Stewart, Wilkerson join Arkansas staff

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Head Coach Ryan Silverfield has hired a pair of coaches to fill out his coaching staff, tabbing a familiar name to be Arkansas’ quarterbacks coach in former Memphis QB coach Mitch Stewart to lead the Razorbacks’ signal callers and former Tulane defensive line coach Landius Wilkerson to tutor the Hogs’ defensive line.

Stewart spent each of the last two seasons on Silverfield’s staff at Memphis, serving as a senior offensive analyst in 2024 before being promoted to QB coach in 2025. Stewart had joined the coaching staff at South Alabama in January as the Jaguars’ wide receivers coach.

In 2025, Stewart took a new starting quarterback in Brendon Lewis and helped the Tigers to an 8-5 record, including a six-game winning streak to open the season. Lewis was steady after transferring from Nevada, passing for 2,673 yards while completing 68.8% of his passes (253-for-368) with 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions to go with 660 yards rushing and nine more scores. The Dallas native rushed for a season-best 103 yards in a win over Arkansas.

The Tigers went 11-2 capped by a victory over West Virginia during Stewart’s first season in Memphis in 2024. He helped a successful offense rank 20th in the nation in passing yards per game with 270.5 yards, 26th nationally in first downs with 300 and 17th in third-down conversion percentage (.461). Quarterback Seth Henigan finished off an impressive career with 3,502 yards passing with 25 touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 64.8% of his passes (309-for-477).

Prior to Memphis, Stewart served as the offensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee for two seasons (2022-23). In 2023, the Blue Raiders ranked 14th nationally in completion percentage (67.4%) while passing for 3,192 yards and averaging 266.1 yards per game to rank 34th among FBS teams and fourth in Conference USA. Stewart paired the team’s passing attack with a solid run game, averaging 125.1 yards per game, to rank fifth in C-USA in total offense with 391.1 yards per game. QB Nicholas Vattiato finished second in the league with 257.7 passing yards per game, throwing for 3,092 yards to become just the second Blue Raider in program history to eclipse 3,000 passing yards.

In his first season calling plays for the Blue Raiders in 2022, Stewart directed an offense that featured WR Jaylin Lane, who caught 69 passes to rank 10th all time in a single season at Middle Tennessee, and QB Chase Cunningham, who passed for 3,156 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Stewart joined the staff at Samford in 2020 as the wide receivers coach before adding the offensive coordinator duties in 2021. The Bulldogs operated a high-powered offense during his two seasons. During his season as the offensive coordinator, Samford ranked sixth nationally in the FCS in completion percentage, eighth in red zone offense, ninth in passing offense and 11th in total offense. Stewart’s offense scored 52 points at Florida, including 42 in the first half, to match the most points scored by an FCS team against an FBS opponent and were the most points ever allowed by Florida against a non-conference, non-Power Five opponent since its induction in 1906.

A pair of Bulldogs – WR Montrell Washington and QB Liam Welch – ranked in the top 50 nationally in numerous offensive categories. Washington led the NCAA in all-purpose yards (1,938) and became the first FCS player since 1998 to have a rushing, receiving and kick-return touchdown against a P5 team. Stewart coached four All-Conference players during the spring season of 2021, including Welch who picked up SoCon Offensive Player of the Year honors and was a Second-Team All-American.

Stewart was the head coach at Murray State for five seasons (2015-19) after joining the Racers in 2010 as the wide receivers coach before taking over playcalling duties in 2011.

During his tenure at Murray State, Stewart saw five players make it to the NFL, including LB Quincy Williams who heard his name called in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft by Jacksonville to become the Racers’ earliest pick in program history.

Stewart led the Racers to their best finish in seven years during the 2018 season, which included a 4-0 start and a win over No. 19 Southeast Missouri State – a 31-point comeback victory to become the largest comeback in program history. Six Racers earned All-OVC honors that season along with WR Malik Honeycutt and OL Levi Nesler picking up All-America honors.

