the wide receiver position in the country, but you better believe he meant a lot to Sam Pittman’s offense,” said ESPN. “In 12 games, Burks had 1,104 yards and 11 touchdowns.

“One player to keep an eye on will be Warren Thompson, the Razorbacks’ most experienced receiver returning from the 2021 squad with 19 catches for 304 yards and two touchdowns. Another will be Oklahoma transfer Jadon Haselwood, who led the Sooners with 39 receptions a year ago and added six touchdowns. The Razorbacks have four starters back on the offensive line (though they need to figure out left tackle), so the hope becomes that quarterback KJ Jefferson has enough weapons around him to make the offense click in 2022.”

NOTE: Arkansas announced on Saturday morning that the spring game will now be held indoors and will be closed to the public due to storms in the area.

Saturday’s spring game is important for the Arkansas offense

While there is still the entire summer in addition to preseason camps before the regular season gets underway next season, Saturday’s spring game is an important step in the evaluation process for Arkansas. Last season, the Razorbacks went 8-4 overall and 4-4 against SEC opponents in the regular season. Arkansas went on to defeat Penn State in the Outback Bowl, finishing 9-4 in a successful season for head coach Sam Pittman.

Last season, Arkansas finished in the middle of the SEC in averaging 441.7 yards per game. The Razorbacks also finished in the upper half of the league with 30.9 points per game. Rushing wise, Arkansas paced the rest of the conference with 227.8 yards on the ground per game. But passing wise, Arkansas had just 213.9 yards per game, which ranked as the fourth-worst total in the SEC.

Losing Burks is a tough blow, but the Razorbacks hope that they have the pieces in place to at least somewhat offset the loss of his production. Saturday’s spring game will be a great step in evaluating that progress in a game-like situation.