Arkansas RB Braylen Russell to enter NCAA transfer portal

Arkansas freshman running back Braylen Russell will enter the NCAA transfer portal, according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett.

Russell played in eight games during his first year on campus. He finished the 2024 season with 47 carries for 304 yards, two touchdowns, 6.5 yards per carry, three catches and 18 receiving yards.

As a member of the Class of 2024, Russell was a four-star recruit out of Benton (Ark.) High, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 5 overall prospect in the state, the No. 30 running back in the class and the No. 402 overall prospect in the class.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire.

Russell suffered from the injury bug late in the season and did not play a key game against the Texas Longhorns.

Head coach Sam Pittman got a question about Russell about not being able to play against Texas. He clarified in his answer that Russell could have seen snaps but that he wasn’t able to be fully ready for the game due to missing time during the week.

With that, the Razorbacks went with other backs on their depth chart.

“No, he could go,” Pittman said in his postgame press conference. “I don’t know how much he played if at all but he wasn’t full speed, you know, this week. So, we played the healthy ones today.”

Russell appeared on the initial injury report for the game as questionable. However, he was designated as probable by the following day and remained at that status to end the week.

Still, Russell didn’t rush at all in the 10-point loss to the Longhorns. Ja’Quinden Jackson, who was also on the injury report coming in, led them on the ground again with 11 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown. Rashod Dubinion then had the next-most carries with seven for 30 yards.