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Published Feb 20, 2020
Arkansas adds five transfers for 2020, all at positions of great need
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Nikki Chavanelle  •  HawgBeat
Managing Editor
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@nikkichavanelle

Sam Pittman and his staff's recruiting frenzy resulted in 20 high school and JUCO signees for the 2020 class but some of their most important additions came from the transfer portal.

Pittman knew he'd need an immediate transfusion of experienced players to get the team where he wants it for his first season in terms of both depth and talent, so that's exactly what he went out and got. Arkansas's biggest positions of need were quarterback, kicker and defense.

Here's a closer look at how the Hogs filled those needs and what the new additions can bring to the table in the 2020 season...

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QB Feleipe Franks - Florida

Arkansas nabbed former Florida starter Feleipe Franks out of the transfer portal after he'd visited just one other program–Kansas.

In 2017, the Sunshine State native became the first redshirt freshman quarterback to start for the Gators since 1988 when he started eight games. He ended up throwing for 1,438 yards with nine touchdowns and eight interceptions in head coach Jim McElwain's last season at Florida.

Dan Mullen's first season with the Gators was also Franks' first season as the full-time starter. In 13 games, including a win in the Peach Bowl, Franks threw for 2,457 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also tallied 350 rushing yards on 110 carries and seven rushing touchdowns. The Gators finished the 2018 season with a 10-3 record with wins over ranked Mississippi State, LSU, Missouri and Michigan.

Franks returned in 2019 as the incumbent starter for the Gators but was only able to play three games before a severe broken ankle injury forced him to get surgery and ended his redshirt junior season. Franks was completing passes at a career-high 76.1 percent clip before the injury with 698 yards passing, five touchdowns and three interceptions.

After going down, Franks was replaced by long-time backup Kyle Trask who shocked many by finishing the season as the second-most accurate quarterback in the SEC with 245 passing yards per game and second-most touchdowns behind Heisman winner Joe Burrow. With Franks' chances to start again for Florida essentially gone, he decided to transfer to Arkansas to be the Hogs' presumed 2020 starter.

Franks obviously adds experience and plenty of talent to the Razorback QB room. He's a dual-threat and perfect for Briles' system. The former 4-star is almost completely healthy and should be full-go for spring practices, which start in less than a month. Due to his injury after 3 games in 2019, Franks would be a prime candidate for a 6th year if he wants to apply for it for the 2021 season.

QB ROOM (snap counts)

Feleipe Franks - redshirt senior (1496)
Jack Lindsey - redshirt senior (75)
John Stephen Jones - redshirt sophomore (82)
KJ Jefferson - redshirt freshman (90)
Malik Hornsby - freshman (0)

DT Xavier Kelly - Clemson

Kelly was the No.141-ranked player in the nation coming out of Wichita East High in 2016 and he chose Clemson over 30 other Division-I offers.

He proceeded to redshirt his first year in Death Valley but began contributing as a redshirt freshman. At 6-foot-4, 247-pounds coming out of high school, Kelly was a great size to play defensive end but he ended up transitioning to defensive tackle in 2018 and he's up to 305 pounds now.

As a redshirt freshman, Kelly had eight tackles, a tackle for loss and a sack in 76 snaps over eight games. Despite his move to defensive tackle in 2018, Kelly didn't crack the starting rotation and ended up with nine tackles (1.0 for loss) with 1.0 sack and a forced fumble in 93 snaps in 10 games.

His redshirt junior season was similar, Kelly didn't start and was credited with nine tackles, including a half-sack, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery in 87 snaps over 10 games. He now has one year of eligibility remaining.

Kelly helped the Tigers win two national championships, in 2016 and 2018, and helped them get to another in 2019 that ended in the loss to Arkansas rival LSU.

There's no guarantee Kelly will beat out Isaiah Nichols or Jonathan Marshall for a starting spot but he brings experience playing for a national championship team that can't be overlooked.

DT ROOM (snap counts *defense only, no ST)

Xavier Kelly - senior (256)
Jonathan Marshall - redshirt senior (757)
Isaiah Nichols - redshirt sophomore (339)
Nicholas Fulwider - redshirt sophomore (5)
Enoch Jackson - redshirt freshman (16)
Marcus Miller - redshirt freshman (4)
Taurean Carter - redshirt freshman (0)
Andy Boykin - freshman (0)

LB Levi Draper - Oklahoma

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