Arkansas Razorbacks: Five reasons why Hogs can win the SEC

Nov 22, 2014; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks offensive guard Brey Cook (74) and staff hold back offensive lineman Denver Kirkland (55) after a play against the Ole Miss Rebels at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas defeated Mississippi 30-0. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

3. The Offensive Line is the Best in the SEC

Last season, Arkansas had the biggest offensive line in football. Not the biggest offensive line in college football, but an offensive line that outweighed the O-Line of the Oakland Raiders, making them the largest group of five human beings to waddle up to the line of scrimmage in an American football game anywhere on the planet.

Actually, waddle isn’t the right word. As big as the Hogs were, they were surprisingly athletic and helped pave the way for an offense that gained more than 400 yards per game last season, 218 of which came on the ground.

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The 2015 Hogs are going to be just as good – maybe better. Four players return that have combined to start 78 games, including 50 last season. Dan Skipper (6-foot-10, 307 pounds) and Denver Kirkland (6-foot-5, 343 pounds) may be the best pair of tackles in the SEC now that Skipper has moved from left tackle to a more comfortable spot on the right side, and Kirkland took over at left tackle after earning Honorable Mention All-SEC honors at right guard last year.

All-SEC candidate Sebastian Tretola (most famous for throwing a touchdown pass against UAB last season) returns at left guard and Mitch Smothers made all 13 starts at center in 2014. The newest starter is likely to be Frank Ragnow, who played more than 200 snaps across eight games last season as a true freshman.

Thanks to Bielema’s emphasis on recruiting big, strong, athletic offensive linemen, this group is also deeper than it was a year ago.

According to Matt Stinchcomb of SEC Now on the SEC Network, Arkansas has the second best offensive line in the SEC, behind Georgia. Phil Steele and Athlon Sports agree, and both pre-season magazines think the Razorbacks have one of the top five O-Lines in the nation. Lindy’s is a little more optimistic, and ranked the Hogs atop their list of SEC offensive lines.

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