Arkansas Football: Santos Ramirez is 2017 defensive MVP for Razorbacks

Possibly the most valuable player on the entire Arkansas football roster in 2017 was junior defensive back Santos Ramirez.

Arkansas football had a tough season, finishing dead last in the SEC West, and firing head coach Bret Bielema. With former SMU Mustangs head coach Chad Morris taking over in Fayetteville, the Razorbacks can take some steps in the right direction in 2018. On defense, that can start with junior safety Santos Ramirez.

The Hogs’ secondary formed a rather talented group. Some of the results in the SEC this year did not show that, but some of the Arkansas defensive backs will play on Sundays. Ramirez led a group including three other seniors: Josh Liddell, Henre’ Tolliver, and Kevin Richardson.

Of all the defensive backs, Ramirez led the group with 63 total tackles, eight pass deflections, and three forced fumbles. His number of forced fumbles lead the entire team too. Arkansas would have actually been a lot worse off without Ramirez anchoring down the secondary.

Not only did Ramirez lead by example with his play, but he was also voted a team captain for the Hogs in 2017. He’s also another Arkansas defensive back that will be playing in the NFL. Ramirez is likely to come back for his senior year, especially with Morris at the helm now.

Outside of some of Ramirez’s team leading stats, he also registered one interception, one fumble recovery, and two tackles for loss. It was the first time that Ramirez notched a tackle for loss in his three year college career.

Next: Arkansas Football: 5 takeaways from 2017 season

Ramirez either set or tied career highs in every major defensive stat category in 2017. He also led the team in a few of them as well. If he returns to Fayetteville for his senior year, Morris and the Hogs have a true leader that can help ease the transition on defense.