Arkansas defense relying on veteran leadership in 2025
The Arkansas Razorbacks will take the field for the first time on Saturday, and the defense will have plenty of “old heads” lining up for their last first game at Razorback Stadium.
The Arkansas defense is headlined by several redshirt seniors, with names like defensive tackle Cam Ball, linebackers Stephen Dix Jr. and Xavian Sorey Jr. headlining the unit.
“I’m hyped man, it’s kind of bittersweet once again because I know my biggest fan won’t be there to witness it,” Ball said. “But it’s flown by fast and I’m real excited for it. I’m excited for the team. I’m excited for the defense. And I’m also excited to see how we do in Year 6 under Sam Pittman.
Dix said that veteran leadership is something the defense will be relying on throughout the season.
“You got a lot of guys that have been in those situations like crunch time, man, when a play needs to be made, stakes are high and the pressures on,” Dix said. “You need guys that are able to sit in that heat and not fold and not flinch, you know. And I think that’s what we got.”
Older players aren’t just in the starting lineup, though. The Hogs brought in a transfer linebacker over the summer who has played a lot of football in his career.
Trent Whalen, a transfer who played at Southern Utah last season, has impressed the team since he took the field in fall camp. Dix said Whalen has done really well in pass coverage throughout fall camp.
“He’s savvy, especially when it comes to the pass covers,” Dix said. “I don’t know how many picks he’s had this summer. He might have like, like, three or four. I think he’s really savvy in that area. You can see he’s played, he’s been around and played a lot of ball. So, I mean, he’s just another veteran guy we brought along that’s going to be ready to play like now, and that’s exactly what we need.”
Between Sorey, Dix and Whalen, the trio has played a total of 120 games. There’s also more depth behind them in guys like second-year linebacker Bradley Shaw, true freshman Tavion Wallace and UCF transfer Andrew Harris.
With a good blend of older, veteran players and younger guys with more eligibility past this year, it bodes well for Arkansas’ defense down the road as well.
“I think because we have so many guys here that the younger ones under us, they’re going to be able to look at us for the example,” Dix said. “That when they get in that fire, whenever need them to go, it’s a long season, they’ll have that confidence as well, by the example that we’ve set for them. So I think it’s very important. It’s honestly the strength that it’s on defense that we have a lot of guys with experience.”
The Razorbacks will take the field on Saturday to open the season at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium against Alabama A&M. Kickoff is set for 3:15 p.m. CT.
