Tag: Antonio Grier

Former Hogs linebacker Antonio Grier signs with Bucs

Grier was in Fayetteville just one season, but grew as that season went on.

Former Arkansas and South Florida linebacker Antonio Grier signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the weekend following the NFL Draft.

Grier was one of seven who played for Arkansas who had a shot at being taken in the draft. Only kicker Cam Little and offensive lineman Beaux Limmer were selected.

Grier played just one season in Fayetteville, largley as the team’s third linebacker following his transfer from USF. He finised third among his position and seventh on the team with 36 tackles, earning more playing time as the season progressed.

Arkansas lost almost its entire linebacking corps in the offseason, returning only freshmen. In the spring, the Razorbacks’ top four were Georgia transfer Xavian Sorey, returners Brad Spencer, Alex Sanford and Carson Dean.

The Razorbacks are set to open the 2024 season, coach Sam Pittman’s fifth at the helm, in Little Rock on August 29, a Tuesday, against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Watch: Arkansas linebacker Antonio Grier scores on a pick-six

Antonio Grier’s first snap as Razorback resulted in an interception return for a touchdown. It also provided Arkansas a lead.

Arkansas linebacker Antonio Grier had not recorded a single stat for the Razorbacks nearly five quarters into the 2023 season.

When a number could finally be tallied for him, it was more than just another number.

Grier, a transfer from South Florida, intercepted Kent State quarterback Mike Alaimo on the first play of the Golden Flashes’ third drive and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown.

The score was Arkansas’ first of the game and provided the Hogs a 7-3 lead. Kent State had kicked a field goal on its second drive after Arkansas went three-and-out.

The pick-six was also Arkansas’ second in as many weeks. Freshman linebacker Brad Spence did the same in the team’s opener against Western Carolina.

Grier missed that game because of a quadriceps injury and Week 2 served as his debut in Arkansas uniform. And, in fact, the interception was Grier’s first snap as a Razorback.

Arkansas preseason depth chart – Linebackers

Linebacker should be a strength for Arkansas this year. The Hogs have to get healthy there first, though.

The Arkansas linebacker spot should be a good spot for the Razorbacks in 2023.

But heading into the team’s opener on Saturday against FCS Western Carolina, the unit looks perhaps least like it was expected among all the positional groups. One projected starter is all but out and the other is iffy, though coach Sam Pittman has been somewhat vague on the latter’s status.

When Chris Paul Jr., Antonio Grier, Jordan Crook and Jaheim Thomas are all healthy, Arkansas can roll a combination of near-stars, established talent and future all-league players among its first four.

Grier and Paul could be iffy for the opener, but that may be a blessing in disguise. Thomas and Crook have experience and will get plenty of reps, but the players behind them have almost no idea what it’s like to play college football. A game against the Catamounts will help make that a thing of the past.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at how the Arkansas linebackers stack up, or rather, how we expect them to stack up by the end of the season.

Arkansas Football: Offseason Depth Chart-Linebackers

The linebacker room is no longer thin, although it may not be packing the star power it had in 2022.

Defensive coordinator Barry Odom and linebacker coach Michael Scherer coached up one of the best linebacker groups in the country last season, headlined by Bumper Pool and Drew Sanders.

All parties are no longer in Fayetteville. Odom is in UNLV, taking Scherer with him. Pool completed his eligibility, and Sanders is in the NFL.

The linebacker group is not left with anything, though. New defensive coordinator Travis Williams will also coach the linebackers, a deep group with 12 players.

Chris Paul Jr. is the group veteran, and the newly acquired transfer Antonio Grier should be an apparent starter. The extent of how deep Williams will go in the rotation will depend on the progress of younger players and the potential addition of more transfers from the portal.