Tag: Dwight McGlothern

Remember Dwight McGlothern? Arkansas corner is healthy, but lost his job

McGlothern was the best corner on the 131st-ranked pass defense last year. On the 32nd best pass defense, he has to re-earn his job.

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.

Arkansas’ All-SEC cornerback questionable for Saturday’s game at Ole Miss

Dwight McGlothern is questionable against the Rebels. Defensive end John Morgan III is probable after being carted off against A&M.

Arkansas cornerback Dwight McGlothern has maintained his status as one of the best players on the Razorbacks roster in 2023. When he was lost Saturday against Texas A&M, Arkansas’ chances took a hit with it.

McGlothern was removed from the game against the Aggies early with what coach Sam Pittman called after the game a concussion. As of Monday, Pittman said there’s a possibility McGlothern misses the team’s Week 6 game against Ole Miss, as well.

The junior is in his second season with the Razorbacks after transferring from LSU. McGlothern had 52 tackles with four interceptions, 10 pass break-ups and two forced fumbles last year in earning All-SEC second-team honors. His return and the injection of three starters via the transfer portal have made Arkansas’ pass defense in 2023 miles better than in 2022.

Last year, the Hogs were dead last in FBS in allowing 295 yards a game. Through five games this year, Arkansas is 67th, giving up just 227. McGlothern has nine tackles and two interceptions so far in 2023.

Pittman also said defensive end John Morgan III is probable for the game against Ole Miss. Morgan was carted off the field after what appeared to be an upper-body injury in the second half of Arkansas’ loss to Texas A&M.

Arkansas and Ole Miss are set to kick off at 6 p.m. Saturday night.

WATCH: Dwight McGlothern ruins LSU’s drive with interception

McGlothern played two seasons at LSU before transferring to Arkansas. The pick allowed the Hogs to keep the lead.

LSU was getting yards in chunks on its second series against Arkansas on Saturday.

Until Nudie showed up.

Arkansas cornerback Dwight McGlothern intercepted LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels with 3:06 left in the first quarter to stall the Tigers’ second drive of the game just as LSU was getting into scoring range.

Daniels let it fly to the right about eight yards downfield and McGlothern baited him into a throw for an easy pick. He took the ball back to the LSU 45, setting up Arkansas third drive of the game.

The Razorbacks scored on their previous drive when Cam Little kicked a 23-yard field goal to cap a 51-yard drive that took more than six minutes.

McGlothern played two seasons at LSU before transferring to Arkansas before the start of last season. He led the Razorbacks with four interceptions in 2022. The first-quarter interception Saturday was his second of the year.

Dwight McGlothern heads back to LSU a star after transferring to Arkansas

The man they call Nudie has been excellent since left LSU for Fayetteville.

The two years Dwight McGlothern spent in Baton Rouge were good years. The two years he has spent in Fayetteville have been even better.

McGlothern, the second-year Arkansas cornerback, was good enough in his first year in Fayetteville in 2022, after transferring from LSU, that he earned All-SEC honors with 44 tackles, four interceptions and 10 pass break-ups. He isn’t on the same pace in 2023 – which Arkansas player is? – but Saturday may provide just the chance for a breakout.

Arkansas is headed to Baton Rouge for a 6 p.m. kickoff Saturday in Week 4. The trip back will be McGlothern’s first since he left LSU after his sophomore year. He wasn’t made available for media interviews in the week leading up to the game, but his fellow defensive backs know what’s in his head a bit.

“I’m sure he’s pretty excited,” safety Alfahiym Walcott said. “I mean, Nudie is going to be Nudie at the end of the day. He’s going to ball regardless of whereever it’s at. I’m sure he’s excited, though.”

McGlothern isn’t the only Arkansas defender making a return. Defensive end Landon Jackson has been the Razorbacks’ best lineman this season. He’s also in his second year at Arkansas.

