FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Razorbacks continue to reshape their 85-man scholarship roster this offseason, with defensive back and former wide receiver Bryce Stephens becoming the latest player to exit the program.
Stephens, a member of Arkansas’ 2021 recruiting class, originally signed as a 3-star wide receiver under then-assistant coach Justin Stepp. After spending most of his career on offense and special teams, he transitioned to defense this spring in an effort to carve out a new role. However, he did not record a single reception over the past two seasons.
During his four-year stint in Fayetteville, Stephens appeared in 30 games, tallying 12 catches for 114 yards and one touchdown. His most consistent contributions came on special teams, where he logged 19 punt returns for 202 yards and one touchdown, making him a key asset in that phase of the game.
Out of John Marshall High School in Oklahoma City, Stephens was rated the No. 571 overall prospect in the 2021 class, the No. 89 wide receiver nationally, and the No. 11 athlete in Oklahoma, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
With Stephens’ departure, Arkansas now sits one scholarship above the NCAA’s 85-man limit. The team will need at least one more roster move ahead of fall camp, which is expected to begin around July 31.
The Razorbacks have bolstered their receiving corps this offseason, adding Jalen Brown (Florida State) and Andy Jean (Florida) via the transfer portal. They also welcomed five high school signees in December who participated in spring practice: O’Mega Blake, Ismael Cisse, Raylen Sharpe, Kam Shanks, and Courtney Crutchfield.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino led one of the nation’s most dynamic offenses in 2024, highlighted by Andrew Armstrong, the SEC’s leading receiver. Armstrong hauled in 78 catches for 1,140 yards and a touchdown, earning a free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins following last month’s NFL Draft.
The Razorbacks were explosive under Petrino’s direction, generating 246 plays of 10-plus yards—ranking No. 3 nationally—a massive jump from just 139 such plays (No. 108) in 2023.
Following the departure of Arkansas’ top eight pass catchers via graduation or the transfer portal, Petrino took a selective approach to reloading the receiver room. His vision leaned toward greater explosiveness, blending smaller, shiftier playmakers with bigger, more physical targets like Monte Harrison and Charlotte transfer O’Mega Blake.
Wide Receiver Depth Chart (2025)
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O’Mega Blake – Redshirt Senior
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Raylen Sharpe – Redshirt Senior
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Jalen Brown – Junior
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Kam Shanks – Redshirt Sophomore
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Ismael Cisse – Redshirt Sophomore
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Andy Jean – Redshirt Sophomore
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Monte Harrison – Sophomore
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C.J. Brown – Sophomore
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Krosse Johnson – Redshirt Freshman
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Zach Taylor – Redshirt Freshman
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Courtney Crutchfield – Redshirt Freshman
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Ja’kayden Ferguson – Freshman
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Antonio Jordan – Freshman
On the defensive side, Arkansas now has 15 defensive backs on scholarship following Bryce Stephens’ departure, with three newcomers set to join: Stanford transfer Julian Neal, Maine transfer Shakur Smalls, and true freshman Nigel Pringle.
Pringle, a standout athlete from North Shore High School (Houston), played multiple positions in high school and was recruited as a defensive back. He also excelled as a punt returner, adding value on special teams.
Stephens had moved to defense earlier this spring in hopes of finding playing time as a speedy athlete after Arkansas’ significant struggles in pass coverage. The Razorbacks ranked No. 108 nationally in passing defense, allowing over 242 yards per game through the air in 2024.
Overall, the defense finished No. 73 in total defense, surrendering 376 yards and 25 points per game, ranking No. 66 in scoring defense among FBS teams.
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