How Jadon Haselwood is fitting in with Arkansas football after transferring from Oklahoma

FAYETTEVILLE — When a player like Jadon Haselwood enters the transfer portal, a lot of schools come calling.

Haselwood was a five-star prospect out of high school and the top-ranked player in his native Georgia in the class of 2019. The talented wide receiver decided to transfer from Oklahoma in December after head coach Lincoln Riley left for USC. He finished his redshirt sophomore year with 62 receptions for 736 yards and seven touchdowns in his Sooners career.

But while other programs came to him with interest, Haselwood actually reached out to Arkansas. And he didn't reach out to the wide receivers coach, recruiting coordinators or head coach Sam Pittman; he contacted running backs coach Jimmy Smith.

Smith was Haselwood's head coach at Cedar Grove High School in Ellenwood, Georgia, near Atlanta. When Haselwood decided to transfer, he wanted to talk to one of the coaches who knew him best.

"He was kind of like a role model in my life in high school," Haselwood said of Smith. "He kind of grew me up and made me who I am today. I just came to him for advice."

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Haselwood said Smith didn't actually push him toward Arkansas. Rather, his former coach helped Haselwood look at his options, and the receiver found his way to Fayetteville on his own.

Smith is entering his second season as Arkansas' running backs coach. He spent 2013-18 at Cedar Grove, then spent 2019 at Georgia State before joining Pittman's staff. He's now coaching another former Cedar Grove player, too, in freshman running back Rashod Dubinion.

Adding Haselwood was a big win for a team looking to avoid a drop-off after the departure of star receiver Treylon Burks for the NFL Draft. Burks, a potential first-round pick, was the center of Arkansas' passing offense, providing some balance to a team that led the SEC in rushing yards.

In Haselwood, Arkansas got a receiver who likens his own game to that of Arizona Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Despite dealing with a lingering shoulder injury and running through spring practice in a green no-contact jersey, Haselwood seems to be adjusting to the new offense quickly.

"He’s a fast learner," offensive coordinator Kendal Briles said. "You tell him something one time and he’s got it. He’s an experienced guy, so he’s done it. He’s played at a high level before he got here. You get anything close to him, he catches the football."

Haselwood has played with some big-name quarterbacks including Jalen Hurts, Spencer Rattler and Caleb Williams. Part of his effort to get acclimated to his new offense is getting extra practice with quarterback KJ Jefferson. Haselwood said he and Jefferson would spend their off days throwing together before spring practices started.

"I can't really compare those quarterbacks, you know, they're all different styles, different conferences," Haselwood said. "But I'd say I've played with some great talent, and I'm excited for what's in store for me and KJ."

The burden of replacing Burks doesn't fall squarely on Haselwood's shoulders. In spring practice, senior Warren Thompson and sophomore Ketron Jackson Jr. have been getting first-team work. Backup quarterback Malik Hornsby has also gotten some reps at receiver with the first team. Plus, Arkansas has a running back room crowded with talent that adds another facet to the Razorbacks' offense.

Still, Haselwood knows what Burks meant to Arkansas, and the success the receiver had was part of what drew him to the Razorbacks.

"Of course, Treylon Burks is one of a kind," Haselwood said. "I know everybody expects me to fill his shoes. But like I said, he's one of a kind. So I'm just trying to get in where I fit in and make plays with the team."

Christina Long covers the Arkansas Razorbacks. You can email her at clong@swtimes.com or follow her on Twitter @christinalong00.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: How OU transfer Jadon Haselwood is fitting in with Arkansas football