2014 OUTLOOK
2014 @RAZORBACKFB MEDIA GUIDE
2014 OUTLOOK
Darius Philon returns after a solid first year with Arkansas in 2013.
THE DEFENSE
THE SPECIAL TEAMS
New defensive coordinator Robb Smith will have 20 returning lettermen, including six starters, and 16 who have started at least one game in their career at his disposal for the 2014 season. Arkansas returns players who accounted for 66 percent of its tackles, 63 percent of its tackles for loss, 50 percent of its sacks, 88 percent of its interceptions, 82 percent of its pass breakups, 100 percent of its forced fumbles and 50 percent of its fumble recoveries from 2013. Trey Flowers returns to lead the Razorbacks’ defensive line. A 2013 second-team All-SEC selection who has received recognition on numerous preseason All-America and All-SEC teams entering the season, Flowers ranked second in the SEC with an average of 1.23 tackles for loss per game and with three forced fumbles in 2013. Arkansas is replacing the other three starters on the defensive line but has a talented young corps led by tackle Darius Philon and end Deatrich Wise Jr. Arkansas returns a linebacker unit led by senior Braylon Mitchell, who ranked second among Razorbacks in 2013 with 77 tackles. He is expected to be joined by sophomore Brooks Ellis, who started the final four games of his true freshman campaign and collected 33 tackles, and senior Martrell Spaight, who could move into a starting role one season after transferring to Arkansas. The Razorbacks return four starters in the secondary, led by senior Alan Turner. The safety led Arkansas and ranked seventh in the SEC with 97 tackles in 2013. His per-game tackle average of 8.08 also ranked seventh in the conference. Junior Rohan Gaines also returns at the safety position after appearing in 10 games and starting five last season. At cornerback, Will Hines and Tevin Mitchel started the majority of last season but the Razorbacks also return sophomores D.J. Dean and Jared Collins, who started the last two games of the year, and senior Carroll Washington, who earned four starts in 2013.
Punter Sam Irwin-Hill returns for the Razorbacks after a remarkable debut season in 2013. He averaged 44.3 yards per punt, ranking third in the SEC and 13th in the NCAA, and ranked fourth in the conference with 20 punts inside the 20-yard line. Irwin-Hill also unleashed the secondlongest punt in the nation last year with a 79 yarder vs. South Carolina. Korliss Marshall provided a jolt to the Arkansas return unit, totaling 422 yards on 19 kickoff returns. His yards total was third in the SEC among returners with less than 20 returns and 11th overall in the conference.
Sam Irwin-Hill
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