While overall team success will play a big role, Arkansas does have several intriguing pro prospects for 2025.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — After the dust settled on the 2025 NFL Draft, two Arkansas Razorbacks heard their names called Friday night.
Wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (Detroit Lions) and defensive end Landon Jackson (Buffalo Bills) were both selected in the third round — though TeSlaa being picked before Jackson came as a surprise to many Razorback fans.
Now, attention shifts to which players on Arkansas’ current roster could hear their names called in 2026. Several Razorbacks are currently projected around the seventh-round cutoff, according to NFL Draft Buzz, but strong performances this fall could boost their draft stock considerably.
Taylen Green
There’s no debate about which current Razorback is the most intriguing NFL prospect heading into the offseason.
Green showcased a polished throwing motion and impressive speed to lead Arkansas to seven wins in his first season under offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino.
The 6-foot-6, 230-pound quarterback posted career highs across the board, helping the Razorbacks finish with a top-10 national ranking in total offense at 457 yards per game in 2024.
Green completed 230 of 381 passes for 3,154 yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
He also added a career-high 602 rushing yards with eight touchdowns on the ground.
Petrino has a strong track record of developing college quarterbacks into NFL talent, and Green’s ceiling remains incredibly high.
While he improved his accuracy — despite dealing with more than a dozen dropped passes from receivers — his natural progress was somewhat held back by poor decision-making, which led to costly turnovers.
In total, Green committed 14 turnovers during the 2024 season.
Heading into spring practice, Green emphasized that he and Petrino have been working hard to reduce mental lapses and sharpen his focus, key areas that could elevate his draft stock.
“My improvement includes taking care of the ball — the fumbles and interceptions — and my ability to focus all four quarters,” Green said on March 10. “Especially when I get tired, I’ve seen my ability to think about the read or everything I have to go through start to slip.
Whether it’s the fourth quarter or right after a 60-yard run, I’ve got to be able to audible or call a different play. That’s a big thing I’m stressing: improving stamina and mental toughness.”
Julian Neal
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound defensive back had a breakout junior season with the Bulldogs in 2024, recording 35 tackles, five tackles for loss, six pass breakups, two interceptions, and one sack.
Neal signed with Arkansas as the No. 4 overall player available in the transfer portal.
“Yeah, I like [Julian] Neal,” Pittman said on April 24. “Neal’s a good-looking kid. Big, can run. I thought we did a really good job recruiting him, and I like him. Obviously, we brought him in thinking he can play for us immediately.”
Neal will have a strong chance to step into a starting role for the Razorbacks, especially after flashing plenty of promise against Mountain West competition last season.
According to Pro Football Focus, Neal earned a 70.3 overall defensive grade in 2024, held opposing quarterbacks to a 48% completion rate, and allowed just one touchdown across 330 snaps.
Cam Ball
The 6-foot-5, 310-pound defensive tackle posted a career-high 47 tackles, along with four tackles for loss, two sacks, and a fumble recovery during the 2024 season.
Ball is expected to be one of the oldest and most experienced players on the roster in 2025 — and is a strong candidate to be named a team captain.
Ball has been sidelined this spring following elbow surgery but is expected to be a key piece for defensive coordinator Travis Williams’ front, whether Arkansas leans on a three- or four-man defensive line.
Xavian Sorey, LB
The Razorbacks’ leading tackler in 2024, Sorey transferred in from Georgia, where he spent most of his time in a reserve role.
With elite speed, high football IQ, and growing confidence, Sorey broke out last season with 99 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and two sacks.
If he can build on that momentum this fall, Sorey could position himself as one of the top linebackers in the country — finally living up to the 5-star hype he earned coming out of high school.
Williams has placed complete trust in his senior linebacker this spring, as Sorey has fully embraced a leadership role on Arkansas’ defense.
“Man, he’s just understanding the scheme,” Williams said on April 10. “It’s his knowledge — knowing what we’re doing and what we’re trying to accomplish.
“He’s asking questions, and not only that, he’s helping the younger players understand the scheme, which is always good.”
Sorey’s growth as a leader and on-field coach will only boost his stock once his college career comes to an end.
“[We’re] seeing that growth, and we have that conversation a lot,” Williams continued. “I just tell him, this time next year, you’re going to be in those [NFL] meeting rooms with general managers and coaches asking you these questions.
