Tag: Trajan Jeffcoat

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.

Also, take into account, that many of Arkansas’ key starters may not play long in this game, which will take away their overall impact.

Arkansas Preseason Depth Chart – Defensive End

Arkansas’ primary five-man rotation may not have star-power, but it has consistency, experience, and logged results.

Other than quarterback and running – positions at which Arkansas has All-SEC talent starting and a clear pecking order behind that player – only one other unit on the roster needed little shaping and molding heading into the regular season.

In fact, between the beginning of the Razorbacks’ spring camp to the end of it over the weekend, not one single player among the top six defensive ends on the roster moved a bit.

Consistency should be key for a group looking to replicate last year’s sack totals and improve, even, the front-line guard against the running game.

And while the latter, there, often falls more to the defensive tackles, Arkansas has a group of ends who can stuff the run with the best in the SEC.

Let’s take a look at how they stack up heading into Saturday’s opener.

Pittman, Hogs name the six Arkansas team captains for 2023

One newcomer to the team joined some Arkansas vets as the Razorbacks captains this upcoming season.

Arkansas coach Sam Pittman has named his six team captains for the 2023 season.

Quarterback KJ Jefferson and running back Rocket Sanders were unsurprising selections. Offensive lineman Brady Latham and kicker Cam Little were the next most experienced choices. And defensive linemen Landon Jackson and Trajan Jeffcoat were the other two.

Jeffcoat is in his first year with Arkansas after an All-SEC career at Missouri. He had 20 tackles for the Tigers last year, but was a first-team All-SEC choice in 2020 when he registered six sacks.

Latham, Jefferson and Sanders were all preseason All-SEC choices from both the media and coaches earlier this summer. Little is on-pace to become Arkansas’ leading scorer, having been the team’s primary placekicker both of his previous seasons after arriving from high-school football in Oklahoma.

Arkansas opens its season Sept. 2 against Western Carolina in Little Rock.

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Sam Pittman calls defensive end Trajan Jeffcoat ‘a bad man’ following fall camp

Arkansas transfer defensive end Trajan Jeffcoat has stood out throughout fall camp and will lead a deep Razorback defensive line this season.

Throughout the 2023 fall camp, Arkansas’ defensive line has shown that it has the potential to be an elite position group this season.

The Razorbacks have historically struggled to get the right mix of athleticism, size and experience up front in the roster’s two and three-deep. That changed this offseason, as [autotag]Sam Pittman[/autotag] and [autotag]Deke Adams[/autotag] were able to get an influx of transfers who will contribute immediately.

One of the most talented transfers on the defensive line is former Missouri defensive end [autotag]Trajan Jeffcoat[/autotag]. In four seasons with the Tigers, Jeffcoat recorded 84 total tackles (59 solo), 19.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, a forced fumble and fumble recovery for touchdown. At 6-4, 281 pounds, Pittman says Jeffcoat is the ideal modern defensive end.

“In 1983, this (pointing to himself) is what an All-American defensive end looked like,” says Pittman. “2023, this (pointing to Jeffcoat) is what one of them looks like. He’s 280, can run 20 – what, 21? (miles per hour)”

“Very strong, very fast, great leader and to be honest with you, probably hungrier than you’ve ever been in your life, and that makes a big difference.”

Over the last two weeks through fall camp, Jeffcoat has become one of the standouts on the defensive side of the ball. He had another stellar performance in the team’s second – and final – scrimmage of camp last Saturday.

“It’s hard when you’ve got (Jeffcoat) coming off the edge,” Pittman said. “That’s a bad man back there. The other thing with him, we’re not going into the scrimmage saying we’re going to slide to him, we’re going to chip him or we’re going to do all those things. We’re trying to see if we have somebody that can block him.”

Jeffcoat is just one of a handful of experienced seniors on the defensive line. It looks like the Hogs could have the deepest defensive line group in modern history, with nine seniors and talented underclassmen like Landon Jackson and Nico Davillier.

We’ll get our first look at this Arkansas defensive line in a little over one week, when the Razorbacks open their season against Western Carolina. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. on Sept. 2 from War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

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Sam Pittman remains impressed with Arkansas defensive line

Defensive line has traditionally been a weak spot at Arkansas, but Deke Adams and Sam Pittman appear to have changed that in 2023.

Defensive line has traditionally been weak area for Arkansas football during the modern era of college football (circa 2000). A lot of legendary defensive linemen have come through the program in that time, but it’s been tough for the Razorbacks to field a deep, experienced and top-tier group up front.

However, that has changed for 2023.

Arkansas’ defensive line is easily one of the most experienced and, more importantly, the deepest groups up front that in recent memory. One thing that [autotag]Sam Pittman[/autotag] and [autotag]Deke Adams[/autotag] wanted to do this offseason was build quality depth up front.

[autotag]Landon Jackson[/autotag], who represented the team at SEC Media Days, and [autotag]Zach Williams[/autotag] are two of the only major contributors from last year’s D-line to return this year.

Outside of those guys, Pittman and Adams had to hit the transfer portal really hard to fill out the rest of the defensive line and were extremely successful in doing that. At the ends they brought in [autotag]John Morgan III[/autotag] (Pittsburgh) and [autotag]Trajan Jeffcoat[/autotag] (Missouri) – both seniors.

On the interior, Anthony Booker aka [autotag]Tank Booker[/autotag] (Maryland) was a major addition. He had 25 tackles, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and two sacks in 2022. [autotag]Keivie Rose[/autotag] (Lousiana Tech) was a late addition but another important piece. Rose earned first team All-Conference USA in 2022.

There’s also some really talented underclassmen that haven’t played much but will play a role in the defensive line this year. Jashaud Stewart returns but only played sparingly last season. Taurean Carter missed all of 2022 with a torn ACL but is back for this year. Cameron Ball provides depth inside, Nico Davillier provides depth as an edge rusher and Eric Gregory can play at either position.

The Razorbacks are three-deep across the defensive line – on the interior and at the ends. Arkansas will also have nine scholarship seniors on the defensive line this season. The size up front is also something that sticks out, as this group just looks like an elite-level defensive front and Pittman agrees.

“We’re big. They run well and play well together,” said Pittman following the first practice of fall camp. “It starts out at the ends. We’re huge at defensive end right now and guys can run.

But I was mostly looking at some of the new guys in indy (individual group drills) and we’re big. All of those guys can move. Certainly that will help us in the run.”

Across the board, this might just be the best this position group has been at Arkansas in modern history. It has the potential to be. If the Razorbacks hope to rekindle some of the magic and success of the 2021 season, the defensive line is going to play a massive role in that.

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