Trajan Jeffcoat – Syndication Server

Countdown to Kickoff: Trajan Jeffcoat is the Saints Player of Day 76

Countdown to Kickoff: Trajan Jeffcoat is the New Orleans Saints Player of Day 76. The undrafted rookie has a tall mountain to climb in 2024:

We’re down to 76 days until the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2024 season against the Carolina Panthers, which makes the current No. 76 our Saints Player of the Day: Trajan Jeffcoat. Here’s some background on the rookie defensive end and what his goals should be in 2024:

Name (Age): Trajan Jeffcoat (24)
Position: Defensive end
Height, weight: 6-foot-4, 266 pounds
Relative Athletic Score: 7.63
2024 salary cap hit: $796,000
College: Arkansas
Drafted: Undrafted in 2024 (New Orleans Saints)
NFL experience: Rookie

Jeffcoat signed with the Saints after a solid year at Arkansas, having bagged 4 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss in a dozen games. That followed a productive four-year career at Missouri before he transferred across state lines.

He’s got a tall mountain to climb in 2024. The Saints didn’t get much out of their group of defensive ends last year but they’ve invested so many resources at the position that it’s tough to see someone new breaking into the rotation. The starters are set between some combination of Cameron Jordan, Carl Granderson, and Chase Young with Isaiah Foskey and Payton Turner backing them up. Before he can focus on winning a roster spot, Jeffcoat must push someone like Niko Lalos off the practice squad. We’ll see what he’s got when practice picks up at training camp in just a month.

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Saints add another undrafted rookie free agent in Arkansas DE Trajan Jeffcoat

The Saints aren’t finished signing rookie free agents. They’ve added former Arkansas and Missouri DE Trajan Jeffcoat:

The New Orleans Saints aren’t finished signing rookie free agents after the 2024 NFL draft. They’ve added former Arkansas and Missouri defensive end Trajan Jeffcoat, as first reported by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill.

Jeffcoat, 24, started his career at Missouri before transferring to Arkansas (where he was voted a team captain) in 2023 after earning his degree. He’s a highly experienced prospect with 60 games behind him in the SEC. And he put up respectable numbers with 27.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks in his career.

He also fits the athletic prototype the Saints look for at defensive end. Jeffcoat weighed in at 6-foot-4 and 266 pounds, with a solid 7.63 Relative Athletic Score. But he’s entering a crowded competition for roster spots. The Saints already have Cameron Jordan, Carl Granderson, and Chase Young on top of the depth chart with Tanoh Kpassagnon, Payton Turner, and Isaiah Foskey behind them. Jeffcoat enters the mix with Niko Lalos and Nathan Latu (another undrafted rookie, from Oklahoma State) to compete for a place on the practice squad. But maybe he surprises over the summer and climbs higher.

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7-Round Mock Draft: Trades net Cowboys OC, LB, WR, RB

What fun is a mock draft if there aren’t trades involved? The Dallas Cowboys and Jerry Jones used to have a reputation as wheelers and dealers, but they’ve reserved most of their movement for the second half of most recent drafts. Gone are the days when the team moved up or done on a regular basis, but that might all change in 2024 with their “all-in” decree.

Dallas moved back a few spots in 2021 when they dropped from 10th to 12th and still ended up with Micah Parsons. Prior to that, Dallas hadn’t moved in the first round since 2013. That year they dropped from No. 18 to No. 31 and selected Travis Frederick at center along with WR Terence Williams with the extra pick. The year prior they bundled picks to move up and select CB Morris Claiborne. Things have been much more measured in the last decade.

In our latest mock draft simulation, we not only move around in Round 1, but several other times during the draft. The objective is to use the first several picks on players who could fill an immediate role on the club.

These five Hogs are headed to the NFL combine

The last time Arkansas did not have a player taken in the NFL Draft? It was 1995.

The last time an Arkansas football player was not taken in the NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans were still the Houston Oilers in 1995.

The streak should continue in 2024, especially as five (former?) Arkansas players were invited to the 2024 NFL Draft combine this week. Offensive linemen Beaux Limmer and Brady Latham, kicker Cam Little, defensive end Trajan Jeffcoat and cornerback Dwight McGlothern will all take part in front of dozens of pro teams ahead of the April draft.

Little is the highest rated of the bunch, though that doesn’t mean he stands the best chance at being drafted. Kickers are not in high demand in the draft typically. Little, however, should be taken as he is rated the top kicker in the whole draft, per ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.

Limmer, who can play center and guard, is also rated in the top 10 at his position (in this case, center). Latham, who can also play both positions, may very well be taken nearby.

McGlothern and Jeffcoat were both transfers from elsewhere in the SEC. Jeffcoat played one season with Arkansas after arriving from Missouri, while McGlothern played two seasons in Fayetteville upon leaving LSU.

The combine will be held from Feb. 26 to March 4 and the draft itself is April 25-27.

Washington, Jeffcoat headline Arkansas’ Players of the Game vs Ole Miss

The indivdual efforts will be forgotten – even if they shouldn’t be – because of Arkansas’ fourth straight loss.

Arkansas was better than it was against Texas A&M.

