SEC Kickoff Preview: Arkansas Razorbacks

Arkansas navigated an extremely difficult schedule in 2022 to finish the season with a 7-6 record. Strangely, Sam Pittman’s team dropped three games in which they were favored: Liberty, Texas A&M, and Missouri. 2023 offers a more manageable slate.

Head coach Sam Pittman is Arkansas Football. The career offensive line coach was destined to be the lead Hog. Expectations were low upon his arrival. Pittman surprised the critics by going 19-17 since taking over. A 3-7 first year has been followed by 9-4 and 7-6 seasons. His teams appear to take on the head coach’s personality. They’re tough, no nonsense, seem to love their coach, and have fun playing the game of football. There’s also a sense of humility and realism in Pittman that is respectable.

Pittman was forced to hire two new coordinators. Dan Enos will take the place of Kendal Briles as offensive coordinator. Co-defensive coordinators Marcus Woodson and Travis Williams replace Barry Odom, who is now the head coach at UNLV. Both units will be boosted by several portal pickups. Let’s get into it.

OFFENSE

New play-caller Dan Enos is on his second tour at Arkansas. The coordinator walks into a nice situation with all conference pieces at quarterback, running back, and on the offensive line. The Hogs will transition from an up-tempo scheme to more of a read option, balanced, playaction attack.

Enos will also have the services of a plethora of incoming transfer receivers that include Andrew Armstrong (Texas A&M Commerce), Tyrone Broden (Bowling Green), and Isaac TeSlaa (Hillsdale College). They’ll join returning pass catchers Bryce Stephens, Sam Mbake, Jaedon Wilson, and others. A pair of freshman tight ends could factor. They will join veteran Nathan Box and North Texas transfer Freshman All-American Var’Keyes Bumms who could be a player to watch for in 2023.

The offensive line is led by veteran preseason All-SEC pick Beaux Limmer. Guard Brady Latham is another experienced lineman. Other OL spots are locked in heated competitions.

The key for Enos’ success will be just how quickly his players can implement and execute his system. He has a strong nucleus of experienced personnel mixed in with portal newcomers to work with to achieve that goal.

Best Offensive Player-KJ Jefferson

Quarterback KJ Jefferson’s name is on multiple preseason All-SEC lists. Jefferson missed two games but started 11 contests in 2022. He went 204/300 for 2648 yards and 24 touchdowns through the air. His 68% completion percentage is specifically impressive. The quarterback also added 640 rush yards and 9 touchdowns on the ground.

Jefferson has enjoyed a tremendous career. He’s thrown for 5,816 yards, 48 touchdowns, and has been responsible for 67 total career scores. Keeping his prized quarterback protected and healthy is priority one for Sam Pittman and Dan Enos.

Most Important Offensive Player: Raheim “Rocket” Sanders

Sanders started all 13 games in 2022. The running back totaled 1,443 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was also effective in the passing game by posting 28 catches for 271 yards and 2 scores. Sanders is listed on multiple preseason All-SEC and All-American polls. A coordinator and apparent philosophy change could lead to more carries for Sanders. However, it may be difficult to surpass last season’s production.

DEFENSE

Arkansas CB Dwight McGlothern — Photo by Kevin Langley/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Arkansas defense was not good in 2022. The Hogs faced an incredibly difficult schedule. But, that’s not a good enough reason for the decline. Arkansas finished last season ranked 13^th in the SEC after surrendering 31 points per game. It also finished dead last or 14^th in the league by giving up an amazing 465 yards per contest. Not all was bad. There was irony in defensive stat lines was fascinating. Arkansas led the SEC with 42 QB sacks while being ranked last in pass defense after giving up 295 yards per outing. Fascinating.

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Co-coordinators Travis Williams and Marcus Woodson are tasked with fixing a once proud but declining defense. Former Missouri defensive end Trajan Jeffcoat is now an Arkansas Razorback. That’s a good start. Jeffcoat is joined by a bunch of fellow portal mates, which makes projecting the two-deep nearly impossible. Regardless, that defense was bad in 2022. A new, fresh start will hopefully fix the issues.

Best Defensive Player: Dwight McGlothern

McGlothern earned All-SEC honors in 2022 after registering 52 tackles and a team-high 4 interceptions. He also was credited with 10 defended passes. McGlothern is key for new co-defensive coordinators. He’ll be asked to lead the secondary and be a steady force in a transition this fall.

Most Important Defensive Player: Trajan Jeffcoat

The former Missouri Tiger earned first team all-conference honors in 2020. He hasn’t lived up to that billing in the past two seasons. But, a fresh start in a new program at a new place could be boost a resurgence. Jeffcoat racked up 21 tackles, 2.5 TFL’s and a sack last season. With a team full of transfers, Jeffcoat could be called upon to be a leader amongst the new personnel.

2023 Schedule Preview

The Hogs kick things off with three consecutive non-conference opponents: Western Carolina, Kent State, and BYU. FIU rounds out its non-SEC schedule. The BYU matchup is interesting, but the Hogs will be favorites against all non-SEC opponents.

Arkansas will play Texas A&M on a neutral field in Arlington. SEC road trips include at LSU, Ole Miss, Alabama, and Florida. Arkansas doesn’t play a true SEC home game until October 21 vs. Mississippi State. Auburn and Mizzou close out the home conference slate.

A challenging schedule indeed, but not as harsh as last year’s version.

2023 Projection: SEC West, 4th

What Does All This Mean?

Kentucky folks aren’t all that familiar with the Arkansas Razorbacks. Crossover matchups have occurred, but not on a regular basis. Sam Pittman is the perfect coach for that school, state, and football team. The Hogs’ fate will greatly depend on keeping quarterback KJ Jefferson healthy and available for a full season. Rocket Sanders is a tremendous running back who produced an excellent 2022 campaign. A slew of transfers litters the two-deep to go along with a pair of new coordinators. Change is a part of football. Can the new-look Hogs increase its win total? We’ll see.

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