If you want a factoid that aptly sums up Arkansas’ 2-10 season of 2018, it’s this: the Hogs’ top two quarterbacks last season -- Ty Storey and Cole Kelley -- both transferred, and neither of them won the job elsewhere.
Chandler Morris will be on campus in 2020, but until then Chad Morris brought in a pair of transfers in SMU’s Ben Hicks (whom Morris recruited and coached before taking the Arkansas gig) and Texas A&M’s Nick Starkel.
On Monday, Arkansas announced Hicks has won the job.
Ben Hicks will be our starting QB in week 1.
— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) August 26, 2019
Morris: "Ben has earned the right to start."https://t.co/1req6aDTOq pic.twitter.com/XIVAN6GSAN
Hicks is obviously familiar with the offense and the coaching staff, where at SMU he set school records in passing yards (9,081), total offense (8,977), touchdown passes (71), touchdowns responsible for (74), completions (718) and 300-yard games (12). The Waco, Texas, native threw for 2,582 yards and 19 touchdowns in nine starts without Morris a year ago.
Arkansas opens its season against Portland State on Saturday (4 p.m. ET, SEC Network).