“Nudie, he talks a little bit more than Landon. Landon doesn’t say anything hardly. He doesn’t talk a whole lot,” coach Sam Pittman said. “But I think that they are excited to get back,” Pittman said. “Any time you leave a team, you want to play well against that team. You just do.”

Arkansas at No. 13 LSU: Players to watch on Saturday

Arkansas will try to bounce back from a heart-breaking loss to BYU, while LSU tries to keep rolling for its third straight victory.

Arkansas (2-1) will go into Saturday’s SEC conference opener against LSU in Death Valley as enormous underdogs, having just gotten beat at home by BYU.

But quarterback KJ Jefferson and crew will try to rebound on the road and get the train headed back in the right direction.

No. 13 LSU (2-1) has rebounded impressively with two breezy wins, after a season-opening loss to No. 3 Florida State. The Tigers walloped host Mississippi State 41-14 last Saturday, in their conference opener.

The game will also feature players on both teams, who used to play at the other school. Junior Landon Jackson and Dwight McGlothern jumped ship from LSU to Arkansas prior to last season. Senior Greg Brooks Jr. left the Razorbacks to join the Tigers last season, but Head Coach Brian Kelley has announced that Brooks will not be available for the Arkansas game.

Here are 12 players to watch in Saturday’s showdown:

 

Rocket Sanders to miss second game in a row

Sam Pittman confirmed on Monday that Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders would also miss this week’s game against BYU.

Sam Pittman met with the assembled media again on Monday to recap the Kent State game and preview Saturday’s game with BYU.

He also confirmed that Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders will miss his second game in a row.

The running game struggled on Saturday against the Golden Flashes without Sanders, but it wasn’t exactly gangbusters with him against Western Carolina either.

It remains to be seen if Sanders will be available for the SEC opener with LSU the following week in Baton Rouge.

Having McGlothern back will help the secondary, especially with BYU having a threat to throw the ball in Pittsburgh (and former USC) transfer Kedon Slovis.

Projecting Arkansas’ stat totals leaders by end of the season

Picking Arkansas’ record at the end of the season is tough. For now, let’s take a guess at the team leaders’ statistical numbers.

Arkansas is a bit of a strange team for the masses in the college football world of prognostication to put a finger on.

The Razorbacks have been on the rise each of the last three years with coach Sam Pittman at the helm. So much so they’re a team receiving votes in the preseason Top 25.

They’re also a team that plays in the gauntlet that is the SEC West. And they also have, basically, a whole new receiving corps and almost completely revamped secondary.

Back to the other side, KJ Jefferson and Rocket Sanders may be a top-five-in-the-country quarterback-running back duo.

Then to the questionable, the defense has no proven superstars.

The entire thing has led to mixed opinions on how the Hogs will finish record-wise.

Well, we aren’t going there today. That’s saved for a bit later this week. For now, we’re just going to look at the individuals and project who may be the best for Arkansas on the stat sheet.

Here are managing editor E. Wayne’s projections for Arkansas’ leaders in each of six different categories and what he thinks those numbers will be by season’s end.

Coaches select six Hogs as preseason All-SEC

Senior running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders and senior cornerback Dwight “Nudie” McGlothern were both selected first-teamers by the SEC coaches

Six Arkansas Razorbacks were voted to the 2023 Preseason Coaches All-SEC teams, the league announced Tuesday.

Arkansas landed two first-team selections, in junior running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders and senior cornerback Dwight “Nudie” McGlothern. Sanders was previously named Preseason First Team All-SEC by the media last month, while McGlothern earned second-team honors.

The coaches’ second team included senior quarterback KJ Jefferson and two of his senior offensive linemen, Brady Latham and Beaux Limmer.

Jefferson and Latham were also second-team selections by the media.

Junior kicker Cam Little, a Freshman All-SEC performer in 2021, rounded out the coaches’ selections with third-team honors.

This was highest number of Razorbacks on the list since the 2011 team that finished the season 11-2, who placed seven players on the first two units.

