Arkansas Football Preseason Outlook: Linebacker

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ linebackers room lost an All-American in Drew Sanders and the program’s all-time tackles leader in Bumper Pool following the 2022 season.

But the Razorbacks should still enter preseason camp Friday confident in the second level of their defense.

Chris Paul, a redshirt sophomore, showed terrific instincts and glimpses of an All-SEC performer last fall. He finished with 62 tackles, 8 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. Paul started the team’s final two games after Pool was shut down due to injuries to his hips and back and recorded 21 tackles, including a career-best 12 against Kansas at the Liberty Bowl.

Paul posted the third-highest overall defense grade (76.2) among Arkansas’ returnees, according to Pro Football Focus. Defensive backs Dwight McGlothern and Hudson Clark came in at 77.2 and 77.0, respectively, in 2022.

Jordan Crook, Mani Powell and Kaden Henley are returning players. Crook, a sophomore, played 122 defensive snaps, per PFF, and was stout in run defense with a grade of 90.6 in 40 snaps. He had 10 tackles in the final spring scrimmage.

Powell and Henley hope to push into the rotation this preseason.

The Razorbacks hit the NCAA transfer portal for two key pieces. Antonio Grier, entering his sixth college season, arrived at Arkansas from South Florida and made an impact in spring drills. He had 209 total tackles from 2019-21, including a career-best 92 stops and 9 tackles for loss in 2021.

Jaheim Thomas of Cincinnati was the final transfer addition, committing in early May. He did not go through spring practices with the Razorbacks, but he figures to factor in immediately. Thomas finished with seven tackles against Arkansas during the 2022 season opener in Fayetteville.

Thomas was third last season in tackles (70) on a Bearcats defense that finished 20th nationally in scoring defense (20.6 points allowed). He also posted a run defense grade of 80.6 over 238 such snaps, per PFF.

Alex Sanford, Brad Spence and Carson Dean are the top freshmen at the position. Dean finished with eight tackles in the team’s final scrimmage of the spring. He was a 4-star prospect, according to Rivals, while Sanford and Spence were 3-star signees.

More preseason football position group outlooks

• Wide receiver and tight end

• Backfield