The Arkansas football quarterback room just got a little lighter, as redshirt senior Jacolby Criswell officially entered the transfer portal Tuesday.
A native of Morrilton, Criswell originally signed with North Carolina out of high school and remained with the Tarheels for three seasons before transferring to the Razorbacks prior to the 2023-24 season.
Standing at 6-foot-1, 232-pounds, Criswell was set to battle for the backup role with Malachi Singleton behind starter Taylen Green through the fall. In his lone season with the Hogs, Criswell completed 17-of-27 passes for 143 yards and three touchdowns.
The spring transfer portal window officially opens on Tuesday, so be sure to follow The Trough premium message board to keep up with roster fluctuations throughout the offseason.
Arkansas Bio:
At UNC:
2022 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): Appeared in four games, completing 2-of-6 passes for nine yards … Rushed four times for 39 yards (9.8 ypc) … Made his season debut against Florida A&M (Aug. 27), rushing for a season-long run of 17 yards … Was 1-of-4 passing for four yards against Virginia Tech (Oct. 1) … Also gained three yards on one carry against the Hokies … Attempted a pass against Pitt (Oct. 29) … Completed his only pass attempt for five yards against No. 10/11 Clemson (Dec. 3) in the ACC Championship … Totaled 19 rushing yards on two carries.
2021 (SOPHOMORE): Appeared in four games and started the Wofford game (Nov. 20) at quarterback … Connected with Bryson Nesbit on a 47-yard touchdown pass for his first collegiate passing TD against Georgia State (Sept. 11) … Was 2 of 2 for 54 yards against the Panthers … Started the Wofford game and was 11 of 19 for 125 yards passing and rushed five times for 66 yards and one touchdown.
2020 (FRESHMAN): Appeared in six games of his true freshman season … Completed 3 of 4 passes for 16 yards and one interception … Rushed for 26 yards on nine carries … Rushed twice for seven yards against NC State (Oct. 24) … Had 13 rushing yards on two attempts at Duke (Nov. 7) … Completed 2 of 3 passes for 16 yards and tallied 12 rushing yards against Western Carolina (Dec. 5).
HIGH SCHOOL: An early enrollee who is a four-star prospect listed as the No. 2 player in Arkansas and the nation’s 11th-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the 247Sports Composite … Ranked as the No. 2 player in the state and the nation’s 14th-ranked dual-threat quarterback according to Rivals … Tabbed as the state’s No. 2 player and the nation’s 11th-ranked dual-threat quarterback according to ESPN … A member of the ESPN300 … Finished seventh at the Elite 11 Opening Finals … Coached by Cody McNabb at Morrilton High School in Morrilton, Ark. … Passed for 5,925 yards and 58 TDs, while rushing for 2,568 yards and 41 TDs over his three-year prep career … Named Arkansas’ Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior … Was also an all-state and all-conference selection … Led Morrilton to an 8-5 record and a berth in the state semifinals … Threw for 2,869 yards and 27 TDs, while rushing for 1,282 yards and 24 scores … Tabbed preseason all-state by MaxPreps … Played in just five games as a junior due to injury but tallied 1,109 yards passing and 11 TDs to go along with 317 rushing yards and three TDs … Led Morrilton to a 9-4 record and a spot in the second round of the 5A state playoffs as a sophomore … Threw for 1,947 yards and 20 TDs, while rushing for 969 yards and 14 TDs.
PERSONAL: Raised by Zach and Kelsey Watson … Has five siblings, Palmer Watson, Alder Watson, Mack Watson, Tory Criswell and Dre Greenlaw … Birthdate: Oct. 16, 2001.