Here’s a look at the complete Preseason All-SEC football teams. Georgia led the way with 14 selections and LSU had 11.

FIRST TEAM

Offense

QB – Jayden Daniels, LSU

RB – Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss

RB – Raheim Sanders, Arkansas

WR – Malik Nabers, LSU

WR – Antwane Wells*, South Carolina

WR – Ladd McConkey*, Georgia

TE – Brock Bowers, Georgia

OL – JC Latham, Alabama

OL – Tate Ratledge, Georgia

OL – Will Campbell, LSU

OL – Amarius Mims, Georgia

C – Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia

AP – Ainias Smith, Texas A&M

Defense

DL – Mekhi Wingo, LSU

DL – Mykel Williams, Georgia

DL – Nazir Stackhouse, Georgia

DL – Maason Smith, LSU

LB – Dallas Turner, Alabama

LB – Harold Perkins, LSU

LB – Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Georgia

DB – Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

DB – Malaki Starks, Georgia

DB – Javon Bullard, Georgia

DB – Dwight McGlothern, Arkansas

Special Teams

PK – Will Reichard, Alabama

P – Kai Kroeger, South Carolina

RS – Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

KOS – Mitch Jeter, South Carolina

LS – Wesley Schelling, Vanderbilt

SECOND TEAM

Offense

QB – KJ Jefferson, Arkansas

RB – Jase McClellan, Alabama

RB – Kendall Milton, Georgia

WR – Bru McCoy, Tennessee

WR – Evan Stewart*, Texas A&M

WR – Will Sheppard*, Vanderbilt

WR – Jermaine Burton*, Alabama

TE – Mason Taylor, LSU

OL – Javon Foster, Missouri

OL – Brady Latham, Arkansas

OL – Tyler Booker, Alabama

OL – Xavier Truss*, Georgia

OL – Emery Jones*, LSU

C – Beaux Limmer, Arkansas

AP – Tulu Griffin, Mississippi State

Defense

DL – McKinnley Jackson, Texas A&M

DL – Jaheim Oatis, Alabama

DL – Deone Walker, Kentucky

DL – Justin Eboigbe, Alabama

LB – Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State

LB – Smael Mondon, Georgia

LB – JJ Weaver, Kentucky

DB – Kamari Lassiter, Georgia

DB – Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri

DB – Malachi Moore, Alabama

DB – Demani Richardson, Texas A&M

Special Teams

PK – Harrison Mevis, Missouri

P – Nik Constantinou, Texas A&M

RS – Ainias Smith, Texas A&M

KOS – Nathan Dibert, LSU

LS – Kneeland Hibbett, Alabama

THIRD TEAM

Offense

QB – Will Rogers, Mississippi State

RB – Trevor Etienne, Florida

RB – Jarquez Hunter, Auburn

WR – Luther Burden III, Missouri

WR – Ainias Smith*, Texas A&M

WR – Ja’Corey Brooks*, Alabama

TE – Luke Deal*, Auburn

TE – Caden Prieskorn*, Ole Miss

TE – Michael Trigg*, Ole Miss

TE – Trey Knox*, South Carolina

OL – Layden Robinson, Texas A&M

OL – Eli Cox, Kentucky

OL – Jeremy James, Ole Miss

OL – Kam Stutts*, Auburn

OL – Javontez Spraggins*, Tennessee

OL – Micah Pettus*, Ole Miss

C – Cooper Mays, Tennessee

AP – Dakereon Joyner, South Carolina

Defense

DL – Princely Umanmiellen, Florida

DL – Tonka Hemingway, South Carolina

DL – Jared Ivey, Ole Miss

DL – Tim Smith*, Alabama

DL – Darius Robinson*, Missouri

LB – Ty’Ron Hopper, Missouri

LB – Jett Johnson, Mississippi State

LB – Chris Braswell, Alabama

DB – Marcellas Dial, South Carolina

DB – Nehemiah Pritchett, Auburn

DB – Jason Marshall, Florida

DB – Greg Brooks, LSU

Special Teams

PK – Cam Little, Arkansas

P – Oscar Chapman*, Auburn

P – Matthew Hayball*, Vanderbilt

RS – Tulu Griffin, Mississippi State

LS – Slade Roy, LSU

*denotes tie in votes, ties are not broken.

