Andrew Armstrong came back to Arkansas due to 'unfinished business'

When Andrew Armstrong transferred into the program last offseason, there were high expectations surrounding Arkansas. But the Razorbacks fell quite short, stumbling to a 4-8 record. Not the season anybody wanted and one filled with a ton of disappointment.

The option to leave was there for Armstrong, just wrapping up his fifth season of college football. Having some eligibility meant the door was open for the wide receiver though, an opportunity he decided to take.

Armstrong explained the decision on Thursday, saying there is some “unfinished business” with his time in Fayetteville. There is once against confidence on the team that Arkansas can bounce back in a big way and have a great season.

“We were extremely confident last year,” Armstrong said at SEC Media Days. “Looking at how the team was last year with those close losses that we had, I feel like we can build on top of that. I feel like if I would have left, I would have just left, like tried to get to the NFL and things like that, but I feel like it was unfinished business here. I feel like we can do something extremely great here, and that’s why I came back.”

Making a big step up from the FCS level at Texas A&M-Commerce, Armstrong wound up having a great season for Arkansas. He was the team’s leading receiver with 56 receptions for 764 yards and five touchdowns. As he mentioned, the NFL could have been an option after proving himself against SEC competition. Armstrong chose against it, giving Arkansas one more chance.

Arkansas has an odd schedule, with their first five games of the season being in five different cities. Things will settle down in the month of October, playing five of six games inside of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

A new quarterback will be throwing passes to Armstrong as well. KJ Jefferson is now playing in the Big 12 with Gus Malzhan and the UCF Knights. Sam Pittman and offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino brought in Taylen Green via Boise State and the NCAA transfer portal, hoping for a slight upgrade at the position.

If there was no confidence in what Arkansas could do this season, Armstrong would be gone. He has faith in rebounding well as a team. The personal stats should be there for Armstrong but getting more than four wins under his belt is a big goal for the 2024 season.