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Arkansas Football: 5 bold predictions for 2017 season

By Connor Muldowney

AUBURN, AL - OCTOBER 22: Austin Allen #8 of the Arkansas Razorbacks runs while looking to pass against the Auburn Tigers in the first quarter of the game at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 22, 2016 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL - OCTOBER 22: Austin Allen #8 of the Arkansas Razorbacks runs while looking to pass against the Auburn Tigers in the first quarter of the game at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 22, 2016 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Can Arkansas football finally reach the 10-win mark under Bret Bielema? Here are five bold predictions for the Razorbacks’ 2017 season.

Entering the 2017 season, Arkansas football has high hopes for a potential 10-win season and contention in the SEC West. However, Bret Bielema’s squad is losing some depth at key positions and the Razorbacks might just be looking at another mediocre 7-5 or 6-6 season.

Would another mediocre season be enough to keep Bielema around in 2018? It’s possible, but it doesn’t look like the Razorbacks can withstand yet another disappointing season.

That looked to change in 2016 as the Razorbacks began the year 4-1 with a nice road win over TCU, but Arkansas came back down to earth in conference play, going just 3-5. The Razorbacks barely made a bowl game, but did so and lost to Virginia Tech to finis the season 7-6.

Things might be looking up, though. The talent is in place and this team seems to be ready to defy the odds and shock the conference. Can they become serious threats to Alabama’s throne?

Check out our five bold predictions for 2017.

5. Defense ranks in top 25 nationally against the pass

Following a season in which Arkansas allowed about 221 yards per game through the air, three starters in the secondary return.

Ryan Pulley is a potential breakout star as a junior corner, Henre’ Toliver is entering his senior season as a returning starter at the other corner and Josh Liddell, also a senior, was second on the team in tackles as a starting safety in 2016. All three guys return to a solid secondary that is only going to get better.

Add in senior De’Andre Coley who had 36 total tackles last season at safety and you have a formidable group of defensive backs. Santos Ramirez will play the role of backup safety as a senior with starting experience and the rest of the unit is young and inexperienced, but loaded with talent.

Is it too far-fetched to believe this group will finish in the top 25 nationally against the pass after a 58th-ranked 2016 season? Maybe, but it’s going to happen.

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