Arkansas has speedy option at receiver in Jalen Brown
One of the newcomers to this year’s Razorback roster is Florida State transfer Jalen Brown, who hasn’t received as much publicity as some of the other pass-catchers on the team.
Brown, a former four-star prospect and the No. 80 player in the nation in the class of 2023, is at his third school in his college career. He started with LSU, then transferred to Florida State last season.
He hasn’t been overly productive, just eight receptions for 75 yards, but head coach Sam Pittman said he thinks Brown can elevate his game with the Razorbacks in 2025.
“I had a really good talk with him,” Pittman said Thursday. “I think he’s in the right frame of mind to excel as what he was recruited out of high school. Of course he was really highly recruited and highly regarded in high school and it’s time for him to be that guy and better. I just believe he will. He’s got a good work ethic, he can catch the ball and he can fly. He can run.”
Brown will get every opportunity to work his way into a starting role during fall camp. There’s a hole left by Ismale Cisse, who tore ligaments in his wrist that will sideline him for the entire 2025 season.
“You know we’ve got speed,” Pittman said. “We’ve got the Browns, Jalen and CJ. Andy Jean’s another guy we were talking about possibly moving one of those guys into slot a little bit to get them on the field a little bit more. But I feel really good about our size there and especially our speed there.”
What sets Brown back, though, is that he didn’t get to go through spring practice. He was a portal addition in April after spring ball ended, but strength and conditioning coach Ben Sowders said he’s continuing to look better.
“He’s fast,” Sowders said. “He’s going to be a 22 mph or higher guy…but the last three weeks he has really trended up. More of a soft-spoken guy but has done everything we’ve asked him to do.
“Starting to see a little more personality as that goes. All this is new. Everywhere you go, it’s similar but different on how coaches of programs do things. So, really excited to see his actions in camp.”
The Razorbacks begin fall camp bright and early at 6:20 a.m. on Friday. Be sure to stay tuned to HawgBeat for more coverage of Arkansas football.
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