Since the emergence of NIL and the Transfer Portal, Arkansas football under Sam Pittman has leaned heavily on transfers to build its roster.
When Pittman took over in 2020, Arkansas brought in just six transfers in 2021. That number has skyrocketed to 31 in the most recent cycle. While not every transfer pans out, several have become key contributors—or even stars. In fact, transfers led the team last season in passing, rushing, receiving, tackles, and sacks. Since 2021, Arkansas has had a transfer lead the team in sacks each year and in receiving and tackles in three of the last four seasons.
With high school recruiting trending downward and more players leaving the program, the portal has become essential to the Razorbacks’ success—and likely will be for the foreseeable future.
With that context, here’s a look back at the Top 10 Arkansas Football Transfer Additions since the Transfer Portal era began:
10. Isaac TeSlaa
2023 | Transferred from Hillsdale College (DII)
A raw but gifted athlete, TeSlaa proved to be a reliable target for K.J. Jefferson and Taylen Green, even if his college stats didn’t fully reflect his potential. He turned heads at the 2025 NFL Combine, which helped him land a spot on his hometown team’s radar—the Detroit Lions.
9. Taylen Green
2024 | Transferred from Boise State
Arkansas’ current quarterback, Green made an immediate impact in 2024. While he just missed hitting elite marks due to a lack of touchdown production, his overall performance ranks among the best by a Razorback QB. With another year of development, he could climb even higher on this list.
8. Feleipe Franks
2020 | Transferred from Florida
Often overlooked due to the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Franks brought much-needed stability after the Chad Morris era. He led Arkansas to its first SEC win since 2017 and helped snap a brutal losing streak, securing wins against Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. He was one controversial call away from pulling off an upset at Auburn, too.
7. Xavian Sorey
2024 | Transferred from Georgia
A former 5-star recruit, Sorey wasted no time becoming a defensive leader. He paced the team with 99 tackles (41 solo) in 2024, along with a pick and two sacks. Returning for another season, he’s poised to be a cornerstone of the defense once again.
6. John Ridgeway
2021 | Transferred from Illinois State
Nicknamed “The Vanilla Gorilla,” Ridgeway was the Razorbacks’ first true “diamond in the rough” from the portal. Coming from FCS-level Illinois State, expectations were low—but he quickly made a name for himself, leading the defensive line with 39 tackles and finishing second in sacks among the linemen.
5. Matt Landers
2022 | Transferred from Toledo
Landers had a slow start to the 2022 season but erupted midway through, finishing as the Razorbacks’ top receiver in both yards and touchdowns. A breakout performance against BYU sparked a strong second half of the season, where he logged three 100-yard games and five touchdowns.
4. Dwight McGlothern
2022 | Transferred from LSU
McGlothern was a lockdown corner from the start. He led Arkansas in interceptions and was rarely targeted by opposing quarterbacks, especially in 2023. His solo tackle numbers show just how often he was left to handle receivers one-on-one—and how effective he was.
3. Landon Jackson
2022 | Transferred from LSU
A dominant edge presence, Jackson led Arkansas in sacks two years in a row and terrorized offensive linemen across the SEC. His standout performance at the NFL Combine helped him land with the Buffalo Bills as a third-round pick in the 2025 draft.
2. Andrew Armstrong
2023 | Transferred from Texas A&M-Commerce
Armstrong was a high-upside gamble that paid off big. He led the Razorbacks in receiving in both 2023 and 2024. Though touchdowns were hard to come by in his final season, he still led the SEC in receiving yards (1,140), with five games topping 128 yards.
Honorable Mentions
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Jordan Domineck (2022)
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Fernando Carmona (2024)
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Tre Williams (2021)
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Trelon Smith (2019)
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Lorando “Snaxx” Johnson (2023)
1. Drew Sanders
2022 | Transferred from Alabama
The crown jewel of Arkansas’ transfer portal success, Sanders brought elite talent from Alabama and delivered immediately. He led the team in tackles (103), sacks (9.5), and ranked third in pass breakups. His performance against South Carolina—11 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles—cemented his legacy. He was the engine behind Barry Odom’s 2022 defense and a clear No. 1 on this list.
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