FAYETTEVILLE — In his first actual check because the Arkansas soccer group’s beginning quarterback, Taylen Green flashed Saturday in a 39-31 double-overtime loss at Oklahoma State.
From a yardage standpoint, Green had probably the greatest video games by a Razorback quarterback in program historical past. He threw 26-for-45 (57.8%) with 416 passing yards. Without sack and tackles for loss yardage factored, he added 104 speeding yards.
Green's passing yardage was the fourth-most ever recorded by an Arkansas participant and probably the most since Brandon Allen threw for 442 yards in the course of the Razorbacks’ 53-52 extra time victory at Ole Miss in 2015.
Green was accountable for 477 whole yards, the second-most in program historical past behind Tyler Wilson’s 481 yards towards Texas A&M in 2011.
His 61 web speeding yards had been probably the most ever by an Arkansas quarterback who additionally handed for at the very least 400 yards.
Green largely carried out to the expectations Arkansas coach Sam Pittman and offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino set once they pursued the Boise State switch within the portal.
“He's playing his tail off,” Arkansas coach Sam Pittman stated Monday. “He's just a fantastic player. I wouldn't trade him. For anybody out there [who] wants to trade, I'm not trading.”
The notion of particular person performances can change drastically with a recreation’s consequence. Despite main the Arkansas offense to 648 whole yards, Green was concerned in some vital errors.
A second quarter pick-six, three sacks taken (together with a pricey one within the first extra time that turned an in any other case shut discipline purpose try right into a 46-yarder) and late clock administration points overshadowed a lot of the nice Green did.
Some of his struggles are issues Pittman stated may need been ironed out had the Razorbacks performed an extra recreation earlier than Oklahoma State. Among these points had been dangerous snaps between Green and heart Addison Nichols.
“Taylen, if you ask him, he'd probably say it was his fault because that's who he is,” Pittman stated. “But it's hard to catch when you're [6-6] and try to catch a ball below your knees humming at you. It was low and hard. We've got to get that corrected because that, to me, stalled a drive as much as Oklahoma State's defense did.”
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As the sport wore on, Green continued to march the Razorbacks down the sector, however they had been unable to capitalize. Arkansas scored 10 factors within the second half and extra time regardless of 297 whole yards.
In the second extra time, Green under-threw a wide-open Rodney Hill, who leaked out from the backfield down the sideline. Had he made the throw, Hill would have possible walked into the tip zone.
“I think he also got tired,” Pittman stated, “and it might have showed on some of the throws there later and trying to get away from pressure that he might have earlier thrown that ball away.”
Green assembled one of many program's higher quarterback performances in a loss. It’s a tricky tablet to swallow for an Arkansas group that would have stolen nationwide headlines with a street victory over a ranked opponent.
But in contrast to among the shut losses from a yr in the past — Arkansas misplaced 5 one-possession video games in 2023 — the efficiency had positives to construct upon in future weeks.
One of these was the Green-to-Andrew Armstrong connection, which noticed the receiver tally 164 receiving yards. It was probably the most receiving yards by a Razorback since Treylon Burks had 179 yards at Alabama in 2021.
“Armstrong is a really good player,” Pittman stated. “Taylen is too. But a quarterback and receivers have that relationship of, ‘OK, I'm going to get open so you can throw it to me.' I think that's what they have.”
Green’s debut towards an influence convention opponent confirmed promise. If he can replicate the dual-threat success he had towards the Cowboys whereas limiting errors, Green has what it takes to lead a dynamic offense.
“We anticipate him to full each move,” Pittman stated. “The NFL guys don't do that. But he completes a bunch, and some of his throws are fantastic. Like I said…I'm not going to trade the quarterback. We're at about 650 yards a game, and he's really done a nice job and knows where to throw the football.”
