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Arkansas Football: Top 5 spring 2019 breakout candidates

By Connor Muldowney

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - OCTOBER 27: Head Coach Chad Morris of the Arkansas Razorbacks yells to the officials in the first half of a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Razorback Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Commodores defeated the Razorbacks 45-31. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR - OCTOBER 27: Head Coach Chad Morris of the Arkansas Razorbacks yells to the officials in the first half of a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Razorback Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Commodores defeated the Razorbacks 45-31. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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STARKVILLE, MS – NOVEMBER 17: Connor Noland #13 of the Arkansas Razorbacks is sacked in the second half of a game by Montez Sweat #9 and Willie Gay Jr. #6 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Starkville, Mississippi. The Bulldogs defeated the Razorbacks 52-6. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MS – NOVEMBER 17: Connor Noland #13 of the Arkansas Razorbacks is sacked in the second half of a game by Montez Sweat #9 and Willie Gay Jr. #6 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Starkville, Mississippi. The Bulldogs defeated the Razorbacks 52-6. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

As we just talked about, the quarterback situation in Fayetteville was ugly in 2018. Neither Ty Storey nor Cole Kelley wanted to take control of the starting job, it seemed, as they combined for 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions on less than 57 percent passing and slightly over 2,000 yards. Both have since left the program.

What does that mean for Arkansas? Well, the Razorbacks get to start fresh. Chad Morris landed SMU transfer — his former quarterback — Ben Hicks as well as Texas A&M transfer Nick Starkel who started for the Aggies just two years ago.

Experience isn’t lacking for the Razorbacks under center, but there’s one kid who is flying under the radar and who could break out this spring to take control of that No. 1 job: Connor Noland.

The sophomore quarterback completed 50 percent of his passes as a true freshman for 255 yards and a touchdown with two picks, so there’s plenty of room for improvement. Will that improvement take place this spring, though?

Now that the starting job is no longer guaranteed with Hicks and Starkel in town, we could see Noland really take off.

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