Razorbacks add Clemson QB after Chad Morris rejoins Tigers staff

Arkansas adds walk-on quarterback Cade Trotter after quick exit following Chad Morris’ return to Dabo Swinney’s offensive staff.

Clemson's Chad Morris during preseason practice in Jervey Meadows in Clemson, S.C. | Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — College football has a way of reopening old wounds, usually when you least expect it and often with a smile that feels just a little forced.

Arkansas football learned that again this week, even while adding a quarterback.

The Razorbacks picked up Clemson walk-on quarterback Cade Trotter, a Dallas native who spent last season in Death Valley without appearing in a game.

On its own, that’s a quiet roster move. In context, it’s something else entirely.

Trotter entered the transfer portal the day after Clemson made a familiar hire official. Chad Morris, the former Arkansas head coach whose tenure still lives in Fayetteville cautionary tales, returned to Clemson as offensive coordinator under Dabo Swinney.

Timing matters in college football, especially when irony does most of the talking.

Arkansas didn’t chase headlines here. The Hogs already had a crowded quarterback room with KJ Jackson returning, Memphis transfer AJ Hill arriving, Fayetteville High's Hank Hendrix enrolling early and veteran Braeden Fuller still in the mix.

Adding Trotter looks more like depth than drama. But nothing involving Morris and Arkansas stays that simple for long.

Trotter announced his commitment publicly, thanking Arkansas coach Ryan Silverfield and his offensive staff for the opportunity. “It just means more!! Grateful to announce my commitment to the University of Arkansas!” Trotter wrote in a social media post included in the report.

For a program that has spent recent offseasons rebuilding methodically instead of splurging recklessly, it’s a low-risk addition.

The story becomes more interesting when you follow the breadcrumbs back to Clemson.

Clemson finished 7–6 last season, prompting Swinney to overhaul his offensive staff. Garrett Riley was dismissed, and Swinney turned back to a coach he knows well.

It just means more!! Grateful to announce my commitment to the University of Arkansas! Excited and thankful for the opportunity that Coach Silverfield, Coach Cramsey, And Coach Trickett have given me to be a Hog! @RSilverfield @tcramsey19 @CJTrickett9 @csgathletes @RazorbackFB pic.twitter.com/pNIMjOY9fS

— Cade Trotter (@cadetrotter7) January 17, 2026

Morris returns to Clemson, Arkansas memories follow

Morris previously served as Clemson’s offensive coordinator from 2011–14, helping engineer the Tigers’ rise into a national power.

Clemson went 42–11 during that stretch, producing prolific offenses and elite quarterback play.

That version of Morris feels far removed from the one Arkansas fans remember.

Morris went 4–18 as head coach of Arkansas, failing to win a single SEC game. His tenure ended before the end of his second season, leaving behind a roster in disrepair and a fan base that wanted nothing resembling a reunion tour.

Swinney, however, framed the hire as a reset. He said Morris had spent recent years studying offenses and coaching while following his son’s career.

“This is just a great time for him and a great opportunity for us to go back to the future and put it back together,” Swinney said.

That quote lands differently depending on your zip code.

In Clemson, it sounds like nostalgia. In Fayetteville, it sounds like a warning label.

Trotter’s portal entry came immediately after the announcement, earning him the unofficial label of the first “refugee” from the Morris reunion. That’s harsh for a quarterback who never played a snap, but college football rarely waits for nuance.

Arkansas didn’t hesitate.

Clemson Tigers coach Dabo Swinney looks on during the first half of the 2025 Pinstripe Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Yankee Stadium. | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Silverfield’s approach since taking over has emphasized roster stability over splash. That philosophy shows in the quarterback room, where experience, development and insurance matter more than star ratings.

Trotter fits that model.

He arrives with eligibility remaining, practice experience from a high-level program and no expectations beyond competing. For the Razorbacks, that’s enough.

It’s also one more reminder that college football has a long memory, even when programs try to move on.

#Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris is in the very early stages of evaluating his quarterback room. As part of that ongoing process, don't be surprised if he makes this one decision with his QBs this spring. And we'll tell you why today.

✅ https://t.co/tPGbFiRz8r pic.twitter.com/cnGCZwM2dt

— Tigerillustrated.com (@TIinClemson) January 15, 2026

Hogs keep building while ghosts linger

Arkansas has spent the past two seasons slowly repairing the damage left behind by previous regimes. The Hogs aren’t flashy, but they’re functional, organized and trending forward.

That makes the Morris connection feel more symbolic than threatening.

Still, symbolism matters in this sport. Arkansas fans don’t forget eras easily, especially ones that ended without SEC wins. Seeing Morris re-emerge at a national power was always going to stir reactions.

The fact that Arkansas benefited from the ripple effect, even in a small way, adds an extra layer of irony.

Trotter won’t be asked to save a season or reshape an offense. He’s depth, development and competition. That’s all.

But his arrival ties two programs together again in a way nobody planned.

Clemson looks backward for answers. Arkansas keeps inching forward.

Sometimes progress is quiet. Sometimes it shows up as a walk-on quarterback with a familiar backstory.