Arkansas

Arkansas’ Defensive Line Provides Sizeable Test for Cowboys’ Offensive Front

Published

1 year ago

September 4, 2024

Arkansas’ Defensive Line Provides Sizeable Test for Cowboys’ Offensive Front

STILLWATER — South Dakota State’s starting defensive line had an average weight of about 266 pounds. The Razorbacks come to Boone Pickens on Saturday with a stout defensive line that averages about 33 pounds heavier per player.

That’s the difference between the FCS level and the SEC.

“When you’re playing a team in the SEC, you’re going to play girth,” OSU coach Mike Gundy said. “You’re going to run into guys that have a lot of guys with a lot of size and are physical in the box. They have a really good geographical location for producing bigger type bodies like that. That’s where I mentioned that we need to make good strides from last week to this week in order to block a completely different front than we did last week.”

Arkansas’ defensive line might be the most impressive part of its team as the Razorbacks head to Stillwater this weekend for a game against Oklahoma State at 11 a.m. Saturday in Boone Pickens Stadium. OSU will match that group with an uber-experienced offensive line, a unit that will try to open lanes for Ollie Gordon and keep Alan Bowman upright. That battle in the trenches could be the matchup within the matchup that decides this game.

As good an FCS team as South Dakota State is, the Jackrabbits aren’t near as big on the defensive front. SDSU defensive tackles Jarod DePriest and Max Boloun are each listed at 285 pounds. Arkansas DTs Eric Gregory and Cameron Ball are listed at 320 and 324, respectively.

On top of that size in the middle, the Razorbacks D-line features a projected first round NFL Draft pick in defensive end Landon Jackson, who is listed at 6-foot-7, 280 pounds.

Jackson is the most prominent example of how highly touted this group is considered. Among those four starters from Arkansas’ season-opening 70-0 win against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, three were considered four-star prospects by at least one of the major recruiting services. All were considered top 500 recruits in their respective classes.

Jackson was a classmate of OSU linebacker Nick Martin while the two were high schoolers at Pleasant Grove in Texarkana, Texas. Jackson initially went to LSU out of high school over offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon and others. What a ridiculous defense the Pleasant Grove Hawks must’ve had that season.

“I know their nose guards are very heavy,” OSU left tackle Dalton Cooper said. “Their nose guards, D tackles, they’re 320, 330, so they’re gonna be heavier-set guys. These last guys we played, they were like 280, 275. Not gonna say they were like easy to block, but they definitely aren’t gonna be as challenging as these Arkansas guys.

“Then Landon Jackson, the D end, No. 40, he’s just a player. He’s projected first-round pick — whatever that is. We gotta treat them like we do every week. Just attack the day, don’t get too far ahead in our minds and just stay humble and grounded in what we do.”

So, that’s the Arkansas side of the tale of the tape. On OSU’s side, the Cowboys start five sixth-year seniors along the offensive line. On top of that, the Cowboys regularly worked in Arizona State transfer Isaia Glass on Saturday to give Cooper some breathers. The unit kept Bowman, OSU’s quarterback, clean as a Buc-ee’s bathroom on Saturday, as Bowman wasn’t sacked and was hurried only three times.

OSU’s offensive line did, though, have a bit of a harder time run blocking. The Cowboys ran for 3.8 yards per carry. Gordon, the reigning Doak Walker winner, still had his numbers, going for 126 yards and three touchdowns, but he still had to work for it. Gordon led the nation in broken tackles in Week 1, according to PFF.

If the Cowboys want to be the team many orange-clad supporters think they can be, a good performance from OSU’s offensive line against a stout Arkansas front four will go a long way in proving that the Pokes’ College Football Playoff aspirations are possible.

“Our double teams, our combo blocks, weren’t as solid as they could’ve been (against South Dakota State),” Cooper said. “Either we were falling off early or staying on too long and not picking up the backer flowing over. We just gotta be better with that. We know what we need to do, and that’s all we’re doing this week is to fix that so we can get ready for this Arkansas game.”

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Arkansas

No. 10 Texas looks to rebound against Arkansas after tough loss to Georgia

Published

8 hours ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

No. 10 Texas looks to rebound against Arkansas after tough loss to Georgia

Arkansas (2-8) at No. 10 Texas (7-3), Nov. 22 at 3:30 p.m. EST.

