Arkansas
Can NFL’s Dallas Cowboys Squeeze Enough ‘Juice’ Out of Arkansas Razorbacks’ Ridgeway to Build Super Bowl Defense?
OXNARD, Calif. – With the arrival of Micah Parsons final yr, the Dallas Cowboys bought formally launched to an idea that has drawn the love of Cowboys administration – “Juice.”
Parsons introduced a talent that far exceeded his projections. What he additionally introduced was an vitality and aggression that was contagious.
Because it unfold all through the protection, the entrance workplace and coaches watched as a group weak spot developed a stage of respect whereas transferring to the center of the pack within the league.
With that in thoughts, phrase is the workers wished to copy and develop the juice on the group in hopes the protection may progress additional right into a Tremendous Bowl stage protection. However juice cannot come from simply anybody regardless of how a lot they’ve.
Former Kentucky cornerback Kelvin Joseph was regarded as somebody who would possibly carry that very same vitality and edge contributed by Parsons. Nonetheless, the workers realized rapidly that Joesph could not be trusted and have become cautious of him as a pacesetter of vitality on the group.
These intestine instincts proved true as Joseph discovered himself using in a automobile with two different males whereas photographs had been fired from the automobile, killing Cameron Ray in mid-March.
With that in thoughts, the Cowboys entrance workplace went into April on the lookout for the proper of juice to combine in alongside Parsons.
That quest fulfilled itself by means of fifth spherical draft decide John Ridgeway of Arkansas. Simply months earlier, the monstrous defensive lineman ran down proprietor Jerry Jones after a Razorback recreation to let Jones know he was going to draft Ridgeway so he may take over.
Now he is in camp seeking to run by way of anybody he can to additional show himself a prophet.
There are males you wish to go to conflict with after which there’s Ridgeway – a mountain of a person who not solely reveals no concern, he relishes fight. He is the type of man who appears to be like throughout the way in which at offenses with the look of a child in a toy retailer with an enormous reward card.
There are tails to be kicked, he cannot wait to kick them, and he’d adore it in the event you would be part of him within the gleeful kicking of so many tails.
In fact, that is the PG model. We’re a household publication in spite of everything.
His violent, but skilled demeanor, an method that has generated discussions of a future profession in WWE alongside fellow Razorback Dalton Wagner, brings simply the kind of juice the Cowboys entrance workplace hoped.
Nicknamed the “Vanilla Gorilla,” Ridgeway set the tone instantly each verbally and bodily.
“I’ll attempt to break somebody’s neck once I get on the market,” Ridgeway instructed “The Draft Present” after his choice.
Then, throughout OTAs, he bought right into a battle with offensive lineman Josh Ball and needed to be despatched to the showers to chill off. The previous newbie wrestling champion might have flung a helmet or two through the incident and may in all probability keep away from getting despatched away from apply early going ahead, however the message was despatched.
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Do not mess with Ridgeway or pull any of that rookie hazing mess as a result of he’ll knock your head off. In fact, meaning when one other group strains up throughout the way in which, his teammates know that no-nonsense violence and vitality is used of their favor.
Phrase out of camp is that Ridgway has already begun to develop a sure stage of belief. If he can honor that belief towards the Denver Broncos on Saturday, Aug. 13, he could also be effectively on his approach to serving to construct a protection with sufficient juice to beat an NFC championship recreation that dates again to when Dallas and Arkansas followers who really feel actually previous had been in junior excessive.
If he cannot and proves to simply be a scorching head as a substitute, he might discover himself relegated to a WWE NXT ring quicker than he’d like.
HOGS FEED:
FORMER HOGS GET CLOSE-UP VIEW OF HOW QUICK NFL DREAM CAN END
EARLY PRACTICES INDICATE CHEMISTRY STRONG WITH HOGS’ BASKETBALL TEAM
ERIC MUSSELMAN’S COMMON-SENSE VIEW OF DIRECTION COLLEGE SPORTS CONFERENCES ARE TAKING
TREYLON BURKS FINDS WAY TO HANDLE SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES WITH TITANS
RAZORBACKS’ SPECIALISTS NAMED TO WATCH LISTS FOR NATIONAL TROPHIES
MIKE NEIGHBORS ANNOUNCES HISTORIC NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
RAZORBACKS’ FOOTBALL RECORDS THAT WON’T BE BROKEN
CARDINALS QB IN DANGER OF CHECK EQUALING PASSING YARDS AGAINST HOGS
RICKY STROMBERG ADDED TO WATCH LIST FOR OUTLAND TROPHY
BUMPER POOL’S DRIVE TO BE ALL-TIME LEADING TACKLER FOR HOGS
HOW DID PITTMAN RANK IN TERMS OF ENTERTAINMENT AT SEC MEDIA DAYS?
ALL-AMERICAN SAFETY JALEN CATALON ON INJURY LAST YEAR, LOOKING AHEAD TO SEASON
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Arkansas
WATCH: Oklahoma HC Porter Moser, Players Central Arkansas Postgame
Carson Field has worked full-time in the sports media industry since 2020 in Colorado, Texas and Wyoming as well as nationally, and he has earned degrees from Arizona State University and Texas A&M University. When he isn’t covering the Sooners, he’s likely golfing, fishing or doing something else outdoors.
Twitter: https://x.com/carsondfield
Arkansas
Purdue football adds another linebacker from Arkansas
Purdue football coach Barry Odom makes first public appearance
Purdue football coach Barry Odom addresses questions from media in first public appearance in West Lafayette
WEST LAFAYETTE − Purdue football continues to stockpile Arkansas linebackers.
After snagging Razorback Alex Sanford out of the transfer portal, the Boilermakers picked up a commitment from Carson Dean.
Dean was a redshirt freshman for Arkansas this season and played in two games.
Dean, from Frisco, Texas, was a three star prospect by 247Sports out of Hebron High who had 17 offers, including Purdue.
In high school, Dean was an all-district outside linebacker after compiling 85 tackles, including 21 for loss as a senior in 2022.
At the time of his commitment, Barry Odom was Arkansas’ defensive coordinator and Mike Scherer, recently hired as Purdue’s defensive coordinator, was the Arkansas linebackers coach.
Scherer recruited Dean to Arkansas.
Odom’s staff, in need of linebackers after Kydran Jenkins graduated and Yanni Karlaftis transferred to Northwestern.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
Arkansas
Purdue lands pledge from Arkansas LB transfer Alex Sanford
Purdue is starting to pick up steam on the transfer portal market as former Arkansas linebacker Alex Sanford announced his commitment to the Boilermakers following an official visit to West Lafayette this weekend.
Sanford becomes Purdue’s second transfer portal pickup of the cycle and second from Arkansas, following quarterback Malachi Singleton, who announced his commitment to the Boilermakers earlier this week.
The redshirt freshman linebacker had committed to Arkansas to play for Barry Odom and Mike Scherer when the two were coaching in Fayetteville. Two years later he now follows the Boilermakers’ new head coach and defensive coordinator to West Lafayette at a position of need.
Purdue had a thin linebacker corps this season, which saw Kydran Jenkins and Yanni Karlaftis depart this off-season. Sanford now joins Hudson Miller, Winston Berglund and Owen Davis as players with experience at the linebacker position for the Boilermakers heading into 2025.
Sanford has had a minimal role on defense during his career, playing just nine snaps, but he has carved out a consistent role on special teams. Sanford had the third most special teams snaps of any Razorback in 2024, and 328 across his two seasons, serving on the kick return, kick coverage, punt return and punt coverage units, holding a 65.2 Pro Football Focus grade in that regard.
Sanford will have two years of eligibility remaining with the Boilermakers.
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