The next time Taylen Green plays a college football game, it won’t be the Dec. 16 L.A. Bowl with the reigning Mountain West Conference champs Boise State. It’ll be in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Green, who earned the MWC game’s Most Valuable Player honor, announced Monday morning that he’s heading to the University of Arkansas as a transfer portal addition.
Taylen Green Transfers to Arkansas
Arkansas ends up with College Football Network’s No. 11 rated QB in the transfer portal.
Green is also coming in when the ‘Hogs need depth behind center. K.J. Jefferson and Cade Fortin were redshirt seniors last season. The former is in the portal. Arkansas is currently left with freshman Malachi Singleton, North Carolina transfer Jacoby Criswell, and redshirt freshman Rykar Acebo as the remaining options.
But can he withstand the rigors of the Southeastern Conference? Will he thrive in an offense now being run by former Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino?
MORE: College Football Transfer Portal Tracker
Green has the athletic ceiling to give SEC defenses fits. Boise State noticeably looked deadlier on offense when Green took off and ran. However, he dealt with accuracy issues throughout his time on the blue turf. Petrino and head coach Sam Pittman, the latter also having his area of expertise on offense, will have to find a way to retighten his accuracy.
Petrino’s arrival likely promises more quick strike approaches, often a staple of his past offenses. However, he once coached a young, dynamic dual-threat named Lamar Jackson at Louisville when Petrino was his offensive coordinator.
Perhaps Petrino can recreate that Jackson magic with Green, which officially makes him the early favorite to take the QB reins at Arkansas.
Green’s Impact at Boise State
Green arrived with plenty of hype on the Blue Turf as a rare 6’6″ athletic freak as a dual-threat passer. The native of Lewisville, Texas even earned comparisons to past college football legend Vince Young by some analysts.
However, Green endured a rather ebb-and-flow career at Boise that often saw some rough tides. Green at one point was benched in favor of Maddux Madsen before resuming the starter role when Madsen went down with an injury.
Green additionally watched an abrupt coaching change midseason as Andy Avalos was fired. Boise State’s season appeared to be lost until interim head coach Spencer Danielson helped galvanize the program — winning every game he coached in including the MWC title game victory.
Green went on to combine for four touchdowns (two passing, two rushing) in the 44-20 rout of UNLV at Allegiant Stadium to secure the MWC title. That game now becomes Green’s last in a Broncos uniform.
He ends his BSU career throwing for 3,794 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions, plus added 1,024 yards and scored 19 rushing TDs.