HawgBeat’s top-20 countdown series previews 20 players who are expected to have the biggest impact for Arkansas football in 2023. The series will provide details on each player’s measurables, their 2022 season, an outlook for 2023 and HawgBeat’s take.
Checking in at No. 12 is senior defensive back Alfahiym Walcott.
Position: Defensive back
Year: Senior
Height, Weight: 6-foot-2, 215 pounds
PFF Grade in 2022: 75.4
Snaps played in 2022: 797
As a junior for Baylor, Walcott had a stellar 2022 campaign. The North Carolina native totaled 83 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception and three forced fumbles. He earned Second-Team All-Big 12 honors from the Associated Press for his efforts.
Walcott had double-digit tackles in two games, including 11 against Kansas State and 10 versus Texas. His lone interception came in the game against Texas Tech. His 75.4 defense grade from Pro Football Focus was the fourth best on the Baylor defense and he also earned a 63.9 rush defense-grade, a 76.8 coverage grade and an 81.4 pass-rush grade
The 6-foot-2 safety had three games with more than one tackle for loss. Against Texas State and Kansas State, Walcott had two and he had 1.5 versus Oklahoma State. Walcott was a major contributor to a Baylor team that finished No. 62 in the country in passing yards allowed.
Walcott transferred to Arkansas with his Baylor teammate and fellow defensive back Lorando “Snaxx” Johnson, Georgia cornerback Jaheim Singletary, Western Kentucky defensive back AJ Brathwaite Jr., TCU defensive back Kee’yon Stewart. Going into the offseason, Walcott was looked at as a shoo-in to start but an injury prior to spring practice kept him off the field.
Should he be completely healthy, Walcott will have every opportunity to take his spot as either a starting safety or nickel back for the Razorback defense. After playing in and succeeding in the Big 12, a conference known for its high-powered offenses, Walcott should be prepared for the transition to the SEC. Against Ole Miss in the 2021 Sugar Bowl, he made three tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack and one interception that he returned 96 yards for a touchdown.
The senior safety is a guy that could be a top defensive back on the team along with cornerback Dwight McGlothern. He has the speed to protect the pass, the aggressiveness to play close to the line of scrimmage and will drastically help a defense looking to turn its fortune around in 2023.
Multiple teams were recruiting Walcott out of the transfer portal, and there’s a good reason why as experienced and talented defensive backs are hard to come by across college football.
The All-Big 12 performer has made 118 tackles in his career along with 11 tackles for loss, two sacks, four interceptions and three forced fumbles. If he can stay healthy, there’s no reason to think he can’t replicate his success in Fayetteville with the Razorbacks.
**JOIN THE CONVERSATION WITH ARKANSAS FANS ON THE TROUGH, HAWGBEAT’S PREMIUM MESSAGE BOARD**
On a bitter afternoon in Kansas City, Missouri, the No. 19 Arkansas Razorbacks (5-2) were defeated by the Illinois Fighting Illini (6-1), 90-77, inside the T-Mobile Center.
Right out of the gates, Arkansas’ lack of physicality and focus was noticable. Not only did that result in 11 total turnovers throughout the contest, but the Razorbacks couldn’t stop the Illini from finishing white-hot from distance (15-of-31 from three), either.
Leading the Hogs was forward Adou Thiero, who racked up 26 points, six rebounds, an assist and a steal. 12 of his points came from the charity stripe, where he shot 21 attempts in total.
Below are social media reactions from fans and media throughout the Hoop Hogs’ non-conference loss:
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -— If Taylen Green and Luke Hasz needed more motivation going into his first Battle Line Rivalry game this Saturday, then being ticked off at Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz for blatantly butchering their names should do it.
“Talon Green” pic.twitter.com/iIO8EhjG4i
— Tyler Cass (@TVTylerCass) November 26, 2024
Green’s name isn’t hard to pronounce given it sounds just like it looks Tay-Len, not Tal-On as Drinkwitz said. It’s obvious that Missouri’s coach knows exactly what he’s doing given his antics over the previous four seasons that get under other SEC fanbase’s and coaches skin.
The Boise State transfer has shown himself to be a playmaker when he can take care of the ball. Green has recorded 3,052 yards of total offense and 20 touchdowns this season and could make a statement with a clean performance and victory at Missouri.
