Incoming Freshmen Look to Take Over Skill Positions
No. 1 Junior College wide receiver, Brandon Martin, stares down his defender in Razorback Football practice. Photo Courtesy of Razorback Athletics
The Arkansas Razorback football team has taken steps toward repairing an offense and defense that were both disappointing to fans last season.
In 2016, the offense had few receiving threats, with no one reaching 1,000 yards on the season and only three players, in Keon Hatcher, Drew Morgan and Jared Cornelius, reaching the 500-yard mark.
The defense, which allowed over 400 total yards of offense per game, had its own set of issues. The pass defense ranked No. 8 out of 14 schools in the Southeastern Conference and allowed 2,875 yards and more than seven yards per pass attempt. The rush defense ranked No. 9 and allowed 2,671 yards rushing, on a little less than six yards per carry and 39 rushing touchdowns.
During the offseason, the Hogs replaced their defensive coordinator, Robb Smith, with Paul Rhoads, the former defensive backs coach hoping to revive a dormant defense.
The team also got some high-end signees to come and help fill the gaps from last season’s team.
The Razorbacks signed four-star cornerback Chevin Calloway, out of Bishop Dunne High School in Dallas, Texas. Calloway, an Under Armour All-American, recorded 61 tackles, three interceptions and 12 tackles for loss in his senior season.
Calloway is a versatile defender. He can get through the defensive line, or cover a multitude of receivers and disrupt the passing game.
A signee out of Ashdown, Arkansas, Montaric Brown, the No. 1 recruit in Arkansas, will come in ready to make a difference as well. Another four-star U.S. Army All-American recruit, Brown can patrol the middle of the field and cover multiple positions at the safety position.
He recorded 110 tackles and seven interceptions for Ashdown High School in 2016. Brown is 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighing 180 pounds, and he ran a 4.5 40-time. Brown could give the Razorbacks speed and athleticism on defense.
The Razorbacks also have defensive back Korey Hernandez to plug in at the safety or cornerback positions. In Hernandez’ final season of high school at Cedar Grove in Georgia, the 5-foot-10-inch, 170-pound defensive back accounted for 64 total tackles, 27 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and three interceptions.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Razorbacks return Austin Allen at quarterback but lose major contributors on offense, with Drew Morgan, Keon Hatcher, Jeremy Sprinkle and Rawleigh Williams III being some of the bigger losses.
To replace the major players at the running back, wide receiver and tight end positions, Arkansas looked to the recruiting field too.
The Razorbacks nabbed the No. 1 junior college wide receiver and tight end prospects.
Brandon Martin, the 6-foot-4 inch, 205-pound receiver out of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College adds a level of speed and athleticism that could take the offense to new heights this season with a reported 40 time of 4.4 seconds. His senior year in high school, Martin recorded 26 receiving touchdowns.
Jeremy Patton, the No. 1 JUCO tight end in the country, looks to be the next in line to dominate the tight end position at Arkansas. Although he is not currently enrolled, he is signed and looks to join the team this summer to begin working toward a starting role immediately. At 6 feet and 1 inch and 230 pounds, Patton can immediately change the offense as a blocker and receiver.
In an effort to replace Rawleigh Williams III, who retired May 8 due to a second neck injury, Maleek Williams looks to take a shot at the starting role this coming season, along with sophomore Devwah Whaley. Williams is listed at 6 feet and 1 inch, 215 pounds and runs a 4.42 40-time. He rushed 163 times for 1,294 yards to average 7.9 yards per carry and ran for 23 touchdowns his final high school season.
With the incoming freshmen coming to replace the skill-position losses suffered in the offseason, the Hogs hope to improve a stagnant offense and lackluster defense with a more athletic, younger set of personnel.