FAYETTEVILLE — Peel back the University of Arkansas depth chart behind projected starting safeties Hudson Clark and Jayden Johnson and you’ll find … well, that’s what co-defensive coordinator Marcus Woodson has been searching for in training camp.
The Arkansas defensive staff has high hopes for transfers Miguel Mitchell, Doneiko Slaughter and Larry Worth, sophomore TJ Metcalf and freshman Ahkhari Johnson. Yet that group has played precious few snaps as Razorbacks.
Additionally, Slaughter has played more at the nickel back or “Hog” position in camp and Worth has been a linebacker in his past.
“In terms of the back end with the personnel, it’s some musical chairs that’s being played right now,” Woodson said Monday. “The main thing is finding the best pieces of the puzzle to make the main picture be what we need it to be when the 11 take the field for the Hogs’ defense.”
The Razorbacks know what they have in Johnson and Clark, who have combined for 53 starts in their time at Arkansas.
Clark, a fifth-year senior who dates back to the start of the Sam Pittman era in 2020 along with defensive lineman Eric Gregory, has played every position in the Arkansas secondary and he has a great grasp of the schemes of Woodson and second-year coordinator Travis Williams. Johnson, a fourth-year senior, has always been a powerful hitter and he’s taken another step in the leadership category in the last year according to his coaches.
“Jayden Johnson is having a phenomenal camp,” Woodson said. “His consistency has really increased from last year. Jayden has become an extension of the coaching staff and that’s what you want to see.”
Woodson said he spotted Johnson tapping his notebook to encourage freshman cornerback Selman Bridges to take notes while defensive backs coach Deron Wilson was explaining a concept in a Sunday meeting.
“That means leadership is really heading in the right direction from his standpoint and that’s what we need,” Woodson said.
Clark’s return to take advantage of the covid-19 “bonus” year carries big ramifications for the secondary.
“Hudson Clark is Mr. Consistency as well,” Woodson said. “He’s one that understands the big picture of what we’re doing on defense, so you can play him in different positions and he helps other guys get lined up.”
Speaking of Clark, Johnson added: “It’s crazy because we kind of watched each other grow up. Being on the field with him is different. He knows everything that’s going on. If I don’t know something, I know I can lean on Hud. He’s a big part of why this defense is rolling, also.”
Johnson, Metcalf and Slaughter met with the media after Monday’s 11th practice of training camp.
Johnson, the team’s top returning tackler with 62 last year, addressed what it was like being called an extension of the coaches.
“You know, a lot of pressure, but with the guys that we have in our room, I’d say they make it easier,” Johnson said. “You know, I can go up and be, I don’t want to say disrespectful, but I can talk to them in a different way than the coach could, but I also give them the same leeway to talk to me the same way.
“They just listen. They know it’s for the better, and also, I know it’s for the better. I know this group goes off how I go, so I’ve got to be at my best at all times.”
Woodson referred to Metcalf as the most improved defensive back from a year ago, when he notched 15 tackles and a fumble recovery as a true freshman reserve.
“I really just feel like I’ve grown as a player mentally,” Metcalf said. “Because last year I wanted to go in and take somebody’s position and go start. Now, I’m just embracing just being in with my guys … just being on the field with them. Taking it more as a blessing, you know, just growing, even with my brother (freshman Tevis Metcalf) being out there with me, pushing me a little harder.”
Slaughter, who played mostly cornerback at Tennessee last season due to injuries, has gotten run at both safety and nickel back, called the “Hog” by Arkansas coaches. He talked about his ideal position on Monday.
“Nickel, for sure,” Slaughter said. “Yeah, that’s where I’m most comfortable. That, for sure, in the box being able to move around.
“Yeah, I’ve been loving with how Coach T-Will (Williams) is orchestrating the defense and stuff like that. Being able to fit in wherever the system has me works as well.”
Slaughter had 32 tackles to rank ninth on the Volunteers’ defense a year ago, and he added a sack.
He’s one of a large handful of defensive backs who can take reps at multiple spots in the secondary as the Razorbacks experiment with schemes and personnel during camp.
“We’ve got great depth,” Johnson said. “We just got a couple people back from injuries, so we’re just moving people around, letting them get comfortable cause we’re all going to have to play a different position at one point. I feel like everyone is just mingling well and coming together and doing a good job at that.”
The Arkansas secondary was one of the underrated stories in the SEC last year as it improved 99 spots in passing yards allowed per game.
“This time last year the emphasis was togetherness, right, and just creating that camaraderie and the chemistry amongst the group,” Woodson said. “That’s really important, and I think that had a big role into the improvements that we made.
“However, that wasn’t good enough in terms of the performance we put on the field last year. So we’ve got to continue to work to get better. We understand each other better as well. It’s actually a culture and a standard in the room that has been set and they know myself and Coach Wilson better. We know them better.”
Johnson’s take on the major pass defense improvements last season was mainly a product of the defense buying into the new schemes brought in by Williams, Woodson and the staff.
“And then I’d say just everybody wants it,” Johnson said. “We want to be the best, no matter what we do. That just comes within you personally, and then we just bring it together as a team, as a group, and then we just make it work. We’ve just got to keep building off of that.”
Added TJ Metcalf: “I feel like from last year to this year, we’re a lot better with our attention to detail. Just buying into the playbook a lot more, because like all of the tools that Coach Woodson and Coach Wilson give us, we go out there and we try to implement them a lot more and I feel like that has helped us a lot from last year to this year.”
Johnson said his mindset to become more of a vocal leader has been evolving and it really kicked in after spring drills.
“I would say just after the spring, it was just more of, I really want to win,” he said. “Put all the ‘it’s about me’ stuff away and focus more on the team, because I know the team is what’s going to help me get to where I want to go and help everybody else get to where they want to go.”
Woodson said talent is not the only factor in playing good defense and winning games. He spoke about the accountability the players in the secondary have adopted.
“Winning games is not just what you do on the practice field, it’s also what you do when you leave the building and everybody being where they’re supposed to be, when they’re supposed to be there, doing what they’re supposed to be doing to the best of their ability,” Woodson said. “And that’s the mindset.”