Better wasn’t enough.

The Razorbacks fell against No. 16 Ole Miss on Saturday, 27-20, as one big issue continued and countered several good individual efforts for Arkansas.

Quarterback KJ Jefferson did everything he could considering he was sacked five times and Arkansas’ running backs were limited to 25 yards on 12 carries.

Ty Washington was his favorite target as the redshirt freshman tight end caught two touchdown passes.

Cam Little chipped in with a 56-yard field goal, as well.

Defensively, Trajan Jeffcoat looked the part of his All-SEC self from three years ago.

And Jayden Johnson was the first Arkansas player not named Jaheim Thomas to lead the Hogs in tackles in a game.

Those efforts will be largely forgotten because of the loss, but like every week, we name our Arkansas Players of the Game. Check out more details below.

Green, Jeffcoat relish ‘game-type’ mode at Hogs’ practice this week

AJ Green and Trajan Jeffcoat shared some insight during the “Sam Pittman Live” radio show Wednesday night.

Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman challenged his team this week. And through the first three practices leading up to the BYU game, the Razorbacks have prepared with a game-type atmosphere, according to junior running back AJ Green.

Green and senior defensive end Trajan Jeffcoat were guests on the “Sam Pittman Live” radio show at the Catfish Hole Wednesday night. Both offered some insight as to what the focus and preparation has been like for Saturday’s game against a Big 12 opponent.

“We didn’t really play up to our standards against Kent State,” Green admitted. “So, coming in on Monday I already knew that practice was going to be like a game-type deal. And that’s been everybody’s mindset this week. We are all just flying around, correcting the mistakes that we made in that game, and getting better every day.”

Green started in the backfield against the Golden Flashes, replacing injured starter Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, and responded with 82 yards on 15 carries, for a 5.5 yard average. He will likely be the lead ball-carrier again this week as Sanders is slated to miss another game.

With first-year offensive coordinator Dan Enos installing a new offense this season, the Razorbacks have continued to adjust in the first two games, but hope to have things ironed out for the Cougars.

“This is still a new offense for all of us, so we are all still learning it, trying to perfect our craft,” Green said. “We’ve obviously got some new people on the line, some people have left, so we are still getting comfortable with each other. We’re just going to keep getting better. That’s what we are working on every week.”

He said Sanders, who has been hampered by a sore knee, has remained a vital part of the running back room, helping out in any way he can.

“He’s still in there with us, watching film and stuff,” Green said. “He’s always in our ear telling us stuff, and helping us out with the plays.”

The defense has looked sharp through the first two games, allowing just one total touchdown in the pair of victories. But Jeffcoat, who was just named SEC Defensive Player of the Week, said the grind continues to keep improving.

The Missouri transfer was a big factor in the win over Kent State, recording three tackles, with two tackles for loss of 11 yards, and added a career-high 1.5 sacks, for a loss of nine yards. He made a huge play at the goal line to help keep the Golden Flashes out of the end zone, and helped Arkansas hold their opponents to just 26 total rushing yards – the fewest by a Razorback opponent since New Mexico State gained just 11 yards, in 2017.

“Every day, we are just out there getting better,” he said. “Every day, everybody makes plays. As a unit we look at it as we have a lot of ammunition for every team. Everybody on our defensive line is good — our whole defense is good this year. It’s a great companionship out there. We just reload and keep going.”

Green, who has to face that defensive front in practice, totally agrees.

“They are all super good and they just roll,” he said. “They can wear an offensive line out, easily. They know how to get off the edge. They know how to win inside. It’s hard going against them everyday, but it gives us great looks. And I think that’s why our offensive line and running game is going to get way better.”

Jeffcoat said they have studied the film and game-planned for the Cougars. Now it’s just a matter of hitting the field and performing.

“It’s definitely going to be a dog fight, and we respect the other team, but we also know who we are,” he said.

Razorbacks DE Jeffcoat named SEC Defensive Player of the Week

The Missouri transfer helped the Arkansas defense hold Kent State out of the end zone in a 28-6 win.

After not recording a tackle in Arkansas’ season-opening win over Western Carolina, senior defensive end Trajan Jeffcoat bounced back in a big way Saturday, helping keep Kent State out of the end zone in a 28-6 Razorback victory.

For his efforts, the 6-foot-4, 281-pound Missouri transfer was named the Southeastern Conference’s Defensive Lineman of the Week on Monday.

The Columbia, S.C., native recorded three tackles with 2.0 tackles for loss, for minus-11 yards, including a career high 1.5 sacks, for a loss of nine yards. His impact was undeniable as he helped the Razorbacks defense control the line of scrimmage, allowing the Golden Flashes just 26 total rushing yards – the fewest by an Arkansas opponent since holding New Mexico State to 11, in 2017.

Jeffcoat and fellow defensive end Landon Jackson were instrumental in a late goal line stand in the fourth quarter, combining for a tackle for a loss of four yards, on fourth-and-goal. In the first quarter, Jeffcoat and linebacker Jaheim Thomas combined for a sack for a loss of seven yards on third down to force a Kent State field goal. Jeffcoat also tallied a sack for a loss of five yards to force a punt.

