Two Arkansas offensive linemen announce 2026 return
Arkansas starting offensive linemen Caden Kitler and Kobe Branham will return for the 2026 football season, they announced Thursday. Kitler made his decision public on X and Branham on Instagram.
The 2025 season was Kitler’s first in Fayetteville, as the 6-foot-3, 305-pound Texas native played for UCF from 2022-24 before transferring. Kitler started all 11 games he played for the Hogs at center. As a soon-to-be redshirt senior, the 2026 campaign will be Kitler’s last as a collegiate athlete.
According to Pro Football Focus, Kitler finished with a 56.5 offensive grade in 719 snaps. That includes a 68.9 pass-block mark and a 50.0 run-block mark. He earned a season-best 73.0 grade against Tennessee on Oct. 11.
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Branham, a 6-foot-5, 329-pound soon-to-be redshirt sophomore and native of Fort Smith, started all 12 games for Arkansas and finished with a 67.0 offensive grade. In 733 snaps, he ended with a 66.2 pass-block mark and 66.4 run-block mark.
Arkansas will lose starting offensive linemen Corey Robinson II and Fernando Carmona Jr. to graduation, while backup tackle Shaq McRoy is expected to enter the transfer portal in early January.
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