The annual Red-White game will offer Arkansas football fans a chance to see the ongoing quarterback competition between KJ Jackson and AJ Hill, but the spring game offers plenty of other intrigue throughout the roster.
The Razorbacks wrap up spring practices with the closest thing to a game they’ll have before the 2026 season at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25. The day’s activities begin at 10 a.m., and there is a pregame concert from multi-platinum country music star and Arkansas native Justin Moore at 12:45 p.m.
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First-year coach Ryan Silverfield is ushering in a new and unique format to the event. Instead of the first-team offense and defense working together, Arkansas is splitting the units to try and create a competitive contest. The Hogs’ official ‘X’ account released the respective rosters on Thursday, April 23.
The format will include a first half with two 12-minute periods. The second half is to be determined, according to an Arkansas spokesperson. The Hogs will assess what needs extra work after halftime.
Here are five players the Southwest Times Record is most excited to watch during Saturday’s spring game:
The former top-100 recruit from Pine Bluff has had a rocky college career. He spent one year at Missouri before transferring to Arkansas, but Crutchfield caught just one pass in 2025. He was out of shape in the spring and never found a meaningful role in the fall.
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That could change in 2026. Crutchfield is fighting for snaps and making plays throughout spring practices. He’s shown solid chemistry with both quarterbacks and has flashed potential in 11-on-11 drills as a big-play threat. Offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey recently declared Crutchfield as one of the Hogs’ top-six receivers at this stage of the offseason.
“You look for a guy who does a really good job in individual, but better job when we get into unit stuff, then a tremendous job when we get to team stuff,” Cramsey said earlier this week. “(Crutchfield’s) a guy that’s kind of stepped his game up when the heat’s turned on.”
The in-state receiver will look to continue his positive work on Saturday.
Offensive tackle Bryant Williams
This is the one spot along Arkansas’ offensive line that still feels like a question mark.
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Williams has gobbled up reps as the starting right tackle this spring, but he’s struggled against the likes Quincy Rhodes, Charlie Collins and Steven Soles Jr. During a two-minute drill at practice last weekend, he allowed sacks on back-to-back plays that ruined the drive.
Williams will be on the same team as Rhodes during the spring game, which will be a relief for the Louisiana transfer. He needs to show he can protect the quarterback on Saturday against lesser-proven pass rushers on the Arkansas roster.
Linebacker Ja’Quavion Smith
The Howard transfer has been a first-team linebacker throughout the spring. According to defensive coordinator Ron Roberts, Smith has all of the tools to be a standout defender in the SEC.
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“(Smith) is very athletic. He can run. He can hit you. He’s put on about, almost like close to 20 pounds since he’s been here,” Roberts said.
There wasn’t much buzz when Smith committed to Arkansas out of the portal. He only had 49 tackles last season with the Bison, but Smith did make 11 tackles for loss with 4.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.
He could become one of the most important players on this year’s team, likely starting alongside Bradley Shaw. However, those two will be on separate teams in the spring game.
Defensive lineman David Oke
Oke was a big “what-if?” during the 2025 season. Arkansas didn’t have the depth at defensive tackle to survive in the SEC after he only appeared in three games and never looked healthy during his first season in Fayetteville.
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Now, Oke looks primed for a big role in Roberts’ defense shifting between nose guard and defensive tackle. He is 6-foot-2 and 314 pounds with great athleticism at his size. Arkansas hopes he can be a run-stuffer and make an impact in getting after the quarterback.
There is no shortage of competition along the defensive line, with more heralded recruits coming out of high school who transferred from big schools like Xadavien Sims (Oregon), Trajen Odom (Ohio State) and Carlon Jones. Oke has the chance to make a statement this weekend.
Safety Tay Lockett
No freshman has a better chance of making an impact this fall than Lockett, who was at one point a five-star high school prospect before transferring from California to in-state Conway and dropping down to three-star status.
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But through 14 spring practices, it looks like the recruiting services missed with their new evaluation. Lockett has a nose for the ball and has consistently played on the second-team defense. He’s had multiple interceptions and even worked as the punt returner during special teams drills.
Based off the rosters that were released earlier this week, Lockett and West Georgia transfer Kyeaure Magloire will likely be the starting safeties for the White team. That shows both trust and a challenge from the Arkansas coaching staff.
Can Lockett defend the run and do enough in man coverage when he is not playing center field for the Hogs’ defense? If he answers those questions successfully, he could be one of the most exciting freshmen on the Arkansas roster in years.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Arkansas football Red-White spring game 5 players worth watching