Arkansas’ cornerback position has questions. It also has massive potential.

Arkansas was supposed to have the Macs at cornerback. But with Quincey McAdoo’s injury, the Hogs are looking for Dwight McGlothern’s partner on the outside.

There’s Dwight McGlothern and there’s everyone else.

Marcus Woodson’s job is to change that. So far this fall, the new Arkansas secondary coach is making headway in doing so.

Woodson took to the microphone Wednesday as the biggest focus of the Razorbacks’ camp on that day was the secondary. Specfically cornerback, the first line of defense when it comes to pass defense.

Arkansas’ pass defense was ranked last in FBS last year, allowing 294.7 yards per game through the air. McGlothern was relatively good in his first year after transferring in from LSU, but the rest of the unit had serious issues.

Much of fall camp at the position has been spent determining the hierarchy after McGlothern.

“Nudie has really stepped up and done a good job. The addition of Jaheim to the room has really been a big addition. He’s still young, but he’s a smart player that retains information. He takes the meeting to the field. And that’s what gives himself a chance.”

Jaheim Singletary transferred in from Georgia, where he was a five-star commit to the Bulldogs two years ago. Between him, TCU transfer Kee’yon Stewart and freshman Jaylon Braxton, Woodson thinks the foundation is in place to have more success in 2023, even if Braxton’s is more toward the future.

“We had to find the right guys at corner. Right now we feel good with those four corners,” Woodson said.

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Dwight McGlothern embracing return to Arkansas as leader in secondary

After an impressive 2022 season, Dwight McGlothern returned to Arkansas to make sure he doesn’t leave anything on the table as a senior.

[autotag]Dwight McGlothern[/autotag] didn’t have to return to Arkansas after last season. He most likely would’ve been late-round selection in the NFL Draft or signed a free agent contract.

Instead, “Nudie” McGlothern chose to return to the Razorbacks for his senior season.

“I wanted to go (to the NFL Draft), but I just knew that the second half of the season I just left so much on the table,” McGlothern said after Monday morning’s practice. “I didn’t realize until I was done. And now that I have another chance, I want to make sure I do everything right.”

Despite the Arkansas secondary being the worst passing defense in all of college football last season, McGlothern had really solid individual season. He finished with 52 total tackles (43 solo), a team-high four interceptions, 10 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

McGlothern earned second team All-SEC honors following the 2022 season, and then was named to the preseason All-SEC second team over the summer. Despite the accolades and recognition he’s received, the senior defensive back felt there was more to his game that he needed to improve.

“Whenever the ball is not coming my way, I need to be able to run to the ball, make the tackle, wrap up. Not always just going for the legs and stuff like that,” McGlothern said. “Attack the block, attack the man and just be physical. Just show that I’m willing to play and show that I can the best defensive player out there.”

McGlothern also mentioned how he’s work on improving as a leader of the defense. After transferring from LSU, he was a newcomer to the Arkansas defense last season. Entering this year, he’s looked at as a veteran leader in the secondary.

“I feel like I know what I need to do as a leader now and as a person that’s going into his fourth year,” McGlothern said. “I know coming from (LSU) I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes. I’m just trying to be good within the group and make a name for myself for the group.”

Having someone like Dwight McGlothern is huge for an Arkansas secondary that has undergone a lot of transformation this offseason. His experience and improvement can’t be understated.

We will get our first glimpse at the new-look Arkansas defense when they open the season against Western Carolina on Sept. 2 in Little Rock.

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