The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff released its Week 1 depth chart Monday afternoon for the Arkansas game, and the depth at running back immediately stood out.
UAPB listed four running backs on its “two-deep” chart, with Tennessee Tech transfer O.J. Ross and incumbent Johness Davis both listed as joint starters.
Ross was Tennessee Tech’s third-leading rusher last season despite appearing in only four games. He finished the season with 156 yards on 31 carries.
Davis was UAPB’s rushing leader last season with 350 yards and a touchdown on 70 carries. He rushed for 167 yards against Tennessee State but was hampered by injuries down the stretch.
Sophomore B.J. Curry, who rushed for 209 yards and a touchdown last season, is listed alongside Louisiana-Monroe transfer Za’Marion Webber as backups behind Ross and Davis.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Elsewhere, all four starting wide receivers are transfers. Arkansas-Monticello transfers JaVonnie Gibson and Kristian Gammage are listed as starters alongside two Football Bowl Subdivision transfers, Donovan Giles from Florida Atlantic and Aramoni Rhone from Ohio. Daemon Dawkins, UAPB’s leading returning receiver, is listed as a backup behind Gammage.
Kevin English will start at tight end. He caught 10 passes for 68 yards and two touchdowns last year.
Rolando Jones and Christon Love return as starters on the offensive line but will swap places, with Love playing center and Jones at left tackle. Courtney Van Buren II will start at left guard. Two transfers will start on the right side of the line, namely Jeremiah Rodgers from UNC Pembroke at guard and Benedict College graduate transfer Keavius Barnes at tackle.
On defense, returning players will lead the defensive line. Anas Luqman and Khalil Arnold will start at the ends, as expected. Arnold led UAPB in sacks with four and tackles for loss with 7.5 last season, while Luqman played well in the first two games before missing the rest of the season with a torn MCL. Senior Elijah Jenkins gets the start at defensive tackle.
Two transfers, Jason Gwan from Erie Community College and Antonio Johnson from Northeastern State (Okla.) are both listed as potential starters at nose tackle.
Middle linebacker was a key position for UAPB to fill after Rico Dozier transferred to Alabama State. Sophomore Jaylen White and junior college transfer Kaylon Bradley are both listed as potential starters there. White made three tackles in limited playing time last season, while Bradley made 54 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks last season at Mount San Antonio College in California, which finished 10-1 last year.
Jaden Kelley, a transfer from Dodge City (Kan.) Community College, will start at weak-side linebacker. Three true freshmen are listed as backups for the two linebacker spots: Jonathan Goins from Pine Bluff, Derrick Murdock from Little Rock Southwest, and Kyle Vocque from Bauxite.
In the secondary, UAPB will go with some experience at safety but youth at cornerback.
Zac Williams, a freshman from Memphis, will start at one corner spot. The other could go to either true freshman Amyrion Mingo from Alexandria, La., or redshirt freshman Antwon Jackson from Warner Robins, Ga.
Redshirt junior Tavon Hardwick will start at the “rover” safety position, while Jones College (Miss.) transfer Quintin Sterling will start at free safety. Strong safety is listed as either senior Shawn Wilson or redshirt junior Kaleb Knox, who were both hampered by injuries last season.
Preseason all-SWAC second team punter Jeremy Baker returns as a starter, while incumbent Trey Glymph and Austin Peay transfer Braden Ducharme are both listed as possible starters at kicker.
UAPB and Arkansas will kick off at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock on ESPNU.