Arkansas - Razorbacks

Head coach: Chad Morris Record at school: 0-0 2017 finish: 4-8 (1-7), 13th in the Southeastern Conference

FAYETTEVILLE — Chad Morris knows the Arkansas Razorbacks he inherited from Bret Bielema’s 4-8 team in 2017 at least somewhat addressed their need for speed.

Strength coach Trumain Carroll’s summer conditioining program factors with so many reporting lighter and quicker. And it shows, Morris has said throughout the August preseason.

Defensive coordinator John Chavis, new to Arkansas like Morris and offensive coordinator Joe Craddock, is the Southeastern Conference’s most experienced coordinator with 23 years of experience at Tennessee, LSU and Texas A&M. Chavis explained the improvement is not just timed by a stopwatch.

“We wanted our kids to see the difference in speed, and yes, there is a difference,” Chavis said. “But that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve gained speed. It means they understand what they are doing. It’s a lot easier to go full speed and play fast when you are confident in your responsibilities and technique.”

Morris repeatedly calls this “a better team” than when he first arrived that’s “laying in the weeds” to surprise the forecasts mostly predicting the Hogs to finish last in the SEC West again.

Improved though they may be, these Hogs still face an uphill fight. They have yet to determine a starting quarterback between fourth-year junior Ty Storey and third-year sophomore Cole Kelley.

Having one quarterback on which to hang their hat would be nice. However, if they truly believe they can be OK with either, then the biggest problem remains last year’s biggest offensive problem: The offensive line.

Losing junior incumbent left tackle Colton Jackson at least to midseason after July back surgery casts a critical stone at what last year was a glass house. Senior incumbent left guard Hjalte Froholdt is both the Razorbacks’ best guard and best center, though he didn’t start extensively practicing at center until the second week in August. Junior backup defensive tackle Austin Capps of Star City was moved to the O-line competing with redshirting freshman Kirby Adcock at left guard.

Tight end, with juniors Austin Cantrell, Cheyenne O’Grady, second-year senior junior college transfer Jeremy Patton and thirdyear sophomore Grayson Gunter, all talented filling a position with multiple roles, and running back are the deepest offensive positions.

Devwah Whaley, the junior slimmed to run back to freshman flash instead of slower sophomore days, speedsters Chase Hayden and T.J. Hammonds and junior college transfer Rakeem Boyd have impressed Morris and Craddock.

Receivers have to be helped with senior Jared Cornelius, last year’s best returning receiver from 2016 but hardshipped last season with a torn Achilles tendon in Game Three, returned and sophomore speedster Jordan Jones of Smackover moved from an unhappy spring in the slot to run freer at wideout.

Jonathan Nance, last year’s receiving leader, returns. So does junior La’Michael Pettway, big

and fast but needing to match results to his talent.

Capps’ move now assures that the Hogs’ best and most versatile defensive lineman, junior Hope High alum McTelvin “Sosa” Agim, will be more tackle than end joining seniors T. J. Smith and Armon Watts in an inside rotation. At the defensive ends, senior Randy Ramsey, junior Gabe Richardson and junior Jamario Bell ease moving Agim inside.

Preseason All-SEC junior De’Jon “Scoota” Harris and senior Dre Greenlaw are mainstays at middle and weakside linebacker with Grant Morgan, Dee Walker and Hayden Henry ready to provide needed relief. Losing senior nickel back Kevin Richardson to a broken foot was a blow, though D’Vone McClure supplies his nickel’s worth.

Senior safety Santos Ramirez and senior corner Ryan Pulley are secondary indispensables, while sophomores Kamren Curl, moved from corner to safety, and Chevin Calloway, stepping up at corner, have impressed.