Arkansas football: Razorbacks secure huge transfer portal haul | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

FAYETTEVILLE -- University of Arkansas football Coach Ryan Silverfield said his plan was for the Razorbacks to put together one of the best signing classes in school history.

The quality of the class cannot be known until the results from 2026 roll in, but the numbers in Arkansas' first collection of signings by Silverfield and his staff are certainly eye popping.

The Razorbacks will land at least 43 transfer additions, including from the junior college ranks, when the final tally is done. The portal closed for new entries after 15 days late Friday night, though players that entered during the open window can continue to sign.

Silverfield and the program also added 17 incoming freshmen during the Dec. 3-5 early signing period, 12 of whom should be eligible for spring drills, meaning the Hogs are almost certain to have 60-plus newcomers when training camp opens this summer.

"We dealt with 78 new players this past year at the University of Memphis, and we know there's going to be turnover," Silverfield said at his introductory news conference on Dec. 4.

"That's ... what college football is all about nowadays. I can't comment on what that will look like, but we're going to look all over and find the best fit for us, right? And no different than recruiting, it's not about just taking the 4-stars, it's about finding the best fit for our locker room and the culture that we're creating.

"We're going to bring in a bunch of guys and a bunch of people that are going to make everyone really, really proud."

Arkansas football fans will have to learn a drastically overhauled roster when spring drills commence.

The infusion from the portal will bolster and supplement virtually every position group on the team, outside of maybe punter.

The portal tally for the Razorbacks through Saturday afternoon featured 24 signees on defense, 16 on offense and 3 on special teams, where it would appear the Razorbacks landed a place-kicking standout in Max Gilbert to replace freshman Scott Starzyk, as well as a kickoff specialist in Braeden McAlister, who is likely to replace ace punter/kickoff man Devin Bale.

Silverfield tapped into his former Memphis roster to land seven players, including quarterback AJ Hill.

Hill, a 6-4, 215-pounder from Warner Robins Ga., who will be a redshirt freshman next season, and returning redshirt sophomore KJ Jackson could compete for the starting job during spring drills. Arkansas also landed quarterback Braeden Fuller, a 6-3, 180-pound rising redshirt senior who last played at Angelo State.

A clear area of focus was the defensive backfield, where the Razorbacks added 12 players. Half of the incoming defensive backs last played at Power Four schools, including the Maryland duo of La'khi Roland and Brayden Lee.

Arkansas has signed five players for its defensive front, including junior college transfer in Antonio Sandel-Bascomb of Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College.

The Razorbacks got another key retention on Saturday as well in safety Miguel Mitchell, as CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz reported the former Florida signee had withdrawn his name from the portal. Mitchell was tied for sixth on the team with 52 tackles last season, which would make him the top returning tackler for the Razorbacks.

Four of the transfers are coming in directly from SEC opponents, and nine have SEC play in their backgrounds.

Portal haul

A look at the University of Arkansas football program's transfer portal signings as of Saturday afternoon, listed by position with height, weight in pounds, class for the 2026 season and previous school: