FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Second update: Braylen Russell has now withdrawn from the portal and deleted any mention of him entering the portal, hours after he announced his transfer.

Update: On3’s Hayes Fawcett confirms HawgSports’ earlier report that Braylen Russell will be entering the portal.

With many questions surrounding Arkansas’ defections in the transfer portal, another big name could be on the way. According to a report from Trey Biddy at HawgSports.com, freshman running back Braylen Russell is headed to the portal.

As of Tuesday afternoon, there are conflicting reports about Russell’s intentions.

This will be another big loss for the Razorbacks and will bring the number of players leaving the program less than two weeks after the last game to over 20. The 6-1, 253-pounder from Benton played in nine games this season and started in two. As a true freshman in 2024, Russell ran 47 times for 304 yards (6.5 average) with two touchdowns.

Russell appeared to break out with a 62-yard attempt in the 19-14 upset of then-No. 4 Tennessee, started the next week against Mississippi State and had 175 yards. Then for some reason he disappeared with only two porters the rest of the way.

He didn’t even play in the final three games of the season against Texas, Louisiana Tech and Missouri. Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman has to find an answer and now has a big hole to fill. Ja’quinden Jackson revealed he’s attending an All-Star Game and likely trying to prepare for the NFL Draft.

A lot of people are starting to ask questions about the departures of key players, and that’s only going to get worse now that another key player leaves town.

Braylen Russell’s Razorback biography

2024 (FRESHMAN): Registered two yards on five carries against Ole Miss (Nov. 2)…Recorded a game- and career-high 175 yards on 16 carries, an average of 10.9 yards per carry, in the Razorbacks’ 58-25 win at Mississippi State (Oct. 26), became the first freshman to rush for 175 or more yards since Darren McFadden ran for 187 yards on Nov. 5 against South Carolina ran. 2005 … also had one reception for 11 yards (Oct. 26) … rushed three times for three yards against LSU (Oct. 19) … started and rushed for a game-high 62 yards in a win over No. 4 Tennessee (Oct. 5) on eight carries. Oct.) … gained 15 yards on three carries against Texas A&M (Sept. 28) … rushed nine times for 22 yards with one reception for seven yards during a win in Auburn (September 21) … Is the third freshman to score multiple touchdowns in a season during the Sam Pittman era (2020-present). … Scored his second touchdown of the season on a two-yard rush in the … second quarter of a win over UAB (September 14) … Action at Oklahoma State (September 14) 7) … Scored in his first collegiate appearance against Arkansas- Pine Bluff (August 29) 23 yards and a touchdown on three runs… Scored the first touchdown of his career against UAPB on a nine-yard rush in the third quarter.

COLLEGE: A four-star prospect according to 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN…No. 237 overall prospect in the ESPN 300 rankings…Rated by ESPN as the No. 16 running back nationally and No. 3 overall prospect in Arkansas…No. 21 running back in the country and No. 4 overall prospect in Arkansas according to Rivals… No. 24 running back nationally and No. 4 overall prospect in Arkansas by 247Sports … Played for head coach Brad Harris at Benton High School in Benton, Arkansas. …As a senior, he ran the ball 167 times for 1,359 yards and 20 touchdowns…Added 18 receptions for 351 receiving yards and five scores as a senior…Recorded 1,643 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns (6.8 YPC) as a junior in 2022…Registered 22 receptions for 224 yards and one score as a junior… DOB: July 14 2005… CHOOSE ARKANSAS OVER: Arizona, Baylor, Boston College, Cincinnati, Kansas, Kansas State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M, South Carolina and others.

Hogs Transfer Portal (21)

QB Malachi Singleton
WR Isaiah Sategna
WR Davion Dozier
WR Jaedon Wilson
RB Braylen Russell
TE Luke Hasz
TE Ty Washington
TE Var’Keyes Gumms
OL Patrick Kutas
OL Joshua Brown
OL Amaury Wiggins
OL Ty’Kieast Crawford
LS Eli Stein
EN Nico Davillier
LB Carson Dean
LB Alex Sanford
DB Jaylon Braxton
DB Dallas Young
DB TJ Metcalf
DB Tevis Metcalf
DB Dylan Hasz
DB Selman Bridges