FAYETTEVILLE — At the end of spring practices, Arkansas football running backs coach Kolby Smith had a meeting with Braylen Russell.
The bruising freshman, coming off a productive debut season, had been an enigma. He finished with 354 yards on 67 carries and 3 touchdowns. Russell had a standout 175-yard showing at Mississippi State and was a reason for excitement for the future.
But then he entered the transfer portal. Then he removed his name from the portal. Then he went back in. Then he came back out, just in time for the Liberty Bowl win over Texas Tech.