Arkansas Razorbacks: Five reasons why Hogs can win the SEC

Nov 22, 2014; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks defense push Ole Miss Rebels running back Mark Dodson (7) into the end zone after stopping Dodson at the line of scrimmage at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas defeated Mississippi 30-0. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

4. Arkansas Has a Top Ten Caliber Defense

In part due to the talent the team has on defense and because of the deliberate pace of the offense, Arkansas ranked in the nation’s top ten in scoring defense (19.2 points per game) and total defense (323.4 yards per game) in 2014. That means the Razorbacks shaved off 11.6 points and 90 yards per game in defensive coordinator Robb Smith’s first season in Fayetteville.

The Razorbacks may need to replace five starters from last year’s unit – including leading tackler Martell Spaight, who had 128 total stops, Trey Flowers, who led the squad with six sacks, and space-eater Darius Philon and his 4.5 sacks – but this year’s defense has a chance to be just as good.

First of all, three starters return from a secondary that held opponents to 208.8 passing yards per game last season – an average that ranked No. 5 in the SEC and No. 37 nationally. Only two teams (Texas A&M and Mississippi State) threw for more than 300 yards last season against the Hogs, and Arkansas held three of their final six opponents (UAB, LSU and Texas) to 87 or fewer passing yards.

Jared Collins (53 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 13 pass breakups) and D.J. Dean (23 tackles, 1 interception, 5 pass breakups) have quietly become one of the best cornerback combinations in the SEC and Rohan Gaines (25 career starts, 59 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 interception, 5 pass breakups) is one of the league’s most experienced and most active safeties.

Next, the linebacker corps will be solid with Brooks Ellis (70 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 5.5 TFL, 2 interceptions), moving from the middle to Spaight’s weak side linebacker spot. Also, speedsters Khalia Hackett and Henre’ Toliver are capable of roaming sideline to sideline at middle and strong side linebacker, respectively, with Josh Harris and Josh Williams at the ready to step in as necessary.

Finally, up front, the Hogs welcome back starting defensive end JaMichael Winston and defensive tackle Taiwan Johnson. Highly recruited sophomore Bijhon Jackson or massive DeMarcus Hodge (6-foot-1, 340 pounds) should step into Philon’s shoes at nose guard. Elsewhere, JUCO transfer Jeremiah Ledbetter could start at Flowers’ old defensive end spot, though Deatrich Wise and Tevin Beanum’ll challenge him.

Lack of experience is a concern in among the front seven and particularly at linebacker, but the starters are just as good as last year’s and the depth is better.