FAYETTEVILLE — The official opening of the NCAA transfer portal on Monday led to more departures for the Arkansas Razorbacks, including defensive backs TJ Metcalf and Selman Bridges. The Hogs also lost ace tailback Ja’Quinden Jackson as a declarer for the NFL Draft who has also been invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl.
Jackson joined receiver Andrew Armstrong and defensive linemen Landon Jackson and Eric Gregory as Razorbacks who will pass up the opportunity to play in the Liberty Bowl in order to begin preparations for the draft.
The University of Arkansas (6-6) will take on Texas Tech (8-4) of the Big 12 in the 66th Liberty Bowl on Dec. 27 in Memphis.
The roster for fifth-year Coach Sam Pittman will be depleted during bowl preparations, much like it was for the Razorbacks’ last bowl game, a 55-53 triple-overtime triumph over Kansas in the Liberty Bowl after the 2022 season.
As of Monday evening, 25 Razorbacks, including 22 scholarship players, had entered the portal. That includes long snapper Eli Stein during camp and receiver Jaedon Wilson following the season opener. The list of players includes four starters on offense and three starters on defense, including injured cornerback Jaylon Braxton.
Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman was asked about the Razorbacks’ plans for their Liberty Bowl roster on a Sunday teleconference with Liberty Bowl officials and started to answer it when he was told by an official that only questions about the game would be allowed.
Later on the call, Pittman said, “You’re going to see a fun game (with) guys that want to be out there and want to play.
“And I said it before, I’m not so concerned about who’s not playing as we are who is playing. We did this the last time. I think nine starters were out the last time we played in this game and we went out there and had a successful game.”
Among the top players revealed to be entering the portal on Monday were Metcalf and his younger brother, defensive back Tevis Metcalf, as well as the freshman cornerback Bridges. Braxton and Bridges were the top Arkansas defensive back signees each of the last two seasons.
The Metcalfs are the second pair of Razorback brothers to enter the portal, as safety and kick returner Dylan Hasz announced Monday he would be joining his twin brother, Luke Hasz, who made his intentions known last weekend.
TJ Metcalf started 11 games as a sophomore this season and was fourth on the team with 57 tackles to go along with a team-high 3 interceptions, 7 pass breakups, 1 tackle for loss and 1 forced fumble. Metcalf was named SEC defensive player of the week after the Arkansas’ 24-14 win at Auburn, when he accounted for 2 interceptions, forced a fumble that was recovered by Stephen Dix, tipped a pass that was intercepted by Doneiko Slaughter and made 4 tackles.
Offensive lineman Ty’Kieast Crawford, eligible for a sixth season, announced Monday he would be entering the portal. Crawford made six starts for the Razorbacks after transferring from UNC-Charlotte in 2021, but none this season. The 6-5, 324-pounder follows offensive guard starters Josh Braun and Patrick Kutas as well as Amaury Wiggins in the portal. Braun, a two-year starter, has one season of eligibility remaining and Kutas, who played in four games this season, has two.
Starting defensive end Nico Davillier of Maumelle, who missed the final two games to undergo cartilage surgery on his knee, announced his intention to enter the portal on Dec. 6.
Also in the portal is Kaden Henley, a 3-star signee in 2022 from Shiloh Christian. Henley played only in the 70-0 season-opening win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. He joins Carson Dean and Alex Sanford among Arkansas linebackers in the portal.
Another defensive back in the portal along with the Metcalfs, Braxton, Bridges and Dylan Hasz is Dallas Young.
The receiving corps has lost starter Isaiah Sategna, Davion Dozier, Wilson and walk-on Kamron Bibby. Tight ends Ty Washington and Var’keyes Gumms, who were kicked off the team after the Arkansas’ 58-25 win at Mississippi State, are also in the portal along with Luke Hasz.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Malachi Singleton, a valuable backup to Taylen Green who directed the Hogs’ game-winning drive in a 19-14 upset of then-No. 4 Tennessee on Oct. 5, is also in the portal.
The portal opened on Monday and will be open until Dec. 28. The spring portal window has been tightened to 10 days, from April 16-25.
Jackson was announced as accepting an invitation to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl, which will take place on Jan. 30 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Jackson was a significant pickup out of the portal from Utah for this year’s Razorbacks. The 6-2, 233-pounder from Dallas rushed for 790 yards in 10 games and scored 15 rushing touchdowns, the most for a Razorback since Alex Collins broke the school record with 20 in 2015, another Liberty Bowl year for Arkansas. Jackson’s rushing touchdown total tied for 13th in the country.