Ryan Silverfield faces a high-stakes decision in Fayetteville. The new Arkansas head coach, hired from Memphis in November 2025 following a 2-10 season for the Razorbacks, must crown a starting quarterback to orchestrate his offensive rebuild. The battle between returning veteran KJ Jackson and incoming transfer AJ Hill remains unsettled as spring practice continues.
Silverfield reset the depth chart when he arrived from Memphis this winter. Both contenders received reps with the starting unit during the team’s first closed spring scrimmage on Saturday, April 4. The head coach offered a diplomatic evaluation following the physical practice session.
Ryan Silverfield Gets Honest on Arkansas Quarterback Competition
He praised the overall execution but refused to tip his hand regarding the hierarchy, noting that the “true eye” of the coaching staff is still evaluating the roster’s capabilities. Silverfield is focused on seeing which signal-caller can maintain composure under live fire.
“KJ and AJ both had good days today in the scrimmage,” Silverfield told reporters. “It’s about seeing who can take control of the offense. I can’t really say one outperformed the other, but I was pleased with both of them today.”
Silverfield: KJ and AJ both had good days today in the scrimmage. It’s about seeing who can take control of the offense. I can’t really say one performed better than the other, but I was pleased with both of them today.
— John Nabors (@JohnNaborsShow) April 4, 2026
The lack of separation guarantees this battle will dominate headlines deep into the summer. Jackson, a redshirt sophomore, brings Southeastern Conference experience to the equation. He demonstrated poise in limited action last season, completing 33-of-54 passes (61%) for 441 yards and three touchdowns, including starts against Missouri and Texas.
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Jackson possesses the physical frame to withstand the punishment inherent to playing in this league. His efficiency in 2025, yielding a 148.0 passer rating, showed he can manage a game without beating himself. That live-game exposure against defenses gives him an edge when diagnosing complex coverages.
AJ Hill offers a different advantage. The consensus four-star recruit from Houston County High School originally committed to Memphis before following Silverfield to Fayetteville via the transfer portal in January 2026. Hill arrived with a pedigree, having passed for over 10,000 yards and 129 touchdowns as a four-year high school starter.
Hill already knows the nuances of the system Silverfield championed at Memphis. As a freshman transfer, he understands the pre-snap motions and cadence requirements typical of Silverfield’s offensive philosophy. This schematic familiarity allows him to compete with the more experienced Jackson.
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Silverfield demands processing speed from the position. Scrimmage evaluations rely on decision-making efficiency rather than raw arm strength. Both players are splitting first-team repetitions as the Razorbacks look toward their next major scrimmage on April 11.
Throwing an interception during a live team period carries consequences in this race. With a wide-open depth chart and several transfer additions at skill positions, including running backs Jasper Parker and Sutton Smith, the winner will have new weapons to utilize this fall.
