Arkansas football: Forecasting the Hogs 2021 season
Renowned writer Phil Steele forecasted the upcoming Arkansas football season in his annual college football preview. Although they finished with only three victories, the Razorbacks were one of the best stories of 2020. They entered the season in the midst of the longest SEC-losing streak in school history, 19 games. A loss to Georgia in the season opener pushed that number to 20, and many wondered just how high it would grow with an SEC-only schedule.
The Hogs quickly ended that speculation by beating Mississippi State the following week. They went on to finish 3-7 in coach Sam Pittman’s inaugural season, and their only double-digit losses came against Georgia, Florida, and Texas A&M ― all top 10 teams at the time.
They return 19 total starters in 2021 and have their eye on a bowl appearance. Below is a summary of Steele’s prognosis.
The Offense
Arkansas football brings back potential Biletnikoff candidate Treylon Burks at receiver.
He finished with 710 receiving yards this past season and will have a new quarterback, as last year’s starter Feleipe Franks signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent. KJ Jefferson is slated to take over and recorded four total touchdowns in his lone start of 2020.
The offensive line is the biggest key. The Hogs were young in 2020 and return all five starters. As a former offensive line coach, Pitman, will have that unit in shape soon by many experts’ estimations.
The Defense
The Arkansas defense got off to a hot start to the 2020 season, forcing 13 turnovers combined in its first four games.
Those numbers were unsustainable and the Razorbacks struggled mightily against the run in a three-man front. They gave up 451.7 yards per game ― the second-most in school history. Barry Odom should have those numbers down this season.
The Razorbacks bring back two of the top five tacklers in the SEC from this past season in linebackers Grant Morgan and Bumper Pool. Jalen Catalon returns at safety after recording 99 tackles and three interceptions in his freshman season.
The Forecast
Arkansas football has arguably the toughest schedule in the sport.
In addition to Texas in the nonconference, the Razorbacks face Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU and Texas A&M in league play. That is the only thing standing in their way of improving upon a 3-7 SEC record from a year ago.
Pittman will no doubt instill the same fight in his players that enabled them to pull off three upsets this past season. It won’t be easy, but the Razorbacks have a chance to make a bowl in 2021. To be able to say that after where the program was to start last season is an incredible feat.
Photo courtesy of Wesley Hitt/Getty Images.