Ryan Silverfield said his first Arkansas coaching staff was “going to blow us away.”

For Razorbacks fans trying to understand what that meant, the picture is getting clearer.

One of the most important early hires is expected to be Clint Trickett, a coach known for his steady work with quarterbacks and his experience across several offensive systems.

Trickett is set to take over the Arkansas quarterback room, shaping the position that most often determines how fast a program can rebuild.

His background as both a quarterback and a coach gives the Razorbacks a leader who knows the challenges of the position from every angle.

The Razorbacks are in the early stages of forming Silverfield’s first staff, but Trickett’s expected hire already stands out. Quarterbacks need structure, clear teaching and steady communication. Trickett has built a coaching path that shows he provides those things at every stop.

He brings years of experience working with young players, calling plays and designing passing games. For an offense that must take a big step forward, this kind of background gives Arkansas a more grounded path.

Trickett played quarterback at Florida State and West Virginia, finishing with more than 5,800 passing yards and 32 touchdowns. Few coaching hires offer that level of firsthand experience in high-pressure situations.

The Razorbacks get someone who has stood in the pocket, made decisions and understood what it takes to lead an offense.

Before coaching at the Division I level, Trickett spent two seasons guiding quarterbacks at East Mississippi Community College.

That program is known nationally for producing strong players who need quick development. Coaching there shaped Trickett’s ability to teach fundamentals and build confidence fast.

He later coached at Florida Atlantic and Marshall, working across multiple offensive positions. Those roles helped him understand how receivers, tight ends and quarterbacks fit together in a complete passing game.

That matters for a Hogs offense trying to find balance.

Another important stop came at Georgia Southern, where Trickett served as pass game coordinator while also coaching tight ends.

Handling both scheme and a position group gave him valuable experience in designing weekly plans.

In 2025, Trickett spent the season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Jacksonville State. Running an offense while leading the most important position group shows how trusted he has become.

Why Trickett is right fit for Silverfield

Silverfield wants teachers. He wants coaches who can build players up, communicate clearly and guide them through daily work. Trickett’s career fits that model.

His résumé shows steady development, patience and an understanding of how to teach quarterbacks at different stages.

The Razorbacks are building a new identity under Silverfield. That process starts with culture, but it becomes real when the players on offense understand what they are being asked to do.

Trickett offers the kind of detail-oriented approach that helps young quarterbacks grow in a simple, focused system.

Trickett also brings the kind of personality Silverfield values. Silverfield has said fans will be impressed by the character of his staff.

Trickett’s coaching history shows he has earned trust wherever he has been, whether coaching quarterbacks or helping design a passing attack.

For Arkansas, this means the quarterback room gets a steady voice. It means the Razorbacks can build an offense that grows over time rather than guessing its way through games.

How Trickett fits with rest of new staff

Silverfield is filling out the staff around Trickett with experienced assistants on offense and defense. Tim Cramsey is expected to coordinate the offense.

Larry Smith will handle wide receivers, David Johnson will lead running backs, Morgan Turner will coach tight ends and Marcus Johnson and Jeff Meyers are set to guide the offensive line.

On defense, the Razorbacks expect Ron Roberts to be the coordinator and linebackers coach. Marion Hobby is lined up for the defensive line.

Deron Wilson and TJ Rushing are set to coach cornerbacks, and CJ Wilford is expected to guide the safeties. Chad Lunsford is expected to run special teams.

Trickett fits into that group as a central figure for the Hogs offense. While others handle positions, Trickett helps shape the direction of the entire offensive approach.

A quarterback coach often becomes the key connection between scheme and execution.

What Trickett means for Hogs in 2026

Arkansas knows it is starting over after a difficult season. The Hogs do not need flash; they need structure. Trickett gives them that.

He offers coaching experience rooted in real development, not shortcuts.

Silverfield is building a long-term plan, and Trickett’s expected hire is a clear sign of it.

Quarterbacks will get direct teaching from someone who has led an offense, thrown passes under pressure and designed systems around player strengths.

For the Razorbacks, this is exactly the type of hire that can stabilize a rebuild.

Key takeaways

• Clint Trickett is expected to be the Arkansas quarterbacks coach and a central part of the offensive rebuild.
• Trickett brings years of experience coaching quarterbacks and designing passing games across multiple programs.
• His arrival fits Ryan Silverfield’s plan to build a strong, character-driven staff for the Hogs.

Arkansas fans finally got a break from the cycle of departures, rumors, and portal drama when two homegrown players decided they were not going anywhere.