During the 2017 season, Stewart coached the Racers to an upset over then No. 24 UT Martin to mark his third ranked win in two seasons. DB D’Montre Wade was named to the All-OVC First Team while WR Jordon Gandy, kicker Gabriel Vicente and QB Shuler Bentley also earned All-OVC recognition. DB Zach Shipley was placed on the Google Cloud Academic All-America list.

In his second season at the helm of the Racers in 2016, Stewart led the program to consecutive ranked wins for the first time in program history with wins over No. 15 Eastern Illinois and No. 25 Tennessee State. Stewart coached quarterback KD Humphries to become the program’s all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, pass attempts and completions. Kicker Connor Mitchell set a school record for the most field goals made in a single game with six to earn National Special Teams Player of the Week from STATS. Mitchell’s 1.8 field goals made per game led the FCS.

In his first season leading Murray State, the Racers posted the second-best passing offense in the nation (347.3 ypg) and the 12th ranked offense while leading the team to its first road win since the 2012 season with a thrilling 46-43 overtime win at Tennessee State. Four players were named to All-OVC teams with QB KD Humphries finishing seventh in the STATS Offensive Player of the Year voting.

As the offensive coordinator for the Racers for four seasons, Stewart produced one of the nation’s best offenses. In 2014, Murray State’s passing game was ranked third in the FCS (327.2 ypg) after recording the most rushing yards in a single season (1,886) in nearly a decade the season prior. In his first two seasons as the offensive coordinator, the Racers’ offense was the only team in the FCS to rank in the top five in total offense both seasons.

In 2012, Stewart coached QB Casey Brockman to All-American honors for the second-consecutive season and led him to program records in passing attempts, pass completions, passing yards and passing touchdowns.

During his first season calling plays, Stewart led Murray State’s offense to 5,070 yards of total offense, including a 707-yard effort against Tennessee State.

Stewart spent the 2010 season as the wide receivers coach for the Racers and coached Marcus Harris, who produced the second-best single season in receptions, tied for second in total yards and eighth in total touchdowns in school history. Harris left Murray State as the all-time leader in receptions (216) and yards (2,471) and while earning All-American honors from the Associated Press and The Sports Network. In the same year, Stewart coached Arthur Brackett to a freshman record 62 catches in a single season for 617 yards and three touchdowns. Brackett nearly broke an FCS freshman record (15) with 13 catches against Jacksonville State.

Prior to his stint at Murray State, Stewart spent three seasons as a member of the Georgia Southern coaching staff and worked primarily with the wide receivers and handled team travel. In his second season with the Eagles, the offense led the Southern Conference and ranked 20th nationally in passing offense. WR Raja Andrews shattered three single-season records, one single-game mark and the career receptions record at Georgia Southern.

Stewart began his coaching career as the offensive coordinator at Newnan High School in Newnan, Ga., helping lead the team to its first region title in 14 years while qualifying for the state playoffs.

A four-year player at Valdosta State as a quarterback, Stewart was a part of the Blazers’ 2004 national championship team and the 2002 national runner-Up squad. He earned his degree in business education in 2005.

Stewart and his wife, Rikki, have two daughters, Stella and Emerson.

The Stewart File
Birthdate: Nov. 8, 1982
Hometown: Opelika, Ala.
High School: Northgate HS (Ga.)
College: Valdosta State, 2005
Family: Wife – Rikki; Daughters – Stella and Emerson

Coaching Experience
2006 Newnan HS (Ga.) – Offensive Coordinator
2007-09 Georgia Southern – Wide Receivers
2010 Murray State – Wide Receivers
2011-14 Murray State – Offensive Coordinator
2015-19 Murray State – Head Coach
2020 Samford – Wide Receivers
2021 Samford – Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers
2022-23 Middle Tennessee – Offensive Coordinator/Inside Receivers
2024 Memphis – Senior Offensive Analyst
2025 Memphis – Quarterbacks

Playing Experience
2001-05 Valdosta State

Wilkerson joins the Arkansas staff from Tulane, where he served each of the last two seasons as the defensive line coach.

