SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL MEDIA DAYS

July 17, 2025

Taylen Green

Arkansas Razorbacks

Press Conference

Q. What do you feel like you bring to the table from a tangibles and intangibles perspective heading into this season?

TAYLEN GREEN: I would say, of course, my versatility on the football field, whether I can run, I can pass the ball. But just to be able to move the chains no matter what the defense is, what the defense is looking or showing.

But especially off the field, I feel like one of the most important things is just to be a leader and just be that glue guy, whether it's the O line or whether that's receivers, offense, defense, just being that glue guy to bond and build that chemistry with my teammates.

Q. Last year, you were new to the team, trying to win the job and win over the locker room. Does it feel more like your team? What's different about this offseason, your second one, with Arkansas?

TAYLEN GREEN: I would say just like media days, just more comfortable knowing what to expect and knowing what I have to get better at. And now I have the film to look at from last year, not just looking at install tapes of -- of course, Lamar Jackson and the past quarterbacks that's been here, that's ran Coach Petrino's offense.

But I feel like knowing what to expect. But, of course, it's a new year and there's going to be new defenses and new players. But I have an idea of it, though.

Q. What lessons from last year do you think you are using to approach this season and kind of replicate or do better with your stats?

TAYLEN GREEN: I would say first take care of my body. My body is my business. I know I hear that a lot, but I had a firsthand experience of last year. I was a little banged up.

But I have a great strength staff with Coach Sowders and his strength staff and the great athletic training staff, shout out to them, Vince and Paulina, shout-out to you all. They have me stretching and rolling out, doing the things I have to do.

That's the most important thing is to take care of my body, whether it's physically or mentally, be prepared, not just for practice but for the game.

Everybody knows that the SEC is physical, but I heard it all last year, but I actually got to experience it. It's a beat-down. But it gets you ready for the league and that's what the league is about.

Q. How is playing for Coach Petrino changed how you view the game or your position? Any lessons you can think of that you've taken from Coach?

TAYLEN GREEN: I'd say two biggest things, how he comes to work every single day, no matter what he's going through, no matter if he got a little bit of sleep or a lot of sleep, he's going to bring it every single day.

Knowing how the game is -- is the defense playing amazing? Is the defense not? Do I have to control the ball? Do I have to run it more? Knowing how the opposing defense is also playing.

Just being -- I would say before Coach Petrino I would just play the game, get a first down, try to score. But knowing the intricate details of what specifically is the defensive coordinator's game plan and how are you going to combat that.

Coach Petrino, you already know, Coach Petrino knows. But also at the same time I have to know that, too, because I'm the one playing. And we have to be on the same page with that.

Q. You had mentioned Lamar Jackson. What do you feel you take away from his game? And are there any other quarterbacks you model yourself after or would compare yourself to?

TAYLEN GREEN: I feel like everybody sees what he did at Louisville with his running ability and passing ability. But I'd say his feel of the game is what jumps off the page when I watch his tape. He's not just robotic of one read, two read, three read. He's going to read the whole defense.

It might not be in -- we call it true or pure progression -- if he's open he's going to throw it. So not just being robotic in his play.

That's what Coach Petrino says a lot: Don't be robotic; be fluid; trust your instincts.

That's what I love about watching Lamar, but also a couple guys that I model my game after. I went to Allen, Texas, and been training with Kyler Murray's dad for a long time. Kyler Murray growing up, what he did in high school was insane.

But also Josh Allen, his big frame and how he uses his body to -- he'd be truckin' dudes too. I gotta get that up.

Q. Coach Pittman talked about the importance of the rivalry versus Texas versus the rival versus Texas A&M. You're a Texas native. What would a win over one of those two programs, potentially a top-15, top-10 program, mean for not only the program but for you personally?

TAYLEN GREEN: For me, personally, honestly, it's good, but it's not really about me. That Hog behind me is what I do it for, the pride that I have just wearing that hog on the side of my helmet or on the front of my chest, doing it for the state because I know what it means to them and just embracing that, embracing that culture that we have here.

Q. Your teammate, Cameron, was in here a little bit earlier. He had nice things to say about you. He talked about the energy that the team gets from Travis Williams. I know it's the other side of the ball, but your interactions with Coach Travis and what he brings to the table?

TAYLEN GREEN: I would say, one, energy. His energy will trickle down to everybody on that defense, even offense. It could be all campus long. It could be practice 13, 14, and he's still jumping around, running around, people be going like that and stuff.

But when we hear the defense making loud noise and jumping around and playing, as an offense, we're, like, okay, we've got to come to play today. What I love about our practices is it's competitive. There's going to be a winner. There's going to be a loser that day.

And offensively, speaking for the offense, we don't want to be on the losing side. That's what I love about the practices and this team is it's real competitive.

Q. How does the experience that you have coming from Boise State and now going into your second year at Arkansas, how does that contribute on the field and playing into some of the most hostile environments in the SEC in your second year with another top-five hardest schedule in the country?

TAYLEN GREEN: That's a good question. I would say I'm glad and I'm appreciative of my time at Boise because it has kind of a similar feel to Fayetteville. The SEC -- not the SEC, but it's the only team in town. When you walk around, they're going to know your name. They're going to take pictures, stuff like that.

But learning, applying what I learned there to here, just, you know, being the most prepared person on that field, whether it's a new install, staying up late to studying and that's why I've learned the biggest in Boise.

I knew my process. I knew how -- some people flash cards. I'd write on the whiteboard, I'd write on the tablet and just do it. I'm just a repetitive learner. I'm a visual learner. I'll do walk-throughs.

I'd say my preparation from Boise to Arkansas has been the biggest thing.

Q. What do you feel like your best attribute is as a quarterback? And how would you describe the responsibilities at the line heading into the season?

TAYLEN GREEN: My best attributes, I would say similar, versatility, doing whatever it takes to move the ball. Like I said, Josh Allen, he's going to try to truck somebody. I'm getting some weight up so I can do that.

But just doing whatever it takes to win. If that's checking the ball down, throwing it deep, getting dirty, just doing whatever it takes.

Q. Your responsibilities at the line.

TAYLEN GREEN: Coach Petrino gives me full rein of checking the play or changing the protection and he gives me the keys to the car, as some would say. Grateful to have. He doesn't put me in no box, and he doesn't want me to be robotic.

It's a lot of responsibility, but at the same time that's what I signed up for. As he said, it's occupational hazard.

Q. We didn't get into this in the other room, but, of course, everybody is looking at you as a leader of the team as the returning quarterback. What's different about you as a leader now than maybe this time last year? What are you taking on in leadership?

TAYLEN GREEN: I feel like last year, since I didn't play, I was more a lead-by-example type of person. But at the same time, what I've learned from last year to this year, being more vocal, of course, lead by example but being more vocal in the huddle, especially on the sideline. When my team needs a spark of energy or spark of words, like, I need to be that fuel to the fire and just being real intentional and holding everybody accountable, whether that's in practice or in the game.