2018 Arkansas Football Roster Overview
By DeAndrew Davis
Arkansas is getting ready to start their spring football program and there are a number of questions regarding starters, depth chart and such. Here we’ll take a look at the roster based on what we know from last season and recruiting. I’ll speculate on depth but spring football will decide a number of positions battles as new head coach porter Davis had said that nobody has a guaranteed spot. Davis has been knows to use a number of different defensive looks so I’ve done my best to place players at the right positions based on last season’s roster as well as recruiting and any other information I’ve been able to find.
Defense
Defensive Ends
Trey Bates, Cornelius Davies, Anthony Graham, Brandon Jones, Samuel Owens, Micah Spurlock, Bart Wilson, Jamie Woodward
Wilson and Davies are expected to the top contributors here. Jones should be in the rotation. Wilson is a run stuffer and could play inside some in certain packages. Graham and Spurlock look to be situational pass rushers. Davies is effective against the run and pass. Jones can move a bit too. Bates, Owens and Woodward are unknowns.
Expected Depth: Davies and Wilson starting in most packages with several players rotating due to Davis’ multiple looks on defense.
Defensive Tackles
William Callahan IV, Justin Concepcion, Randall Hayes, Lorenzo McMahan, Alberto Rose, Caesar Whitaker
Whitaker and Hayes are probably two of the best players on the team, certainly in the defensive front seven. They’ll be on the field as much as is feasible against SEC speed. Both are primarily inside guys but Whitaker has lined up outside at times in the past. Nobody else in the group has played any significant number of snaps but Concepcion was a highly touted recruit.
Expected Depth: Whitaker and Hayes starting and playing the most with Concepcion getting a shot at snaps and the rest playing sparingly.
Linebackers
Derrelle Bowser, Jeffery Ewing, Warren Lucas, Derek Jones, Antwuan Little, Ryan McCutcheon, Terrence Merritt, Roger Smith, Julian Tyler
Davis loves to mix and match linebackers and there is some talent in the group in Smith, Lucas, Jones, and Little so he will have some options. Jones recorded 44 tackles in 2016 but dropped to 27 while battling some injuries in 2017. He was the defensive play caller when he was on the field. Little was rotational in 2017 but looks to be likely to step into a “starting” role. Lucas contributed the past two seasons and Smith filled in at times. Behind those four there is no significant experience.
Expected Depth: Jones, Lucas, Little and Smith should be the top contributors but Davis could very well find roles for other guys as well.
Cornerbacks
Cam Anderson, Henry Billips, Bryon Davis, Lance Parker, Justin Sims
Cornerback is either the thinnest or second thinnest position for the Razorbacks coming into 2018. Davis has played a bit and is expected to take over the #1 CB role while Anderson and Parker battle for the #2 spot. Sims and Billips both likely need some time to develop and could redshirt despite the lack of bodies at the position. Expect to see some players listed at safety to get time at CB too,
Expected Depth: Davis, Anderson/Parker
Safeties
Joey Cabral, Kendall Everson, Dirk Harrington, Darren Jackson, Percy Jamison, Jimmy Johnson, Pernell Young
Pernell Young looks ready to lead the secondary after playing rotational roles for the past few seasons. He has elite speed and closes in on plays in a hurry. He will likely be in coverage most of the time and will probably play a lot of cornerback as well but don’t be surprised to see Davis move his best player around. Cabral and Everson will duke it out for the other safety spot but will likely both see the field a lot due to the lack of depth at corner. Jamison, Harrington, Jackson and Johnson will have a shot to earn playing time as well.
Expected Depth: Young, Cabral/Everson
Special Teams
Joey Christodoulou, Uche Okocha, Charlie Payne
Louisiana transfer Joey Christodoulou was granted immediately eligibility and could be the teams kicker and punter this season. Okocha is a Nigerian born walk on with a big leg and a lack of accuracy. Freshman Charlie Payne was recruited primarily as a punter and could earn that job over Christodoulou potentially.