Arkansas’ defensive line might have been the team’s strength heading into the 2023 season even before the weekend started.
It became even stronger Friday.
The Razorbacks landed Albany defensive end Anton Juncaj from the transfer portal that afternoon, giving Arkansas an experienced and proven pass rusher to play opposite Landon Jackson next year.
Juncaj led FCS with 15 sacks and had 55 tackles in the fall. Of those 55, 21 1/2 went for-loss and he added 12 hurries, five forced fumbles and three pass break-ups. All for a team that went to the FCS seminfinals.
In other words, established.
The last FCS defensive line transfer who played to significant effect for the Razorbacks was defensive tackle John Ridgeway. Ridgeway transferred from Illinois State and ultimately had 39 tackles, with four for-loss, in his one season at Arkansas before getting a shot in the NFL.
Arkansas has landed 12 players via transfer portal so far in the offseason.