Key departures and additions for Mizzou opponents: Arkansas
We're less than two weeks away from SEC Media Days in Dallas. With the offseason slowly but surely winding down, there’s still enough time to talk about the acquisitions and departures Missouri's 2024 (and 2025) conference opponents have made.
Next up is Arkansas, which is Missouri's last conference opponent. The two teams will match up in Week 14 on Nov. 30.
Last season's record: 4-8
Key departures: K Cam Little, C Beaux Limmer, LB Chris Paul Jr., RB Raheim "Rocket" Sanders, LB Jaheim Thomas, QB KJ Jefferson, OL Devon Manuel, RB AJ Green
Key additions: RB Ja'Quinden Jackson, OL Fernando Carmona JR., DL Anton Juncaj, OL Keyshawn Blackstock, LB Xavian Sorey Jr., LB Stephen Dix Jr., QB Taylen Green, DB Miguel Mitchell
Key departures
Arkansas dealt with a lot of injuries and had a down 2023 season, and it won't get any easier with some of the star players they lost in the offseason.
First, the team lost Little to the NFL when he was drafted 212th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Five picks later, Limmer was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams.
The team lost its top two tacklers in Paul and Thomas to the transfer portal.
Paul is the highest-rated outgoing transfer, as the 65th overall transfer in the Rivals transfer tracker. Last season, he had 74 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a pass deflection in 11 games.
Thomas, the 93rd overall transfer, had 90 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and two pass deflections in 12 games a year ago.
Sanders is one of the nation's premier tailbacks when he's healthy. Unfortunately for him, that wasn't the case in 2023 when he recorded 209 yards and two touchdowns on 62 attempts in six games in 2023. The year prior, the 91st overall transfer recorded 1,443 yards and 10 touchdowns on 222 carries (6.5 yards per carry).
One of the bigger losses, perhaps the biggest loss is Jefferson. Over the last three seasons, he has 64 passing touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He completed 64.2 % of his passes for 2,107 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 12 games in 2023. The 114th overall transfer joined UCF for his final collegiate season.
Manuel, the 231st overall transfer, joined Florida this offseason after suiting up in nine games (four starts) for Arkansas last year.
Green was the second-leading rusher for the Razorbacks last season with 312 yards and two touchdowns. He is the 532nd overall transfer and will be in Stillwater, Oklahoma at Oklahoma State.
Key additions
Jackson led Utah in rushing with 797 yards and four touchdowns on five yards per carry. He is ranked as the 87th overall transfer.
Carmona, the 94th overall transfer, played in 765 snaps across 12 starts for San Jose State in 2023. He had a PFF run-blocking grade of 78.9 and a pass-blocking grade of 81.0.
Juncaj, the 119th overall transfer, had a monster season for Albany in the FCS with 55 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, five forced fumbles and three pass deflections.
Blackstock only played in four games last season for Michigan State but is a former four-star prospect from the class of 2023. He's ranked as the 177th overall transfer.
Sorey appeared in 11 games for Georgia in 2023, recording 19 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack. He is ranked as the 216th overall transfer.
Dix, the 336th overall transfer was Marshall's third-leading tackler in 2023 with 67 to go with seven tackles for loss, a pair of sacks, a pass deflection and a fumble recovery.
Green played in 13 games for Boise State and completed 57.1 % of his passes for 1,752 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He is ranked as the 490th overall transfer.
Mitchell, the 547th overall transfer, played in 11 games for Florida and had 37 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, two pass deflections and an interception.
Arkansas lost a few foundational pieces that will be hard to replace but made an effort to beef up in the trenches.
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