The Green Wave made their first appearance in the College Football Playoff during the 2025 season after winning the American Conference championship game to claim their 11th victory of the season. Wilkerson’s defensive line was part of one of the nation’s best pressure units with the Wave recording 36.0 sacks to rank 16th nationally and 22nd nationally in tackles for loss with 85.0. First-Team All-American Conference DL Santana Hopper led the defensive line with 4.5 sacks and was one of four Tulane players ranked in the top 20 in the American Conference. Hopper led all American Conference d-linemen with 10.5 tackles for loss and ranked fifth in the league overall. DL Tre’Von McAlpine picked up second-team all-conference honors after posting 35 stops with a pair of TFLs and one sack.

In Wilkerson’s first season in New Orleans, Tulane went 9-5 with an appearance in the American Conference championship game. Tulane’s defense was one of the best in the American Conference, finishing second in total defense and second in sacks. Three members of the Green Wave’s defensive line earned all-conference recognition following the season with Patrick Jenkins earning first-team honors alongside Kam Hamilton and Adin Huntington, who earned third-team accolades. Jenkins and Hamilton led the squad with 4.5 sacks apiece with Huntington recording four sacks of his own. The trio also combined for 17.5 tackles for loss.

Wilkerson led the defensive line at South Alabama for three seasons, developing Bubba Thomas into a four-year starter and eventual Super Bowl LX champion with the Seattle Seahawks. Wilkerson’s first d-line was led by Thomas as a freshman with the Georgia native earning honorable mention All-Sun Belt Conference after 49 tackles with 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Thomas again picked up an honorable mention all-conference nod in 2022 and wrapped up his career as a second-team All-Sun Belt Conference member.

During Wilkerson’s time in Mobile, the Jaguars won 10 games in 2022 and received bowl bids in each of his last two seasons, including a win over Eastern Michigan in the 2023 68 Ventures Bowl.

Wilkerson spent one season at FCS level Chattanooga, coaching the Mocs’ defensive line while serving as the program’s recruiting coordinator. The team played just one game during the fall before

He coached defensive ends the previous two seasons at Jacksonville State, helping the Gamecocks finish .500 or better both years including going 9-4 — with a 7-1 league record to claim the Ohio Valley Conference championship — after advancing to the second round of the FCS playoffs in 2018. That fall, his efforts contributed to JSU finishing second nationally in third-down conversion defense while also ranking among the top 15 in tackles for loss (seventh) and total defense (15th).

He was an assistant at Division III Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Ala. from 2010-17, a stretch that saw the Hawks finish with a winning record each year en route to a 42-12 overall mark highlighted by a 31-5 record in the USA South Conference over his final five seasons. Wilkerson helped Huntingdon win the league title after going 7-0 in both 2015 and 2017, with the program competing in the NCAA Division III playoffs each of his last three years on the staff featuring a victory in the first round in 2015.

Under his direction, defensive lineman D.J. Chappell became the Hawks’ first All-American in school history in 2012 while d-lineman Heath McCray was an honorable mention All-America selection in 2015. In five years, Wilkerson had one individual named the USA South Defensive Rookie of the Year and six all-conference performers.

As an offensive lineman at Alabama State, Wilkerson was a team captain and three-year starter, earning All-Southwestern Athletic Conference honors while helping the Hornets claim the league title in 2004. He also participated in track before receiving his undergraduate degree from ASU in mathematics education in 2005. He earned his master’s degree in instructional leadership from Tennessee Tech in 2008.

Wilkerson began his coaching career as an assistant at McMinn Central HS (Tenn.), coaching at his alma mater for five seasons.

He and his wife Melody have two daughters, McKenzie and Ava.

The Wilkerson File
Birthdate: Aug. 3, 1982
Hometown: Etowah, Tenn.
High School: McMinn Central HS (Tenn.)
College: Alabama State, 2005
Family: Wife – Melody; Daughters – McKenzie and Ava

Coaching Experience
2005-09 McMinn Central HS (Tenn.)
2010-17 Huntingdon College – Defensive Line
2018-19 Jacksonville State – Defensive Ends
2020 Chattanooga – Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator
2021-23 South Alabama – Defensive Line
2024-25 Tulane – Defensive Line

Playing Experience
2000-04 Alabama State