Bielema backing rebuilt defense
Hogs expect repeat success
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas lost four top defensive players to the NFL, but coach Bret Bielema thinks the unit can pick up where it left off last season.
Bielema said expectations are the same heading into the opener against UTEP on Saturday.
“I think it’s a defense that’s built on a system, not a name,” he said. “It’s the sum of 11 parts.”
Leading the way for Arkansas’ resurgence a year ago was a defense that ended last season as the 10thbest in the country at 323.4 yards per game, second in the Southeastern Conference behind LSU. It improved dramatically during the season, shutting out LSU and Ole Miss and holding Texas to 59 yards of total offense in three of its final four games.
The No. 18 Razorbacks begin this season with similar defensive hopes under second-year coordinator Robb Smith, though they lost defensive stalwarts Trey Flowers, Darius Philon, Martrell Spaight and Tevin Mitchel to the NFL.
Bielema’s confidence is fueled by the presence of Smith at the top as well as the added depth and experience that comes with
having three of his recruiting classes on campus.
And that depth starts on the defensive line, where Bielema said the Razorbacks have more talent than at any other time in his three seasons.
Only two of Arkansas’ top defensive linemen — DeMarcus Hodge and Mitchell Loewen — are seniors. The rest are juniors or underclassmen, including freshman Hjalte Froholdt, and all are eager to show they can follow in the footsteps of Flowers and Philon.
“The guys that played behind those guys learned so much from them that even though those guys left, we aren’t going to miss a beat,” junior defensive end Deatrich Wise said. “That sense of proving people wrong is going to be a big thing with us.”
Finding a way to replace Spaight’s production has been one of Arkansas’ biggest missions. The outside linebacker led the SEC with 128 tackles last season, and Smith is counting on junior Brooks Ellis to fill his role after spending last season at middle linebacker.
Also, Mitchel’s departure has been easier to handle thanks to a secondary led by senior safety Rohan Gaines and experienced cornerbacks Jared Collins, D.J. Dean and Henre’ Tolliver, among others.
Regardless of who takes over as the top defensive playmakers, the Razorbacks believe they won’t have a letdown after last season, when they ended a school-worst 17-game SEC losing streak.
“We always said ‘We want to taste that first win,’ and once we did, we realized what we were capable of and what we had to do to get it,” sophomore defensive end Tevin Beanum said. “Now that we realize it’s well within our grasp to accomplish that, I think we’re just steamrolling now.”