The 10th in a series featuring newcomers to the University of Arkansas football team.

For a kid who could’ve gone to just about any NCAA Division I program he wanted to coming out of high school, there was only one place Braylen Russell truly wanted to be when he officially jump started his collegiate career.

“I’m from Arkansas,” the 6-1, 240-pound tailback said. “I want to see Arkansas succeed, I want to see Arkansas win. Plus, they need players to do that, so why not start here?”

For Russell, here is the University of Arkansas, and the time is now as he begins a freshman campaign packed with high expectations.

The bruiser, who was rated as a four-star recruit by all the major recruiting services, is coming off a senior season at Benton where he carried 167 times for 1,359 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also added 18 catches for 351 yards and 5 scores for a Panthers team that reached the semifinals of the Class 6A state playoffs. According to ESPN, he was the 16th-ranked running back in the nation and the third overall prospect in Arkansas.

Yet, starting the next phase of his athletic journey at Arkansas wasn’t as cut and dry as it seemed for Russell after he committed following a breakout sophomore season at Hot Springs Lakeside. He was actually Arkansas’ first commit for the Class of 2024, but he’d later re-evaluate that commitment and eventually decommit after his family relocated to Benton.

However, Russell re-committed to the Razorbacks last summer and held strong with that pledge until making it official when he inked with the school on early signing day in December.

He was a January enrollee, too, which allowed him to get an early feel for collegiate life.

“At first, things were tough,” Russell explained. “Leaving high school early, there’s an adjustment period. So coming in, I didn’t really know what was expected of me, and that was kind of rough. But then things got better.”

Better for Russell included making adjustments during practices. He got plenty of work in the spring, but that wasn’t exactly surprising. Arkansas lost a pair of able running backs during the offseason, starting with Raheim Sanders. The senior, who was a first-team, All-SEC pick in 2022, transferred to South Carolina.

Also, A.J. Green transferred to Oklahoma State following the 2023 season after leading all Razorback running backs in rushing with 312 yards on 67 carries.

Russell noted that while he did get more comfortable with the way practices were going, he had to shore up a few things as a ballcarrier.

“I had to change the way I held the ball,” he mentioned. “In high school, I used to hold the ball not as tight because you know, it’s high school. But I fumbled a couple of times [in practice], and I was like ‘I’ve got to get this right.’

“I’ve got to keep it high and tight all the time now while I’m running. Honestly, that’s probably been the biggest adjustment that I’ve had to make, at least on the football field.”

As is the case with most freshman players, Russell has had to get used to being away from home. But according to him, that’s where the Arkansas coaching staff has truly left an impression on not just him, but also every other newcomer.

“Those guys make it easier, like it’s like you’re not that far from home,” he said. “You can go and talk to them about anything. You can call Coach [Sam Pittman], text the assistants, text your running backs coach anytime. It’s really like you’re home, and they make you feel like family.

“They make you feel really comfortable right where you’re at.”

His level of comfortability could also go a long way in helping determine just how big of a roll Russell will have this year.

The Razorbacks ranked 10th in the SEC in rushing with 1,668 yards and last in touchdown runs with nine. With so much ground production gone from the backfield, including Arkansas’ leading rusher in K.J. Jefferson, there will be a chance for Russell to compete for a prime spot.

“My expectation is to help the team in any way possible,” he said. “When I get the ball, I have to run hard. Don’t run timid, don’t run shy, don’t stutter my feet. … just run full speed and get first downs.

“We want to go and win the SEC championship. That should be the expectation every year.”

At a glance

BRAYLEN RUSSELL

CLASS Freshman

POSITION Running back

HEIGHT/WEIGHT 6-1, 240

BIRTHDATE July 14, 2005

HOMETOWN Benton

HIGH SCHOOL Benton

NOTEWORTHY Ran for 1,643 yards and 26 touchdowns as a junior. … Received offers from several NCAA Division I schools, including Arizona, Baylor, Kansas State, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas A&M and South Carolina. … Scored on a 32-yard run during Arkansas’ Red-White spring game in April. … Expressed that fishing is one of his biggest hobbies.