Taylen Green working for Heisman standard through early season
Depending on which way-too-early Heisman Trophy watch lists you come across on social media, you might see Arkansas redshirt senior quarterback Taylen Green mentioned.
Green, who is in his second season with the Razorbacks after he transferred from Boise State, has thrown for 10 touchdowns and is responsible for 12 through the first two weeks of the season.
His offensive coordinator, Bobby Petrino, posted a photo on X after the Hogs’ 56-14 win over Arkansas State that compared him to another former quarterback of his, former Heisman winner and two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson.
Obviously, it’s way too early to look at Green as a potential Heisman winner. The Hogs have played two lower-level opponents in FCS foe Alabama A&M and Sun Belt member Arkansas State. The real test comes this weekend, when Arkansas travels to Oxford, Mississippi, to face Ole miss.
Green joined SportsCenter at Night on Tuesday and said the Heisman-level standard is something he aspires daily.
“(Petrino) sets that standard every day,” Green said. “Whether it’s my footwork, or my fundamentals, throwing the ball. Whether it’s in the weight room, every single day he holds me to that standard.
“He sees greatness in me, and he’s going to let me know when I’m not hitting that standard and when I am. So I definitely love coach Petrino and have deep respect for him, because every single day he demands perfection and greatness out of me.”
Arkansas defenders glad Green is on their side
So far this season, Green has thrown for 561 yards and rushed for 192, which includes a 64-yard keeper for a touchdown last weekend against the Red Wolves.
The threat both by air and on land makes Green a true threat anywhere on the field, and a bit of a Swiss Army knife for Petrino to use.
“It’d be hard going up against him,” Arkansas defensive back Miguel Mitchell said Tuesday. “He can run, he can throw, he can make plays when he needs to. And I feel like he gives other defenses a hard time, which is good for the Hogs.”
Chemistry between Taylen Green and O’Mega Blake
It’s hard to look at Green’s stats through the first two games and not notice he’s got a bit of a favorite target out of the wide receivers.
That’s not to say the Hogs don’t have multiple weapons for Green to throw to, but O’Mega Blake has been someone that has looked a cut above the rest through the first two games.
Blake has recorded 12 receptions for 185 yards and two touchdowns, with 121 of those yards coming against Alabama A&M in Week 1. He said he and Green have been working overtime to continue to get better.
“Just putting in the extra work with Taylen and meeting with him,” Blake said Tuesday. “Watching extra film, staying after practice, running extra routes. We do that every day, just so we can be on the same page.”
The Razorbacks and Rebels will kick off from Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT. The game will air on ESPN.
