Winning at least six games with newly hired head coach Chad Morris at the helm, is the primary focus for Arkansas football come the 2018 campaign.
Arkansas football had one of the worst runs of any SEC program in 2017. The Razorbacks had a season to forget, in what amounted to head coach Bret Bielema’s final year in Fayetteville. With only four wins, the Hogs rounded out the year at the bottom of the SEC West standings.
Former SMU Mustangs head coach Chad Morris joins the Hogs with the goal of revamping the offense and at least getting them back to bowl eligibility. With only one win in SEC play in 2017, Arkansas could use a jolt of energy coming from an entirely new coaching staff. That’s what Morris brings to the table in 2018.
The era of the Allen brothers is also over in Fayetteville. Senior quarterback Austin Allen followed his older brother, Brandon Allen, in succession with a fair amount of success. That was until 2017 at least. Injuries and defensive issues caused Allen’s senior year to get knocked off the rails.
Rising sophomore quarterback Cole Kelley got thrown into the fire, especially in starts against the Auburn Tigers and eventual National Champions Alabama Crimson Tide. In action where Allen was actually healthy, he tossed 10 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Arkansas did have some heart breakers in SEC play. After the first four contests of the regular season, the Hogs sat at .500 and looked to still reach bowl eligibility. An overtime loss to the Texas A&M Aggies in Week 4 changed the fortunes of the Hogs the rest of the way.
Landing road games against the LSU Tigers, Ole Miss Rebels, South Carolina Gamecocks, and Alabama is a tough slate for any team, let alone one with the struggles of Arkansas in 2017. The Hogs get a more favorable schedule in 2018.
Here are three ways the Arkansas Razorbacks can improve from the 2017 season.