So let’s draw it up, let’s talk through it. And he’s become a true student of the game.
“He’s in my office all the time: ‘Okay, Coach, let’s draw this up. Coach, when you call this, what are you thinking?’
He’s starting to understand the ‘why’ behind our calls, which is awesome.”
David Oke, DL
Another Arkansas transfer to watch closely in 2025 is defensive lineman David Oke, who had a standout 2024 season at Abilene Christian.
The 6-foot-3, 295-pound lineman turned heads with his production and found himself highly sought after in the portal. He ultimately chose Arkansas over offers from Texas Tech, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Houston, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, and Virginia.
Oke recorded 63 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, one sack, six quarterback hurries, one fumble recovery, two pass breakups, and a blocked field goal during his junior season.
His versatility — being able to clog running lanes and create pressure on quarterbacks — could make him a sneaky breakout player in the SEC this fall.
Jordan Young, DB
The 5-foot-11, 200-pound transfer defensive back will finally get the chance to contribute for an SEC team after starting his career at Florida as a 4-star prospect in the 2021 class.
Young spent the past two seasons at Cincinnati, where he totaled 69 tackles, two tackles for loss, 12 pass breakups, and one interception.
Young was one of the top defensive backs in the Big 12 in 2024, helping Cincinnati’s secondary hold opponents to just 16 passing touchdowns on the year.
He earned a 74.7 Pro Football Focus grade while allowing only 290 yards in coverage across a team-high 604 defensive snaps.
Cincinnati beat writer Neil Meyer spoke highly of Young’s performance when he talked to Hogs on SI back in December.
“Jordan Young was Cincinnati’s best defensive back in 2024,” Meyer said. “He started every game over the last two years, with 2023 being his first year at boundary corner, and vastly improved this year.
He plays physical, smart football and even competed with an injured shoulder [in 2024] while still putting up very respectable numbers.”
Rohan Jones, TE
The Razorbacks were in desperate need of a tight end room makeover after losing three players at the position to the transfer portal this offseason, including starter Luke Hasz.
Enter Rohan Jones — and so far, Bobby Petrino has been extremely high on the transfer’s potential.
This spring, Petrino praised Jones’ route-running, speed, and ability to quickly adapt to the SEC level of play.
“Yeah, [Jones] definitely can fill [the role of a pass-catching tight end],” Petrino said on April 8. “He’s got great speed. If we lined up and raced the receivers, he might end up third or fourth in the race. So he’s very, very explosive. I think he’s prideful and a great competitor. I think he’ll be really good for us.”
The 6-foot-3, 236-pound tight end had an impressive stint at Montana State, where he helped lead his team to a national championship appearance last season. Jones caught 30 passes for 470 yards and nine touchdowns, proving himself as a legitimate weapon in the passing game.
Corey Robinson, OL
The 6-foot-5, 305-pound left tackle started Georgia Tech’s final seven games in 2024 and quickly became one of the top available transfers in December.
Robinson earned one of the highest pass-blocking grades in the country, grading out at an impressive 92.8, according to Pro Football Focus.
This season, Robinson is slated to play left tackle for Arkansas, with teammate Fernando Carmona taking on left guard duties. Robinson welcomed the move, knowing it’s in the best interest of an Arkansas offensive line that allowed 36 sacks in 2024 (No. 114 nationally).
“Corey [Robinson] is a special talent — that guy can pass-protect his butt off,” Carmona said on April 17. “I’m really excited to play next to him.”
Fernando Carmona, OL
The San Jose State transfer made an immediate impact in re-establishing Arkansas’ physicality along the offensive line.
Carmona was instrumental in the Razorbacks’ run game, helping pave the way for 34 rushing touchdowns, which tied for 10th nationally in 2024.
Carmona, a 6-foot-5, 329-pound prospect, is currently projected as a sixth-round NFL Draft pick in April 2026, ranked as the No. 27 tackle, despite his move inside to guard this spring.
His shift to guard is seen as a precursor to a possible position change at the professional level.
“[Carmona] took it great, and we didn’t really tell him we were moving him,” Pittman said. “We went in there and talked about it, and asked, ‘What do you think?’ He said, ‘Well, I think they’re going to move me inside in the league, coach.’ I said, ‘Well, you’re going to want to try it now. Want to try a little center? Want to try guard?’ So, that’s how it went.”
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