The Razorbacks return to Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium Saturday at 6:30 p.m., hosting BYU on ESPN2.

Stat total leaders for Arkansas in 2023 (projections)

Arkansas should force more turnovers on defense and be more balanced offensively in 2023.

Our managing editor E. Wayne gave readers his take on who will lead the Razorbacks in major statistical categories yesterday.

Today is my turn.

Arkansas’ offense should be more balanced this season with Dan Enos at the helm. If it’s anything like 2015, it could be really exciting.

As for the defense, it will be more aggressive under Travis Williams’ schemes compared to Barry Odom’s 3-man front that dropped eight. Which should lead to more chances for tackles for loss and for forcing turnovers.

Let’s take a stab at it.

From the Sideline: Bell expects Hog starters to get extended time vs. WCU

Razorback Sports Network sideline reporter gives his insight on Saturday’s season opener.

Even if things go as expected on Saturday, and Arkansas jumps on an outmanned Western Carolina team early, IMG Razorback Sports Network sideline reporter Geno Bell expects that the starters — especially quarterback KJ Jefferson — will see extended playing time in the season-opener.

“With KJ coming in for his senior year, he’s not going to want to come out of the game — he’s playing for the NFL, right now,” said Bell, a former standout defensive tackle for the Hogs in the mid-1990s. “This first game is all about KJ jelling with the new receivers, jelling with the new offensive line. Then when you are running a new offense, it’s all about getting comfortable and getting the timing down.”

With new offensive coordinator Dan Enos instituting more of a pro-style scheme, Bell says that should play into Jefferson’s skill set.

“They will run a lot of two- and three-tight end sets, and if you go back to when Arkansas was essentially ‘Tight End U’, that’s what we did,” Bell said. “When you get KJ in space, there are going to be bootlegs where he can throw it, and there are going to be times that he can pull it and run it. And I pity the fool that tries to tackle him in open field. I’d rather tackle him at the line of scrimmage, before he gets to that second level with a full head of steam. He’s like a locomotive coming down the tracks.

“And we all know that KJ is going to be strong, but I’m telling you, we have four or five running backs that can flat-out get it done.”

Despite facing what seems to be a lackluster opponent in the opener, Bell sees the Razorbacks setting the pace early and making a statement from the opening kickoff.

“I think we just have to come out and be aggressive, and play our game,” he said. “These guys have been playing against each other since spring ball, and you’ve got about seven guys who are going to be starting for the first time. This will be their first opportunity to go against outside talent. So, this game is all about how you put it together and execute as a team, and jump on these guys early and set the tone at the beginning of the game.”

One huge advantage Arkansas has over last season is the addition of junior Jacolby Criswell at backup quarterback. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Morrilton productive spent the past three seasons at North Carolina, before transferring back to his home state.

“I do think that Criswell has contributed to KJ getting better,” Bell said. “If you go back to last year, we did not have a true QB2. If KJ went down, it got ugly. Now you have someone who can step in and play, and that could be a big advantage.”

Bell, who spent his NFL career as a defensive lineman with Cleveland and the New York Jets, attended the Razorbacks’ scrimmage two weeks ago and was extremely impressed with the play in the trenches, especially along the defensive front. He heavily praised the progress defensive line coach Deke Adams has made with his unit.

“The one thing that I saw in the scrimmage, that blew my mind, is that we have defensive linemen and offensive linemen that really pass the eye test,” he said. “We have been pretty good the past few years, for the most part. But now that I can see what Coach Adams has done with that defensive front, with eight guys that can rotate, especially with Trajan Jeffcoat and Landon Jackson, we’ve got some dogs up front. So, when you can get to the quarterback with four up front, then you’ve got some guys in the back end that can play, that sets up very well. I think people are going to see a lot of things that they haven’t seen before. This team will be bringing some pressure. Those opposing quarterbacks are going to have to make quick decisions.”

But when all is said and done, the biggest factor will come down to health, and surviving unscathed.

“I think the main thing we have to do is remain injury-free,” Bell said. “That really determines the success of any football team. I’m telling you, this team can get out and play, but a couple of key injuries can change things in a hurry.”

Arkansas and Western Carolina will kick off at noon Saturday in Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium.

Players To Watch: Arkansas vs. Western Carolina

In what looks like a mismatch on paper, look for these key players on both teams to make an impact.

NOTE: As always here on Razorbacks Wire, we aren’t simply going to pick the best players to watch on Saturday when Arkansas hosts Western Carolina. That’s too easy. Instead, this is where we try to look inside trends and storylines and give you the best idea of who could make some surprise noise in the game.

As we know throughout the history of Razorback football, even less imposing mid-major schools can never be taken too lightly, especially early in the season. But this matchup on paper looks very one-sided and should be smooth sailing for the revamped, improved Razorbacks.

Western Carolina rolls into War Memorial Stadium on Saturday as heavy underdogs, following a subpar 6-5 season in 2022, under third-year head coach Kerwin Bell, the 1984 SEC Player of the Year at Florida. ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) gives Arkansas a 99 percent chance to breeze through their opener.