Arkansas lands underrated star in Williams’ Razorbacks move

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — You’ve heard the Hogs need help at running back and linebacker. That’s what the transfer portal gossip mill keeps chirping.

But while fans scanned the horizon for another star ball-carrier or defensive disruptor, the Razorbacks quietly locked up a big piece of the puzzle no one seemed to notice in offensive tackle Bryant Williams.

Yeah, you read that right. Not a juicy running back name fans can chant at the grocery store. Not a linebacker who makes ESPN’s nightly fantasy war room.

Just a colossal human being from the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns whose only real crime was being effective enough to be overlooked by Hog fans — at least until you see his numbers.

At 6-foot-7 and 335 pounds, Williams isn’t some lawn jockey plastered with padding. He’s a lean road grader with little, if any, fat to spare.

And if silence is a sign of dominance, his portal grade — a whopping .9300 — suggests Arkansas snagged what could be the portal’s most underrated prize.

Now sure, some folks will say “linemen don’t win games in January.” That might be true in those dorky Madden tournaments your cousin plays.

But in real SEC football, keeping your quarterback clean matters. Williams allowed a total of 10 pressures all of last season — that’s less than one pressure per game — and zero sacks.

That’s not just good. That’s eyebrow-raising in a league full of defensive monsters.

And let’s be honest: we’re talking about someone the Seminoles wanted badly. Florida State was apparently in the mix to land him before Arkansas politely — but firmly — said “thanks, but we’ll take him.”

That’s like picking up dessert after you already ate dinner and still can’t taste anything because you’re too focused on how good the steak was.

A quiet game film star

If you’ve watched Williams play, you know what the stats don’t always show. Early in the season, on a hot afternoon in Columbia, Mo., Williams squared off against Missouri and didn’t just hold his own — he owned the line of scrimmage.

Defenders looked like they showed up for someone else’s barbecue.

They bounced off him like kids on a trampoline who forgot to share. And while the rest of his Louisiana offensive line struggled to find traction, Williams pretty much treated that afternoon like he was auditioning for a stand-in role in The Incredible Hulk.

Yet don’t expect sideline celebrations or viral reels of Williams peeling off two linebackers with one shove.

This is Arkansas’ forward-leaning rebuild under Ryan Silverfield — quiet, constructive, and heavier than your cousin’s fruitcake at Christmas. It’s not about splashy headlines (though the Tennesee fans love those).

It’s about finding players who actually fit what the Razorbacks are trying to build.

And if that’s the hill you’re climbing, Williams is about as good a rock as you’ll find.

He’s experienced — 36 games played at the college level — and his length and strength fit right in with a line that likes size and savvy.

So why didn’t fans notice?

Honestly, it’s probably because most people only glance at flashy skill-position names and tweet about splash signings.

But in the trenches — especially in the SEC — the game loves linemen who show up and just work. Williams doesn’t have a dancing TikTok to his name.

He doesn’t need one. He just makes life harder on pass rushers and easier on quarterbacks.

Maybe that doesn’t get you trending on X for an hour. But it sure makes an offensive coordinator smile.

And when the Razorbacks trot out an offensive front that can actually sustain blocks — instead of flopping like fish at a barn dance — fans might start noticing that sometimes the biggest portal coup isn’t flashy. It’s functional.

And in Williams’ case, it’s exactly what Arkansas needed.