Deke Adams analyzes play of Arkansas defensive line

Arkansas defensive line coach Deke Adams has been impressed with what he’s seen from his group so far in fall camp. With a little less than three weeks until kickoff, he sees them being a problem for opposing offensive lines in the SEC.

The Razorbacks led the SEC with 39 sacks this past season and will hope to keep up that level of play with a couple of key pieces returning. Adams noted that the defensive line has great chemistry already even with the addition of four transfers this offseason.

“It’s been good,” Adams said. “They’ve been working, man. They’ve been working their behind off. There’s a lot of competition in the room and they know that. My philosophy is if you make the defense better when you’re on the field, you play. No matter whether you’re a senior or a freshman. Those guys, they’ve been working their behind off and they love each other. We have fun together. We go to eat together and we hang out. It’s a really fun group and I love the group that I have right now.”

Defensive end Landon Jackson is among the returning players on the Arkansas defensive line expected to play a big role in 2023. He started seven games this past season to finish with 23 tackles and three sacks, which ranks him third among returning players. At 6-foot-7 and 281 pounds, he’ll be tough to stop trying to get after the quarterback this season.

The Razorbacks also return Taurean Carter on the inside after he missed the entire 2022 season due to a knee injury he suffered in the spring. He along with redshirt sophomore Cameron Ball are among several players expected to compete for time at defensive tackle.

Among the transfer players who have stood out are defensive ends Trajan Jeffcoat and John Morgan. Jeffcoat is a former first team All-SEC player in 2020 at Missouri and finished the 2022 season with 21 tackles and a sack. Morgan is set to enter his sixth college season after racking up 2.5 sacks and six QB hurries this past year at Pittsburgh.

If there’s one area where the Arkansas defensive line can improve heading into 2023, it’s defending the run. The Razorbacks ranked ninth in the SEC this past season with 170.5 rushing yards allowed per game. With what Adams has seen so far, however, indicates they could be much better.

Adams will have a little more than three weeks to sort out his rotation before Arkansas kicks off the season on Sept. 2 against Western Carolina.