How to watch: ABC

Key stats

Texas Offense

Overall: 370.7 yards per game (80th in FBS)

Passing: 246.6 yards per game (50th)

Rushing: 124.1 yards per game (103rd)

Scoring: 27.6 points per game (68th)

Texas Defense

Overall: 318.3 yards per game (23rd in FBS)

Passing: 235.1 yards per game (92nd)

Rushing: 83.2 yards per game (6th)

Scoring: 18.3 points per game (15th)

Arkansas Offense

Overall: 470.0 yards per game (13th in FBS)

Passing: 264.6 yards per game (33rd)

Rushing: 205.4 yards per game (18th)

Scoring: 34.1 points per game (25th)

Arkansas Defense

Overall: 426.5 yards per game (123rd in FBS)

Passing: 245.3 yards per game (108th)

Rushing: 181.2 yards per game (115th)

Scoring: 32.3 points per game (121st)

Texas ranks 25th in FBS in defensive third down percentage, allowing opponents to convert on 33.8% of third downs.

Arkansas is 129th in the FBS with a -10 turnover margin, compared to Texas’ 12th-ranked +8 margin.

Texas ranks 119th in the FBS with 65.3 penalty yards per game.

Arkansas ranks 114th in FBS in red zone defense, allowing opponents to score on % of trips.

Team leaders

Texas

Passing: Arch Manning, 2,374 yards, 19 TDs, 7 INTs, 62.7 completion percentage

Rushing: Quintrevion Wisner, 375 yards on 97 carries, 3 TDs

Receiving: Ryan Wingo, 655 yards on 40 catches, 6 TDs

Arkansas

Passing: Taylen Green, 2,537 yards, 19 TDs, 10 INTs, 62.1 completion percentage

Rushing: Mike Washington, 913 yards on 140 carries, 7 TDs

Receiving: O’Mega Blake, 678 yards on 51 catches, 4 TDs

Last game

Texas fell to Georgia 35-10 on Saturday, Nov. 15. Manning led Texas with 251 yards on 27-of-43 passing (62.8%) for one touchdown and one interception. Wisner had 37 rushing yards on nine carries, adding two receptions for 10 yards. DeAndre Moore Jr. recorded 75 yards on five catches.

Arkansas lost 23-22 to LSU on Saturday, Nov. 15. Green passed for 165 yards on 11-of-19 attempts (57.9%) with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He also carried the ball 17 times for 70 yards and one rushing touchdown. Washington had 85 rushing yards on 13 carries and one touchdown, adding one reception for six yards. Raylen Sharpe put up 65 yards on four catches.

Next game

Texas hosts No. 3 Texas A&M on Nov. 28. Arkansas hosts Missouri on Nov. 29.

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Arkansas

#21 Arkansas Cruises Past Jackson State

Published

1 day ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

FAYETTEVILLE – Malique Ewin scored 21 points, making 8-of-9 from the field – including his first career 3-pointer – and 4-of-4 from the line, while Karter Knox posted his second double-double of the season, with 17 points and 10 rebounds, to lead the 21st-ranked Razorbacks to a 115-61 victory over Jackson State Friday night at Bud Walton Arena.

Arkansas also got outstanding performances from D.J. Wagner (16 points on 6-of-6 shooting with seven assists) and Billy Richmond III (14 points with three highlight-reel dunks in the first half. Meleek Thomas added 13 points while Darius Acuff Jr. and Isaia Sealy each scored 10 points.

Arkansas put the game out of reach with a 24-0 run that spanned the end of the first half into the start of the second. The Hogs also had a 22-6 run midway through the second half to lead 89-33 with 9:50 left.

The Razorbacks shot 63.9% from the field for the game – 74.2% in the second half – thanks to a season-high 16 dunks. (Arkansas entered the game with 24 dunks in the first five games combined.)

Ewin had five of the 16 dunks and the senior made his first career 3-pointer. (He is now 1-of-2 from deep for his career.) Richmond and Knox each added three dunks.

Tamarion Hoover led Jackson State with 19 points, making 4-of-9 from 3-point range.

Up next, Arkansas will travel to Chicago to face #5 Duke for the CBS Thanksgiving Classic on Thursday (Nov. 27). Tipoff at the United Center is set for 7 pm (CT), and the game will be televised on CBS.

FIRST HALF: ARK: 47 – JSU: 19

Arkansas went on a 14-2 run to race out to a 22-9 lead. Jackson State was 1-of-9 from the field over the stretch.
After Jackson State made a 3-pointer to cut their deficit to 12 (31-19), Arkansas closed the half on a 16-0 run to lead 47-19. The run started before the Tigers’ triple and was a 20-3 run over the final 6:43.
Arkansas shot 53% from the field while holding Jackson State to 21% shooting.
Jackson State had nine turnovers thanks to seven Arkansas steals.
Billy Richmond III led Arkansas with 10 points, including three dunks.
The last time Arkansas held an opponent to fewer than 20 points in the first half was UMES last season (11/26/24) with 15.

