Tulsa's quarterback situation merits close examination
Arkansas faces Tulsa this coming Saturday in a prove-it game for Ryan Silverfield. Arkansas can't touch elite teams. The Razorbacks have to show they can beat teams outside the top tier of college football. Tulsa is dealing with a fluid quarterback situation, as this story from SB Nation via Yahoo! Sports indicates:
"Quarterback Baylor Hayes suffered a knee injury late in the win over Sam Houston on a slide where he was contacted by a defender. Hayes will miss the Golden Hurricane's Week 3 matchup against East Texas A&M of the FCS.
"'Baylor's gonna be out this week,' Tulsa head coach Tre Lamb said in his press conference. 'He's got a sprained knee. He's fine. We avoided disaster there, which is good. I expect him to be fully back and ready to go Arkansas week. Out of precautionary reasons, we're gonna hold him.' Lamb clarified the quarterback depth chart heading into his Week 3 home matchup.
"'Dexter Williams will be our quarterback this week,' Lamb said. 'Andrew Alford will be the backup. Kyden Barker will be the No. 3.'
"While Hayes remains out, Tulsa can lean on Dexter Williams II's experience. The seventh-year senior is on his fourth school in four years after previous stops at Indiana (2020-23), Georgia Southern (2024), and Kennesaw State (2025). He started two games at Indiana in 2022 and earned four starts for Conference USA champion Kennesaw State in 2025 — serving as QB1 for the Owls' opener. Williams' availability at Indiana was largely limited by non-contact knee injuries, which caused him to miss the entire 2021 and 2023 seasons. However, he will take over for the injured Hayes against East Texas A&M, tasked with producing the program's first 3-0 start since 2008.
"Williams enters this matchup with 1,219 yards, 11 touchdowns, and five interceptions on a 99-of-194 showing as a passer, with 360 yards and five touchdowns as a runner. Moving down on the depth chart, redshirt freshman Andrew Alford and true freshman Kyden Barker have yet to take collegiate snaps, but could make their debuts if Tulsa can build significant cushion against the 1-2 FCS opponent. According to Lamb, Hayes is expected to return the following week for the Sept. 26 non-conference finale at Arkansas."
We will see if Tulsa's plan to bring back Baylor Hayes goes off without a hitch, or if his preparation is interrupted or behind schedule for Arkansas. Stay tuned as the week develops.
