‘Advanced’ Agim lives in backfield
FAYETTEVILLE — McTelvin “Sosa” Agim spent a lot of time in the offensive backfield Saturday during the Arkansas Razorbacks’ final spring practice.
Agim, a sophomore defensive end from Hope, sacked quarterback Ty Storey three times and also tackled him for a loss on a running play.
“I feel like I had a pretty decent day,” Agim said. “But my play can most definitely increase.”
Agim’s play helped the first-team defense dominate the second-team offense during scrimmage work.
“Sosa is a fun player to watch,” Coach Bret Bielema said. “I think he really took some steps in maturity, as well. He’s a very active player. He’s very gifted.
“What he’s got to get better at is probably straining through the difficult moments, the stuff no one likes to play, into the double teams, behind the reaches, stuff like that.
“Pass rush, he comes, boy. He’s gifted. He’s got a great motor. I think he could be a very good player.”
Agim has played only one season for the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, but he’s one of the Razorbacks’ most experienced players on defense with the losses of linemen Deatrich Wise, Jeremiah Ledbetter, Taiwan Johnson and JaMichael Winston, as well as linebacker Brooks Ellis.
“Sosa is so quick twitch,” Razorbacks center Frank Ragnow said. “He’s one of those physical specimens.
“I think that’s why he was so highly ranked out of high school. One thing you can tell is he has definitely stepped up more as a leader on that defense. It’s been great to see.
“He’s an exciting player. It’s going to be great to see how he grows as a player throughout these years.”
Other big performances out of the first-team defense Saturday included three sacks by junior end Michael Taylor, two sacks by outside linebacker Randy Ramsey, and pass interceptions by cornerback Ryan Pulley and linebacker De’Jon Harris against quarterback Cole Kelley.
“I knew it was going to be a little bit of an overwhelming mismatch,” Bielema said of the first-team defensive front going against the second-team offensive line.
Agim played in all 13 games last season as a true freshman and started the last five games at defensive tackle.
With the defense’s switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 alignment this spring, he moved to defensive end.
“I’m loving the switch,” Agim said. “This defense fits our team better. I feel like we’re getting better at every
position. I feel like we’re moving faster now.
“Everybody knows their assignment and alignment, and we’re getting our checks in quicker.”
Agim had 27 tackles last season, including 5½ for losses of 27 yards, and 2 quarterback hurries.
“I feel like at this point in time from last year, I’ve gotten much better,” Agim said. “Last year, I didn’t really know what was going on. Now I know exactly where I’m supposed to be, what I’m supposed to be doing on a certain play. I’m much more advanced.”
The switch to the 3-4 defense comes after the Razorbacks allowed an average of 426.6 yards — including 205.5 rushing — and 31.1 points last season.
“We’re a blue-collar defense,” Agim said. “We feel like we’ve got something to prove.”