Razorbacks add Hobby, Hicks, Johnson to complete staff

Arkansas didn’t unveil its latest coaching hires with dramatic flair or sweeping promises.

Instead, the Razorbacks did something far more revealing. They quietly confirmed exactly who they wanted in charge of developing players, teaching fundamentals and stabilizing a program still defining its next chapter.

Head coach Ryan Silverfield officially announced the additions of Marion Hobby, Eddie Hicks and David Johnson as assistant coaches, completing another important phase of Arkansas’ offseason staff build.

The hires had been reported previously, but the university confirmed titles and responsibilities in a formal release.

This is how modern coaching staffs are built now. Less ceremony, more résumé. Less sales pitch, more experience.

The Razorbacks are betting that steady hands matter more than splashy headlines.

Hobby takes over the defensive line, Hicks assumes responsibility for cornerbacks and Johnson leads the running backs room.

Three position groups. Three coaches with deep, varied backgrounds. Three hires that reflect intent rather than impulse.

Arkansas, the Razorbacks and the Hogs have not rushed this process. They have stacked it deliberately.

Silverfield’s approach is not about reinvention. It’s about alignment.

Marion Hobby brings NFL, coordinator experience

Marion Hobby’s arrival stands out immediately because of the scope of his experience.

Few assistants on Arkansas’ staff can match the sheer volume of places he has coached or the level of football he has seen.

Hobby most recently worked at Tennessee as an assistant and analyst, but his résumé reaches far beyond Knoxville.

He spent eight seasons coaching defensive lines in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Before that, Hobby served as defensive coordinator at Clemson from 2011 through 2016 and coached with the New Orleans Saints earlier in his career.

Those stops anchor his reputation as a coach grounded in defensive fundamentals.

That background matters. It suggests a coach who understands how defensive fronts evolve, how technique translates and how development happens over time.

Hobby has coached veterans, rookies, five-star recruits and long-shot prospects. Arkansas is counting on that range as it reshapes its defensive identity.

He is not arriving to overhaul the system overnight. He is arriving to refine it.

Eddie Hicks adds versatility to secondary

Eddie Hicks brings a different kind of résumé to Fayetteville, one shaped by consistency across multiple stops rather than long tenure in one place.

Most recently, Hicks coached defensive backs at Cincinnati, helping the Bearcats reach a bowl game. Before that, he spent two seasons as a defensive analyst at LSU.

His earlier coaching stops include Jacksonville State, Charlotte, Southern Miss, Austin Peay and Murray State. That path matters because it reflects adaptability across schemes and competitive levels.

As a player, Hicks starred at Southern Miss, recording 13 career interceptions and earning All-Conference USA honors. His playing experience still informs his coaching style.

Arkansas’ secondary has often been evaluated on potential rather than execution. Hicks arrives with a clear mandate to sharpen technique and accountability.

David Johnson takes over the running backs room

David Johnson rounds out the trio and brings extensive SEC experience with him to Arkansas.

Johnson joins the Hogs after five seasons at Florida State, where he served as running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. His time in Tallahassee helped produce consistent offensive contributors.

Before Florida State, Johnson coached at Tennessee, Memphis and Tulane. Across those stops, he worked with 19 all-conference players.

His background blends position coaching with recruiting strategy, a combination that fits well in the modern SEC landscape.

Johnson steps into a running backs room that values physicality but increasingly demands versatility. His experience suggests a focus on patience, balance and situational reliability.

How the full Arkansas assistant staff now looks

With Hobby, Hicks and Johnson officially in place, Arkansas’ assistant coaching staff is now complete.

The Razorbacks’ staff includes defensive coordinator Ron Roberts, offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey, offensive line and run game coordinator Jeff Myers, wide receivers coach Larry Smith, special teams coordinator Chad Lunsford and head strength and conditioning coach Noah Franklin.

Nine assistants. Defined roles. Clear structure.

This is not a staff built for headlines. It is built for teaching, development and continuity.

There are no sweeping declarations attached to these announcements. Arkansas has chosen coaches who have navigated rebuilds, pressure situations and long seasons.

The Razorbacks are still shaping their identity under Silverfield. These hires suggest that identity will be rooted in fundamentals rather than spectacle.

3 Key Takeaways

Arkansas officially added Marion Hobby, Eddie Hicks and David Johnson to its assistant coaching staff, confirming previously reported hires.

The trio brings experience across the NFL, SEC and multiple college programs at different competitive levels.

With these additions, the Razorbacks now have a fully assembled nine-assistant coaching staff under Ryan Silverfield.