Scouting service gives Hogs' QB 'first round potential' in 2026 draft

Razorbacks' Taylen Green can become an NFL Draft prospect with solid five-week stretch

Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green throwing a pass during practices indoors in Fayetteville, Ark. | Nilsen Roman-Hogs on SI Images

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The college football hype train has fired up as a long, drawn out summer is upon us. 

Spring practice hopes are met with the excitement of media days which becomes the unofficial start to a new season. 

Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green had a solid debut season in the SEC after posting career-highs in pass yards, rushing yards and possessing big play ability. His praise doesn’t come from only those close to the program either as his development could bring first round NFL Draft pick potential in 2026, according to Pro Football Focus. 

“After posting just a 60.2 PFF passing grade at Boise State in 2023, Green transferred to Arkansas and dramatically improved his efficiency as a passer this past season (79.2 PFF passing grade). 

Green is among the most physically gifted quarterbacks in college football at 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds with outstanding mobility and arm talent. 

His 22 big-time throws in 2024 were tied for the ninth most in the Power Four, and his 453 rushing yards after contact were the fifth most. If he can avoid some of the head-scratching mistakes that still plague his tape (17 turnover-worthy plays in 2024), he can become a potential first-round prospect.”

Pro Football Focus on Taylen Green

Green finished with 3,756 yards of total offense and 23 touchdowns last season. His inability to possess the football consistently caused the Razorbacks possible victories at Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, LSU and Missouri. 

The NFL's evaluation period for upcoming talent never truly ends. As soon as one NFL Draft concludes, the next one has already started and all eyes will be on who can be the next big time arm in the league.

Next year's draft is loaded with potential from the outside looking in with Arch Manning (Texas), Cade Klubnik (Clemson), Drew Allar (Penn State), Garrett Nussmeier (LSU), Sam Leavitt (Arizona State), Carson Beck (Miami), LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina), Nico Iamaleava (UCLA), Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) along with Green at Arkansas.

Petrino on Green's Growth

Arkansas offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino provided a favorable assessment of his starting quarterback's improvement throughout spring practice last month.

"Taylen knows the offense, he’s much more comfortable in it [compared to 2024]," Petrino said April 8. "Last year, sometimes, it was every day was a new day. New coverages, new blitzes, new this. Now, he understands defenses a whole lot better and that’ll allow him to operate our offense way better."

Taylen Green BALLED OUT 🔥

🏈 341 Pass Yds
🏈 81 Rush Yds
🏈 3 Total TD
🏈 Bowl W over Texas Tech@RazorbackFB pic.twitter.com/zGK7VMmHwl

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) December 28, 2024

Historically, Petrino's offenses are only as good as his quarterbacks. Green's mental lapses resulted in turnovers or dud plays which should be trimmed down a bit as he becomes more familiar with what is being asked of him.

"I think and I believe that we’ll be a lot better on offense, more consistent, more explosive, because our quarterback understands not only what we’re doing but what the conference is all about," Petrino said. "How you have to get the ball out of your hand, how you have to see things and know what you’re doing just because of the pass rush that you’re going to get and the tight coverage that you’re going to get. So I think he’ll take a huge step forward, and as your quarterback goes, your offense usually goes."

Opportunities to rack up numbers, gain spotlight

Green will have ample opportunity in the first five weeks of 2025 to strut his stuff for scouts as Alabama A&M comes to town for the season opener finishing No. 70 among FCS teams last season, giving up 2,631 yards and 24 touchdowns through the air.

Boise State transfer QB Taylen Green is showing out in his Arkansas debut🐗

(via @espn)pic.twitter.com/nHibrhu3po

— On3 (@On3sports) August 30, 2024

Week 2 is more of a wildcard game in Little Rock as the Red Wolves will attempt to have an out of body experience playing their in-state rival for the first time ever. Arkansas State finished No. 113 nationally in pass defense last season, but did add seven new defensive backs out of the transfer portal in an attempt to improve its woeful unit.

When Arkansas travels to Oxford to face Ole Miss in Week 3, Green's consistency issues from 2024 will finally be tested. Some sportsbooks have the Rebels' over/under for wins set a 8.5 which mirrors the program's projection from last year.

Five of Ole Miss' eight NFL Draft picks came from a defense that finished No. 14 in total defense, No. 86 against the pass, No. 2 against the run and surrendered just over 14 points per game which was also No. 2 nationally among FBS teams.

It's hard to imagine the Rebels' being able to sustain such success in 2025 which makes Green's chances of capturing the adoration of college football fans across the country with an epic coming of age performance likely.

Attention then shifts across the mighty Mississippi River in week four as Arkansas travels to Memphis for its first regular season game at Liberty Bowl Stadium since 1998. The Razorbacks won that game with ease, 23-9, on its way to an 8-0 start.

Boise State's Taylen Green (10) runs with the ball during the game between University of Memphis and Boise State University in Memphis, Tenn., on Saturday, September 30, 2023. | Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Tigers' finished a respectable No. 66 in total defense last season allowing 369 yards per game, but were near the bottom in pass coverage. Memphis allowed just shy of 258 yards each game through the air which was No. 119 nationally.

Taylen Green didn't play well his first time at Memphis while playing for Boise State in 2023. He completed just 50% of his passes for 250 yards plus 51 yards rushing in a 35-32 loss.

Memphis signed 11 new defensive backs out of the transfer portal as the Tigers' defense held the offense to zero points in the spring game through the first 12 minute period. It's hard to tell much about the progression of a unit during spring ball but it should provide its fans some hope.

The last time Green actually set foot in Simmons Bank Liberty Bowl Stadium, he torched Texas Tech in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl by completing 11-of-21 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns. He added another 81 yards and a touchdown on the ground in Arkansas' 39-26 victory.

His development will be put to the ultimate test as he returns home against last year's national runner-up, Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish finished No. 4 in pass defense and led the nation in opponent's completion percentage at 52%.

Returning defensive backs Leonard Moore and Christian Gray are back as Adon Shuler takes command of one of the safety spots. There is certainly depth issues behind each of coach the Irish's veterans but Notre Dame has consistently been in the top 25 in pass coverage since coach Marcus Freeman took over in 2023.