Running back Braylen Russell and wide receiver CJ Brown, both expected to draw interest from elsewhere, instead chose to stay put.

In a week filled with coaching change noise and roster reshuffling, the Razorbacks suddenly had actual stability to celebrate.

Russell, a Benton native who became a key part of the backfield this past season, made his announcement with a short message that left little room for confusion.

He said he would return for his junior year and declared he was “ALL IN.” For a program that has spent the last year bouncing between frustration and faint optimism, clear messages are welcome.

Brown followed with his own announcement, stating he will return for another season after starting most of the year at receiver.

His production was steady, his snaps were consistent, and his decision gives the Hogs a proven target who already knows the system.

Both players came through Arkansas as part of the same signing class, and both were asked early in their careers to contribute before they were fully seasoned.

Now, they return with experience, confidence, and a sense of unfinished business that seems to mirror how many fans feel about the upcoming season.

New head coach Ryan Silverfield surely appreciates it. He walked into a roster that was as unsettled as an overcrowded airport on a holiday weekend.

The Razorbacks simply needed some players to stay grounded.

Why Russell staying matters

Over the course of the 2025 season, Russell showed he is more than a big body who can break tackles.

He rushed 55 times for 286 yards, averaging just over five yards per carry, and scored five touchdowns.

Arkansas did not have many things it could count on last fall, but Russell’s production at least offered moments of steadiness.

The Razorbacks return him at a time when the team desperately needs reliable pieces. Russell’s commitment removes one more question from the long list Silverfield inherited.

The backfield now has a known player who can handle early-down carries and bring power to an offense that spent much of last season working uphill.

His message came across direct and focused. No drama, no suspense, no waiting for some long video reveal. Just a simple promise to be back.

In a sport where announcements now last longer than bowl games, Russell kept it refreshingly short.

The Razorbacks now gain a player who understands what the offense asks, understands the speed of the SEC, and understands what the team still must fix.

That kind of internal experience matters even more during transition seasons.

Russell’s return is also symbolic. Arkansas has watched a long list of players leave at the first sign of better weather somewhere else.

A talented in-state player deciding to come back shows that not everyone is sprinting toward the exit.

Brown’s return gives Hogs needed balance

Brown’s return is just as important. The receiver from Bentonville started 10 games last season and caught 28 passes for 319 yards with three touchdowns.

He was not the flashiest player on the field, but he was one of the most dependable. When Arkansas needed someone to run the correct route, Brown ran it.

When the team needed a catch on a routine play, he usually delivered.

The Razorbacks’ passing attack struggled at times, but Brown’s presence kept it from falling apart completely.

Now, the Hogs bring back a player who knows the offense, communicates well with teammates, and has already handled SEC defensive backs.

Brown also returns at a time when the receiver room is far from settled. There will be incoming transfers, outgoing transfers, and new freshmen pushing for time.

Having a veteran with starting experience helps steady the whole group.

Like Russell, Brown kept his announcement simple. He posted his message, thanked the fans, and let the decision speak for itself.

No theatrics, no guessing games, no dramatic cliffhangers.

For a team trying to rebuild trust with its fan base, this kind of straightforward commitment is refreshing.

What this means for Arkansas moving forward

With Russell and Brown returning, Arkansas gains a bit of predictability — a rare commodity recently.

The Razorbacks need starters who have played meaningful snaps, and now they have two more returning pieces around which they can build.

The Hogs also now have continuity in leadership, as both players were part of a group already committed to coming back.

They join quarterback KJ Jackson, defensive end Quincy Rhodes Jr., and linemen Caden Kitler and Kobe Branham as players who have chosen to stick around instead of exploring the portal.

While no coach would declare the roster stable in December, keeping Russell and Brown gives Arkansas a foundation.

The new staff does not have to replace their experience or scramble for replacements. Instead, Silverfield can coach with a small portion of the roster already intact.

Fans may not celebrate retention the way they celebrate bowl bids, but in the modern era, getting players to return is almost as important as adding new ones.

The Razorbacks grabbed two wins in that department.

Key takeaways

• Braylen Russell confirmed he will return for the 2026 season, giving Arkansas a proven SEC running back with meaningful production.

• CJ Brown announced he will also come back, bringing steady receiving experience and reliability to the Razorbacks’ passing game.

• Their decisions provide rare roster stability, helping the Hogs build continuity entering Ryan Silverfield’s first full season.

Texas A&M matchup with Miami could be highlight game of some interesting matchups in the first round next week for national title.