Tennessee football heads to Fayetteville on Saturday night to face Arkansas as they look to stay unbeaten on the 2024 season.
Here’s a look at the Arkansas Razorbacks ahead of the primetime SEC showdown at D.W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
More From RTI: Everything Tennessee HC Josh Heupel Said To Open Up Arkansas Week
How The Razorbacks Got Here
Arkansas enters the matchup 3-2 (1-1 SEC) with a pair of narrow losses and a road win at Auburn.
The Razorbacks dropped their marquee non conference matchup at Oklahoma State in overtime. Arkansas lost on the road despite out gaining the Cowboys by over 250 yards. However, three turnovers and multiple missed field goals cost Arkansas.
Sam Pittman’s fifth Arkansas team got its best win of the season two weeks later when they went on the road and knocked off Auburn in its conference opener.
The Razorbacks squandered an opportunity to open up 2-0 in SEC play a week ago when a fourth quarter touchdown helped Texas A&M hand Arkansas a 21-17 loss in Fayetteville.
Arkansas’ Strengths
Arkansas has remained balanced on offense so far this season ranking sixth in the SEC in passing and fifth in the SEC in rushing. But quarterback Taylen Green has been inconsistent through four games with a pair of games south of 175 passing yards.
It’s the rushing offense that’s really propelled Arkansas’ offense this season behind star running back Ja’Quinden Jackson and Green.
In part because of its strong rushing attack, Arkansas’ offense has been phenomenal on third downs. Its 55.4% third down conversion rate ranks fifth nationally.
Another area the rushing offense has excelled is in the red zone where they rank second nationally with 16 rushing touchdowns in the red zone. However, the passing offense has been pretty abysmal when the field shrinks so more on that in a moment.
The Razorbacks have a strong run defense, ranking fifth in the SEC despite playing three opponents with solid rushing attacks so far this season.
Arkansas’ Weaknesses
Let’s go back to the red zone offense stat. In 24 trips to the red zone this season, Arkansas has totaled only one passing touchdown. In part because of that, the Razorbacks have six scoreless trips to the red zone this season. With Tennessee’s stout run defense, the Vols could force Arkansas to make some plays through the air in the red zone.
Arkansas’ offensive line has been shaky this season. I wouldn’t say it’s been bad so maybe it isn’t a true weakness. But pass protection has been a weak spot. Green has often been on the run and he’s been sacked 12 times through five games. The Razorbacks also rank 1o3rd nationally in tackles for loss allowed. Tennessee’s defense ranks 12th nationally in tackles for loss despite playing only four games.
Turnovers have also been an issue for Arkansas’ offense. Its nine turnovers through five games is the second most in the SEC only behind Auburn
While Arkansas’ run defense has been stout, its pass defense has been pretty suspect. With a middling pass rush and shaky secondary, the Razorbacks rank 14th in the SEC in passing yards allowed per game despite facing few prolific passing attacks. This could be a real opportunity for Tennessee’s passing offense to have a breakout performance.
Razorbacks To Know
Quarterback Taylen Green
A Boise State transfer, Green is the man that Bobby Petrino pegged to run his first offense back at Arkansas. Results have been mixed early this season with Green completing just 57% of his passes for 1,236 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions.
Green is a true dual-threat quarterback. He’s added 331 yards and four touchdowns on the ground this season.
Running Back Ja’Quinden Jackson
Jackson is the definitive dude in Arkansas’ offense. A 6-foot-2, 233-pound bruising running back, Jackson’s rushed for 509 yards and nine touchdowns this season.
The senior running back leads the SEC in rushing yards and is second only to Dylan Samspon is rushing touchdowns so far this season.
Defensive Lineman Landon Jackson
Jackson was Arkansas consensus preseason All-SEC pick before the season. The senior strongside defensive end recorded 44 tackles and 6.5 sacks last season for the Razorbacks.
So far this season, Jackson leads the Razorbacks with two sacks to go along with 18 tackles.
Safety TJ Metcalf
Metcalf has been perhaps the best player on Arkansas’ defense to this point in the season. He’s second on the Razorbacks with 28 tackles and leads the team with three interceptions and three pass breakups.
The sophomore safety’s three interceptions is tied for the most on the team.
What Josh Heupel Said About The Razorbacks
Opening statement
“For us, guys got back in the building today, had good work out on the grass as we push forward to get ready for Arkansas. First of all, I know it’s going to be a great environment there. This is a really good football team. They’re a couple plays away from being undefeated. You look at the way that they played this past weekend, they’re playing extremely physical, both sides of the line with scrimmage. Defensively, one of the best teams in in the country. And offensively, they’re rushing the football about as good as anybody. And they’ve created plays on special teams. So a huge test for us this week to prepare the right way and get ready to go play our best football.”
On what makes the Arkansas defense so effective, playing aggressive and forcing nine turnovers so far
“Well that’s the first part. They create a bunch of turnovers. I think they play extremely hard. All three levels of the defense are tied in on the run game. They’ve done a really good job against the rush. They’ve done a really good job on third downs, too. They make it difficult to go create and pick up first downs and create explosive plays.”
On the challenges Arkansas’ quarterback Taylen Green, the Razorbacks offense presents
“Dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands. That’s quarterback design, quarterback runs, it’s read game, which can be first or second level reads for him. It’s when plays break down, he’s got the ability to escape, out run people, get outside of the pocket and make plays. Anytime you’re facing a quarterback that’s that dynamic, that is where the game starts for you defensively. You got to, on pass plays, push the pocket but you can’t let him escape and the quarterback run game. You better have your eyes on the right place, play the play based off of what you’re seeing the right way and then be in a fundamental position to squeeze and and go make the play.”
On what makes Arkansas’ running game so effective
“Their offensive line’s playing at a high level, but he’s got the ability to make the numbers right for them. Anytime the quarterback run game’s a part of it, you get a chance to make the numbers right and so you gotta play gap integrity, assignment sound, but then you also gotta destruct blocks to get off and go make a play. His speed, how dynamic of a player he is makes that a difficult thing to do. ‘Cause he’s got the ability at times to just outrun the defender.”