Not seen in the short clip is a few seconds later Drinkwitz saying Luke Hasz’ name as “Halls” which is totally off and a pronunciation most haven’t heard. It’s the small things like this which Missouri’s coach is allowed to get away with by most conference members.
Nearly 20 years ago, former LSU coach Les Miles had an infamous press conference as he was being courted by Michigan to be its next coach in 2007. The Tigers were No. 1 in the nation with a 10-1 record overall going up against 7-4 Arkansas.
As he was being asked about the Michigan noise, Miles assured media and fans that he was focused as LSU’s head coach and playing its rival “Ar-Kansas” that Black Friday.
Lol remember how Les Miles pronounced Arkansas? pic.twitter.com/GstRPjMSpP
— KB (@KBKnowzBest) November 24, 2019
Arkansas coach Houston Nutt used the soundbite above as motivation for his team that day as the Razorbacks pulled out a memorable 50-48 triple overtime victory which was thought to end LSU’s title hopes. Two-time Heisman runner up Darren McFadden had one of his finest performances in one of the Hogs’ greatest wins in program history with 206 yards rushing and four total touchdowns.
Immediately after the game, Nutt and McFadden met with CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson to celebrate their monumental upset. The Razorbacks’ coach embraced his star running back and proclaimed him as the best player in the country. The proud Little Rock native responded with a correction of Miles stating “It ain’t Ar-Kansas, it’s Arkansas, baby!”
“I GOT THAT WOOD!”
In 2007, Darren McFadden ran for 206 yards and 4 total TD in @RazorbackFB‘s 3OT upset of No. 1 LSU in Death Valley 💪 pic.twitter.com/tbDakDRWft
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 23, 2020
For the sake of talking about one of the most memorable Arkansas games of all-time, it would be shameful to not at least include highlights of McFadden’s epic performance. That game ended an era as Nutt resigned and moved onto Ole Miss where he spent his next four seasons before becoming an analyst for CBS Sports.
Darren McFadden’s Heisman like performance vs #1 LSU in Death Valley 🐐 (2007) pic.twitter.com/ON2IP0ech5
— College Football Report (@CFBRep) December 27, 2023
The Tigers ended up winning the SEC Championship with several other teams ranked ahead losing to regain a spot in the national title game, ultimately winning it. On that fateful day, it was all about the Razorbacks who brought the wood and beat LSU without doubt similar to what Green could do in response to Drinkwitz.
“That’s how you pronounce it. It ain’t Ta-Lon or Halls, it’s Taylen and Hasz, baby.”
Associated Press
Arkansas Razorbacks (5-1) vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (5-1)
Kansas City, Missouri; Thursday, 4 p.m. EST
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Fighting Illini -2.5; over/under is 154
BOTTOM LINE: Illinois plays No. 19 Arkansas in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Fighting Illini are 5-1 in non-conference play. Illinois leads the Big Ten in rebounding, averaging 46.3 boards. Tomislav Ivisic leads the Fighting Illini with 8.7 rebounds.
The Razorbacks are 5-1 in non-conference play. Arkansas averages 12.5 turnovers per game and is 4-0 when turning the ball over less than opponents.
Illinois scores 89.0 points, 29.8 more per game than the 59.2 Arkansas allows. Arkansas averages 8.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.8 more made shots on average than the 5.5 per game Illinois gives up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Will Riley is scoring 17.2 points per game and averaging 5.3 rebounds for the Fighting Illini.
Boogie Fland is shooting 48.1% from beyond the arc with 2.2 made 3-pointers per game for the Razorbacks, while averaging 17.2 points, 5.5 assists and 2.2 steals.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Trump nominates Dr. Oz to head Medicare and Medicaid and help take on 'illness industrial complex'
Holiday gatherings can lead to stress eating: Try these 5 tips to control it
CheekyMD Offers Needle-Free GLP-1s | Woman's World
Despite warnings from bird flu experts, it's business as usual in California dairy country
Lost access? Here’s how to reclaim your Facebook account
Alameda County child believed to be latest case of bird flu; source unknown
Behind Comcast's big TV deal: a bleak picture for once mighty cable industry
Review: A tense household becomes a metaphor for Iran's divisions in 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig'
