HC heaps praise on QB Taylen Green after Arkansas' season-opening win

Among those touchdown throws was an on-the-run strike to CJ Brown early in the third quarter that showed how lethal Green can be outside of the pocket. 

"He took care of the football," Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman said in his postgame news conference. "He was smart throwing and running. Once he got out (of the pocket, he) understood where first downs were, whether he needed to throw or run to get it. I thought he had good command over the huddle and over the offense all day." 

That command will be key for Green as he looks to lead Arkansas through a rigorous Southeastern Conference schedule that kicks off in Week 3 when the Razorbacks visit No. 21 Ole Miss in Oxford. 

"I was really pleased with his game," Pittman said. 

While Green's second season at Arkansas will present him with plenty of similarities, his receiving corps was an unknown quantity before Saturday's game. A win over an FCS opponent doesn't quell all doubts about the Hogs receivers, but Green spread the ball around the field on Saturday, firing touchdown passes to five different Razorbacks. 

"Everybody's been talking about the versatility of the receiver room," Green said in a postgame news conference. "I just gotta do my job and give them the opportunity, and they're going to do the rest." 

Green's new targets include Charlotte transfer O'Mega Blake, Florida State transfer Jalen Brown and Fresno State transfer Raylen Sharpe, all of whom caught touchdowns on Saturday. 

How much Green and Arkansas' offense have truly improved over the offseason will be further brought to light in the coming weeks. A game in Little Rock against Arkansas State on Sept. 6 will give way to a pair of road matchups against Ole Miss and Memphis — a three-game stretch on which the extent of Arkansas' success in 2025 could hinge.