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14 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 8.25.2024
Bounce n Continued from Page 11
357.2 yards per game, the fewest since 2014. It came one year removed from ranking 123 out of 131 teams nationally in total defense.
However, the effort was largely in vain. Without much support from an offense that was near the bottom of the SEC in most statistical categories, the defense wore out. By the final two conference losses— blowouts against Auburn and Missouri— the defense appeared to have let go of the rope. Arkansas allowed an average 44 points per game.
“ Defensively we were much improved from a year ago,” Pittman said.“ Best defense since 2014 and led the nation in defensive touchdowns with five. We have to finish the season. We did not do that well. We have to figure out how to finish, win the close games. We lost five games by a touchdown or less. We have got to figure that out. We feel like we’ re well on our way to getting that accomplished.”
The most notable area of improvement was passing defense. Arkansas ranked 32nd in the nation and fourth in the SEC with 203 yards allowed per game.
It came on the heels of an abysmal 2022 season in the secondary that saw the Razorbacks ranked last in the FBS with 294.7 passing yards allowed per game.“ This time last year the emphasis was togetherness, right? Creating that camaraderie and the chemistry amongst the group,” said Arkansas co-defensive coordinator Marcus Woodson, who coaches defensive backs.“ That’ s really important, and I think that had a big role into the improvements that we made. However, that wasn’ t good enough in terms of the performance we put on the field last year. So, we’ ve got to continue to work to get better.”
Arkansas lost its core of linebackers— four to the transfer portal and one exhausted eligibility— from last season.
Stepping in have been sophomore Brad Spence and Georgia transfer Xavian Sorey. The Razorbacks also added experience during the post-spring portal window with transfers Anthony Switzer( Utah State),
Stephen Dix( Marshall) and Larry Worth( Jacksonville State).
A crew of underclassmen— notably Carson Dean, Alex Sanford and Bradley Shaw— could also find their way onto the field.
The Razorbacks have gone from concerns with linebacker depth to now feeling confident. They have even shown looks with Spence playing the hybrid defensive end Buck position to get more backers on the field.
“ One of our strongest positions is the linebacker room,” Woodson said.“ With that, we have to find packages to get more of the linebackers on the field.”
The Razorbacks received an offseason boost when star defensive end Landon Jackson elected to return for his senior season. Jackson, who is projected by most publications as a first-rounder in the 2025 NFL Draft, has been a clear leader of the defense.
“ I think overall there’ s a bunch of us who can really keep the team together when adversity hits,” Jackson said.“ Adversity is going to hit at some point. We just have to stay together and find ways to bring other
guys on the team up and really just battle back adversity.”
Pittman and the Razorbacks have set the table for change this year.
One new coordinator. Twenty-two portal additions. Three new position coaches. But will it be enough for a turnaround?“ 2024 season is a fresh start,” Pittman said.“ We been working tirelessly to address areas we need improvement. Our players have shown remarkable resilience and commitment this off-season. We know our fans deserve a team that competes at the highest level.”
If anyone knows drastic improvement can be made in a short amount of time, it’ s Pittman. It needs to happen again if he wants any shot at returning to the throne.“ We’ re excited to make that happen,” he said.“ The support from our Razorback community hasn’ t wavered. It fuels our drive to turn things around. Our focus is to‘ Embrace the Hog’, which means we need to be tough, we need to be together, we need to be consistent, accountable, and do it with pride.
“ I think we’ ve accomplished that this summer.”
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