Hudson Clark has a great opportunity to start in Week 2, per Sam Pittman

Arkansas defensive back Hudson Clark did not run out with the starting defense for the team’s season opener during Week 1. But that doesn’t mean Clark isn’t viewed as a starter by the Razorbacks team.

The starting defensive backs for the first game of the season were Lorando “Snaxx” Johnson, Dwight McGlothern, Jaheim Singletary and Alfahiym Walcott. But Clark played significant snaps in the game, finishing with two tackles, one tackle for loss and an interception.

He wasn’t the only non-starting defensive back to play very well in the team’s 56-13 victory over Wester Carolina. Jayden Johnson had five tackles and a forced fumble. Jaylen Braxton had four tackles and a pass breakup.

Head coach Sam Pittman was about about Clark, Jayden Johnson, Lorando Johnson and Walcott all playing similar snap counts and whether Clark is a backup to those players.

“I think he just didn’t get to start per se,” Pittman said during his press conference Monday. “He can play multiple positions, Yes. I do think he has a great opportunity to start this week. But I think the guy who really had came along was Jayden Johnson. He made it difficult than it put between Hud and Al. I think Hud had a good game. Obviously, he had a pick and things of that nature. He’s just starter in our book whether he runs out there or not. Snaxx is kind of the same way because Snaxx can play a couple spots too out there. But Hud’s got as much value as anybody on defense just because he’s, a, good player and, b, because he can play so many spots.”

Kent State comes to Fayetteville, Ark., this weekend for the team’s second game of the year. The Razorbacks, despite facing a weaker opponent in Western Carolina, are entering confident after a dominant showing this past weekend.

The team scored three touchdowns in the first quarter of the game, including two scores on the first play of a drive. Both were touchdown passes from KJ Jefferson, who finished with 246 yards and three touchdowns.

“Anytime you start fast you take a chance to stray on what you do,” Pittman said after the game. “We talked about physicality right after stretch, something. Whether it be bubble, whether it be fast ball starts, whether it be pods, it worked. Now I don’t know if it’ll work every time, but I thought we really started fast.”