SEC Preview: Arkansas, we gotta talk about the pass defense
Talk all you want about how great Arkansas will be with KJ Jefferson coming back for another year, but the fact is this: Unless they get better on pass defense, there are going to be a lot of questions asked about Sam Pittman’s reign.
They were WORST in the country by some mile, giving up 294.7 yards per game (second-last East Carolina gave up 292.8) and 8 1/2 yards/attempt.
WHO’S IN
Helping the pass rush will be one of the best players on Missouri’s defense last year in Trajan Jeffcoat as well as John Morgan, who comes from Pitt.
They also added CB Jaheim Singletary from Georgia. He was a former 5-star recruit in the 2022 class, but only appeared in 3 games.
They are just part of 19 transfers brought in by the Razorbacks – which will provide an awful lot of depth going into next year.
One of the more under-the-radar gets will be Tyrone Broden, who had over 1,000 yards in two years and 12 TDs at Bowling Green. He was one of the MAC’s best pass-catchers.
WHO’S GONE
Drew Sanders has gone to the NFL, and Bumper Poole ran out of eligibility. With them gone, the Razorbacks will be losing 200 tackles and 11.5 sacks from their defensive front.
The transfer of Trey Knox to South Carolina’s going to hit the offense hard. Knox had 287 yards and 5 TDs for the Hogs last year, which is weird that he’s immediately going to a SEC rival.
Safety Jalen Catalon’s gone to Texas. After two season-ending surgeries for him in a row, he’ll be hoping for some better luck in Austin. We wish him all the best.
OFFENSE
We mentioned the loss of Knox, but for a second let’s remember that KJ Jefferson is one of the best QBs in the SEC. Combining a great arm (2636 yards, 24 TDs last year) with great floor speed (640 yards, 9 TDs), Jefferson gives the Razorbacks a monster of a weapon behind the line of scrimmage.
Rocket Sanders is a frighteningly good running back. He totaled 1443 yards (second in the SEC) and 12 TDs (he also had 271 yards receiving!), and the offense is going to run through him and Jefferson.
DEFENSE
There aren’t a huge lot of bright lights for the Razorbacks.
The loss of Poole and Sanders will be monstrous. Also gone is the Hogs’ third-best tackler in Simeon Blair (73), who’s gone to Memphis.
Much will be expected of sophomore Chris Paul Jr, who had 4 sacks last year, as well as Jeffcoat and Morgan.
In the secondary, Dwight McGlothern and Hudson Clark will lead the way. McGlothern had 4 INTS last year.
But how will they cope without Poole and Sanders?
PREDICTION
Sept 2 Western Carolina – W
Sept 9 Kent State – W
Sept 16 BYU – W
Sept 23 at LSU – L
Sept 30 Texas A&M (in Arlington) – L
Oct 7 at Ole Miss- L
Oct 14 at Alabama – L
Oct 21 Mississippi State – W
Nov 4 at Florida – L
Nov 11 Auburn – W
Nov 18 FIU – W
Nov 25 Missouri – W
Prediction: 7-5 (3-5 SEC). The wins should come against rebuilding Mississippi State and Auburn and a poor Missouri side, but if the defense is as bad as we think it will be, then ALL of those might be toss-ups too. And wll the locals be happy about losing six in a row in the middle of the year? Unlikely! This could be Sam-Pittman-On-The-Hot-Seat Year.