Rocket Sanders was a preseason All-American. KJ Jefferson a preseason second-team All-SEC selection. Brady Latham and Beaux Limmer earned all-conference honors back over the summer, too.
But on the Arkansas defense, the questions abounded. Only one player stood out to the league’s most interested parties as an All-SEC type.
Razorbacks cornerback Dwight McGlothern has played in just five games this year and not a single one since September 30 against Texas A&M. He was supposed to be Arkansas’ star defender after picking off four passes last year, albeit on the worst defense in FBS.
Instead, injury took McGlothern out of the fold after A&M. Freshman Jaylen Braxton pounced on his opportunity for playing time and hasn’t looked back. Even now that McGlothern is healthy, coach Sam Pittman said his preseason All-SEC corner has to earn his job back.
“He’s still trying to work his way into playing time. But he was full-go,” Pittman said of McGlothern’s status against Mississippi State. “He was able to play last week. It’s just right now he’s not starting for us.”
Curious that a player with such honors before the season began has reclaim his job after injury…but only for a moment.
McGlothern was the best defensive back on the worst pass defense in the country. Now, Arkansas’ pass defense is the best part of its game (the Hogs are ranked 32nd in FBS this year vs. 131st last year) suggesting perhaps McGlothern need to re-earn that gig after all.