SECOND HALF: ARK: 68 – JSU: 42

Arkansas opened the second half on an 18-4 run, including an 8-0 spurt at the start of the frame.
From the 15-minute mark to the 9:29 mark, Arkansas out-scored the Tigers 22-6.
Arkansas had zero turnovers in the second half with 14 assists. Arkansas forced 11 second-half turnovers.
Ewin scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half. He was 7-of-8 from the field.
Arkansas scored 68 points in the second half. The last time it scored at least 60 in a half was getting 60 in the first half versus Maryland-Eastern Shore last season (11/26/24).

NOTES:

Arkansas’ starting lineup was Darius Acuff Jr., D.J. Wagner, Karter Knox, Trevon Brazile and Nick Pringle. It was the first time for this starting lineup and the fourth starting lineup overall.
JSU’s Dorian McMillian scored the game’s first points, a layup at 18:23. Nick Pringle scored Arkansas’s first points with two free throws at 18:05.
Arkansas’s first subs were Meleek Thomas and Billy Richmond III.
Arkansas is 13-0 all-time versus Jackson State.
Arkansas improves to 142-6 all-time when scoring at least 100 points. Coach Calipari is 48-0 all-time when scoring at least 100 points.
Coach Cal is now 18 wins shy of 900 as head coach of a Division I program.
Arkansas entered the game 8th in the NCAA in fastbreak points (23.6 ppg). The Hogs had 34 fastbreak points, compared to four by the Tigers. The 34 fastbreak points is the most in a game since the stat has been tracked (2011-12) with the previous high being 32 vs Southern this year and UCA in 2021. (HogStats.com)

For more information on Arkansas Men’s Basketball, follow @RazorbackMBB on X, Instagram and Facebook.

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Longhorns Wire staff predictions for Texas Football vs. Arkansas

Published

2 days ago

November 21, 2025

Press Room

Longhorns Wire staff predictions for Texas Football vs. Arkansas

It’s been a wild week for Texas Football. First, they were dominated by the Georgia Bulldogs. Then speculation over Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian job status became so overwhelming, Sark had to make not one, but two public statements.

Texas has a very, very slim chance at the college football playoff, but a lot has to go right for that to happen. Whatever happens around them, all the Horns can control is their own performance. Texas has to win, especially against a 2-8 Razorbacks team that has seen their coach fired this season.

If the Longhorns don’t win at home against the Hogs, Texas is staring down a 7-5 record that will turn this season from disappointing to complete disaster.

There are some interesting matchups in this game and the Hogs have some good players dotted around their lineup, including quarterback Taylen Green. But ultimately, the Longhorns have to focus on themselves.

Texas’ offense has been inconsistent all season and the running game has been the worst in decades. Many of the causes stem from an offensive line that has struggled in almost every game. The Horns defense has been good at times, but they have also been picked apart like they were last week in Georgia.

Sarkisian and his team need to look inward if they want to salvage what so far has been a very disappointing 2025.

Tommy Bresee Prediction:

Following the Georgia blowout, the confidence around the Longhorns is at a season-low. Arkansas comes into Austin this weekend, with a 3-7 record but one of the most dangerous QBs and offenses in the country. Taylen Green is capable of taking over this game if the Texas defense isn’t prepared to keep him in check. However, returning to home turf should bring the Longhorns defense back to level.

On the other side, there is little reason the Texas offense shouldn’t have a great day. Arch Manning has been incredible the last month and this is a defense that has allowed most every QB they’ve played to have a career day. I expect the same from Arch Manning here and the Texas offense is able to score in bunches. That, combined with my belief the defense will have a bounce back performance makes me think the Longhorns are able to get a rather comfortable win here.

Final score: Texas 38, Arkansas 24

Jamie Gatlin Prediction:

After a disappointing loss at Georgia last weekend, Texas is back in action on Saturday afternoon against Arkansas. This game represents the perfect bounce-back opportunity.

Through ten games, Arkansas is 2-8. The Longhorns will need a much better performance from Arch Manning and the offense. If Manning can return to form, then this is a game Texas should win easily.

Final score: Texas 28, Arkansas 14

Trey Luerssen Prediction:

Does this Texas team heart? Texas has certainly shown heart at times this season. Comebacks at Kentucky and Mississippi State have certainly shown the Longhorns are quitters. But against Georgia, there seemed to be a few white flags raised after the Bulldogs surprise onside kick in the fourth quarter.

But that’s within a game. What about when the season-long goal is dashed? When the preseason No. 1 team in the nation is all but eliminated from the CFP with two games to go? Does Texas have the heart to go beat a team they should destroy, while all the noise of coaching rumors and fan angst swirls around them?

I saw this team does have heart. I think they might play their best game of the year on Saturday. Free of the pressure of expectation, Texas can just go out and play.

Final score: Texas 42, Arkansas 24

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