All Hogs

Hickman May Be Transfer Piece Pittman Needs

Experienced, successful SMU center makes portal intentions known months ahead of time

Kent Smith

Hickman May Be Transfer Piece Pittman Needs
Hickman May Be Transfer Piece Pittman Needs /
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Transfer portal window shopping may start a little early for Arkansas coach Sam Pittman. 

While the next transfer portal round doesn't open again until April, a potential key target for the Razorbacks just made it known he will be available. Branson Hickman, a Second Team All-AAC center from SMU, brings a ton of experience both blocking for and leading Rhett Lashlee's explosive offense down in Dallas. 

Having started 33 games, Hickman has grown from a lightly recruited 3-star son of a former All-Southwest Conference offensive tackle into a 6-foot-3, 294 pound highly intelligent dominant force trusted to protect one of the nation's most prolific passers in Mustangs quarterback Preston Stone.

Hickman handled center duties for over 2.5 seasons, getting seven starting nods as a freshman in 2021 when most linemen aren't ready for such responsibilities. On Twitter Monday morning, Branson announced he will finish his degree at SMU this spring and will formally enter the portal in April.

Hickman, who grew up in McKinney, Texas about 30 miles north of Dallas while attending Jesuit College Prep, was Second Team All-AAC this past season. His experience and success on the field immediately figures him to be a high priority Power Five prospect.

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Kent Smith
KENT SMITH

Kent Smith has been in the world of media and film for nearly 30 years. From Nolan Richardson's final seasons, former Razorback quarterback Clint Stoerner trying to throw to anyone and anything in the blazing heat of Cowboys training camp in Wichita Falls, the first high school and college games after 9/11, to Troy Aikman's retirement and Alex Rodriguez's signing of his quarter billion dollar contract, Smith has been there to report on some of the region's biggest moments.