NWADG College Football

12 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 8.27.2023 ARKANSAS SEASON PREVIEW RETOOLED RAZORBACKS READY TO ROCK TOM MURPHY ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas has won or shared four SEC West championships in its first 31 years in the conference. at averages out to roughly one division crown every eight years for the Razorbacks, who won their first SEC West title in 1995, four years aer joining the league. e problem is, Arkansas has not had a piece of the SEC West since 2006. at's a hiatus of 16 years since Houston Nutt's penultimate team, with Gus Malzahn as offensive coordinator and the sublime tailback trio of Darren McFadden, Peyton Hillis and Felix Jones leading the way, played eventual national champion Florida within 38-28 at the championship game in Atlanta. e Razorbacks are considered a long shot to win the division title this fall what with the five-star laden rosters dotted on opposing teams throughout the SEC West. ey were picked to finish fih in the West in voting at SEC media days last month in the final year before the divisions will disappear with the additions of Oklahoma and Texas in 2024. Yet ardent fans are holding out hope the Razorbacks can be a surprise this season and combat Alabama, LSU and the others for a divisional crown. eir hope hinges on a senior quarterback in KJ Jefferson working with an established corral of top-tier running backs fronted by 1,443-yard rusher Rocket Sanders. So to dismiss the Razorbacks' chances of contending out of hand might be unwise. Fourth-year Coach Sam Pittman and his assistants spoke midway through camp about the togetherness being strong on this edition of the Razorbacks. "I like this team because they like each other," Pittman said aer the team's first scrimmage on Aug. 12. "I like this team a lot. Never had a team practice this well together, and they like each other. … is team respects each other. "e other day I told them, 'is ain't offense versus defense. Let's go compete. You've got a job to do. Go do your job.' I thought we did that the best." ere are big changes on both sides of the ball for the Hogs. Pittman kept his original offensive and defensive coordinators — Kendal Briles and Barry Odom — for his first three seasons, but replaced them both over the winter. He welcomed back offensive coordinator Dan Enos for his second stint in Fayetteville, creating a mini-reunion of the extremely productive 2015 Arkansas offense, when Enos was in his first year as offensive coordinator for Bret Bielema and Pittman was in his last as offensive line coach. at 2015 team compiled 6,051 total yards, one of only three seasons Arkansas has managed 6,000 yards or more along with 2010 (6,273) and last season (6,128). On defense, up-and-coming Travis Williams was Pittman's choice for coordinator. e former Auburn linebacker's aggressive style, with a background of sending an assortment of blitz packages at opposing quarterbacks, must be backed by strong communication and premier coverage skills. Do the Razorbacks have a chance at an upper-division finish or even contending? Consider the program's recent play under Pittman and the dynamic dual- threat Jefferson, who is set to enter his third year as a starter. With the exception of the dynastic Alabama program, Jefferson has beaten every other SEC West team — Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Texas A&M — plus annual crossover rival Missouri once during his two years as a starter. Two of those were road games and another was a neutral site win. So to imagine a scenario where the Razorbacks can win enough league games to challenge for the division championship is not out of the question. Enos discussed the advantages of a starting point that includes Jefferson and Sanders. "I think KJ has the ability to be as good as anybody I've ever coached, and I've coached some good ones," Enos said. "Same thing with Rocket. He rushes like a guy that is hungry and has something to prove. "A coach told me a long time ago that when your best players are your hardest workers it sets the tone for your entire team. We certainly have that with KJ and Rocket and Beaux [Limmer] and a lot of these guys who work extremely hard. ese two guys are as talented as anyone I've very been around. ey're fun to coach because they want to be coached and they practice very hard." Defensively, Arkansas ranked 124th in the country by allowing 465 yards per game and last in pass defense by allowing 294.7 yards per game. Williams, new defensive backs coaches Marcus Woodson and Deron Wilson and holdover defensive line coach Deke Adams have the assignment of reducing those numbers. "I think a kid will run through the wall if they know you care," Williams said. "We don't cuss our guys, but … we're going to coach them hard. "But we're going to put our arms See PREVIEW, Page 14 Rocket Sanders | Arkansas Running Back File Photo

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