Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green’s protection was somewhat passive for much of the 2024 season, though it showed noticeable improvement in the final games.
Offensive line coach Eric Mateos focused not just on adding more players, but on building quality depth across the unit.
Both Mateos and head coach Sam Pittman believe the group is now deeper, larger, and features as many as eight linemen capable of starting as they head into fall camp.
One of Arkansas’ top pickups from the December transfer portal was Georgia Tech standout Corey Robinson.
At the time of his commitment, Robinson ranked No. 90 overall and No. 8 among offensive tackles in the portal, according to 247Sports. He had been one of the nation’s best pass protectors with the Yellow Jackets, starting the final seven games last season and earning a 92.8 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus — the highest among all Power Four offensive linemen.
Since enrolling at Arkansas in the spring, Robinson has quickly claimed the starting job at left tackle, even with returning starter Fernando Carmona on the roster. To his credit, Carmona — a second-year transfer from San Jose State — embraced a move inside to guard, putting the team’s needs ahead of his own.
Offensive line coach Eric Mateos has little doubt in Corey Robinson’s ability to anchor Arkansas’ protection. He points to the Georgia Tech transfer’s drive to be the best tackle on the field every week as a difference-maker.
“Super proud of him — he’s done a good job,” Mateos said Thursday. “The great thing about Corey is he’s very coachable. He knows his strengths and weaknesses, and he’s not satisfied.”
At 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds, Robinson is determined to make his mark in the SEC — widely regarded as the toughest league in college football and a factory for NFL talent. With the major Pac-12 programs now folded into the Big Ten, the SEC still dominates the NFL Draft pipeline. Each week, Robinson will see elite pass-rushing talent, including Texas’ Colin Simmons and Trey Moore, Auburn’s Keldrick Faulk, LSU’s Patrick Payton, Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell, and Tennessee’s Joshua Josephs.
“I think he was really looking to compete in this conference,” Mateos said. “He wanted to show that he could play eight games in the SEC and then the ninth in the SEC Championship. He wants to be part of that group of combine tackles everyone’s talking about next year. He’s not perfect — he’s got things to work on — but he’s an eager and willing soldier.”
Robinson isn’t currently projected as an early-round NFL Draft pick, but if he lives up to his transfer billing, he could enter the conversation alongside SEC standouts like Kadyn Proctor, Xavier Chaplin, and Austin Barber.
“I was really excited to be able to come play in the SEC,” Robinson said. “I believe it’s the best conference. I believe the best ball is played here, and I want to be considered one of the best offensive tackles. I think you’ve got to play against the best to be able to say that, and I’m just excited to come out here and play.”
Since arriving in Fayetteville, Robinson has seen tangible progress in his game. He credits the work of strength coach Ben Sowders and the hands-on tutelage of Mateos and head coach Sam Pittman, both of whom bring a track record of elite offensive line play from previous stops at BYU and Baylor.
“I’d say I’ve gotten a lot stronger now with the staff we have here,” Robinson said. “Working technique with Coach Mateos and Coach Pittman — improving my hand leverage and different things like that in the run game — has helped me a lot.”
The Razorbacks’ offensive line is coming off one of the roughest seasons in the nation, allowing 36 sacks, which ranked 12th in the SEC and 114th nationally. If Robinson can acclimate quickly at left tackle, he has a chance to extend an impressive personal streak — he hasn’t allowed a sack in the past three seasons.
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