Razorbacks close transfer portal with seven additions on final Friday

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The last day of the NCAA transfer portal didn’t tip-toe quietly into the offseason. It kicked the door open and stayed awhile.

Arkansas wrapped up the portal Friday with seven additions, pushing its total to 40 newcomers in Ryan Silverfield’s first roster overhaul. It was busy, loud and very on brand for a program trying to reset quickly.

The Razorbacks began the day with 34 transfers already secured. By night’s end, the Hogs had added help across the secondary, the lines and even the quarterback room.

No slogans followed the moves. No dramatic declarations came with them. Just names, signatures and a reminder that the portal rarely slows down on deadline day.

The final hours showed how Arkansas approached this cycle. Quantity mattered, but coverage across positions mattered more. Friday wasn’t about one headliner. It was about stacking answers.

That theme showed up immediately in the defensive backfield.

Secondary takes priority late

Colorado safety Carter Stoutmire headlined the late additions. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound defender played in 25 games over three seasons with the Buffaloes.

Stoutmire started 15 of those games and finished 2025 with 38 tackles, five pass breakups and a forced fumble. Injuries limited his availability, but the experience remained valuable.

Arkansas also added Iowa State defensive back LaMarcus Hicks. The 6-foot-2 transfer brings four years of eligibility and special teams experience from the Big 12.

John Howse IV rounded out the safety group. He arrives from Middle Tennessee State after previous time at Vanderbilt.

None of the additions arrived as finished products. All arrived with usable snaps and room to grow.

Depth was clearly the priority. Arkansas didn’t hide that approach.

The staff kept building through the afternoon.

Trenches get more bodies

The Razorbacks also used the final day to reinforce the lines.

Offensive lineman Ayden Bussell transferred in from West Virginia. At 6-foot-5, Bussell adds size and three years of eligibility to a developing unit.

On defense, Arkansas picked up Xadavien Sims from Oregon. Sims saw limited action in 2025, but the staff valued his frame and long-term upside.

Another defensive addition came in the form of cornerback Kyemaure Magloire. The West Georgia transfer brings length and ball production, including interceptions and forced fumbles.

These weren’t splash moves meant to dominate headlines. They were practical roster decisions.

Arkansas kept checking boxes.

Friday kept moving.

Quarterback room adds a wrinkle

The most curious addition of the day came at quarterback.

Clemson transfer Cade Trotter joined the roster as a walk-on. He stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 190 pounds with four years of eligibility remaining.

Trotter worked primarily on the scout team at Clemson. Arkansas adds him as depth and competition. Nothing more complicated than that.

In a portal class this large, even quiet moves stand out. Every position got attention. Few were ignored.

Forty new faces, now what?

When the window officially closed, Arkansas sat at 40 total transfer additions. That number alone told the story.

Silverfield didn’t ease into his first offseason. He rebuilt aggressively and trusted volume to create solutions.

The challenge now shifts away from announcements and graphics. Spring practice will decide which moves actually matter.

Roster turnover at this scale demands patience. It also demands clarity.

Arkansas got bodies Friday. Development comes next.

Arkansas football transfer portal signees

Quarterback

• Memphis quarterback A.J. Hill
• Angelo State quarterback Braeden Fuller
• Clemson quarterback Cade Trotter

Running back

• Memphis running back Sutton Smith
• Michigan running back Jasper Parker

Wide receiver

• Memphis wide receiver Jamari Hawkins
• New Mexico State wide receiver Donovan Faupel
• Boise State wide receiver Chris Marshall
• LSU wide receiver Jelani Watkins

Tight end

• Memphis tight end Matt Adcock
• Boston College tight end Ty Lockwood

Offensive line

• Memphis offensive lineman Malachi Breland
• Oregon State offensive lineman Adam Hawkes
• Memphis offensive lineman Josiah Clemons
• Louisiana offensive lineman Bryant Williams
• Ouachita Baptist offensive lineman Terence Roberson Jr.
• West Virginia OL Ayden Bussell

Defensive line

• USC defensive lineman Carlon Jones
• Virginia defensive lineman Hunter Osborne
• Auburn EDGE Jamonta Waller
• Kentucky EDGE Steven Soles
• Oregon DL Xadavien Sims

Linebacker

• Howard linebacker Ja’Quavion Smith
• North Carolina linebacker Khmori House
• Baylor linebacker Phoenix Jackson
• Baylor linebacker Jeremy Evans
• West Virginia linebacker Ben Bogle

Defensive back

• Cincinnati defensive back Christian Harrison
• Tulane defensive back Jahiem Johnson
• Clemson cornerback Shelton Lewis
• Georgia State defensive back Tyler Scott
• Maryland defensive back La’Khi Roland
• Maryland defensive Back Braydon Lee
• Memphis defensive back Ian Williams
• Colorado defensive back Carter Stoutmire
• West Georgia defensive back Kyeaure Magloire
• Middle Tennessee defensive back John Howse IV
• Iowa State defensive back LaMarcus Hicks

Specialist

• Tennessee kicker Max Gilbert
• Georgia State kicker Braeden McAlister
• Sacramento State long snapper Adam Johnston