Anton Juncaj healthy now, ready for season

FAYETTEVILLE — Defensive end Anton Juncaj is ready for his first game as a Razorback.

Juncaj, 6-3, 272, is a senior transfer from Albany and expected to play a big role for the Hogs this season.

“It’s been really awesome,” Juncaj said. “When I first got here it was a little tough getting used to all the tempo and the workouts. I remember the first workout was tough. I’m starting to get more acclimated.”

Juncaj talked about the major differences from Albany to Arkansas.

“I feel like tempo is like a huge difference, even in the workouts, you’re constantly going, going, going,” Juncaj said. “Going to practice it’s going, going, rep after rep. Albany is a little more laid back and not as much tempo.”

Juncaj missed some practice time with a concussion, but since returning he’s battling Nico Davillier for a starting spot.

“I think it’s just I’ve got to keep working and keep going hard and just learning all the techniques,” Juncaj said. “When I first came in things were a little bit different from Albany, and just getting used to all that here.”

Juncaj went from five sacks to 15 in 2023 at Albany. He talked about how he improved in that area so much.

“I would say a little bit of everything,” Juncaj said. “When I first got to Albany, that was like my first time really going into a summer training program. I was at D2, never really had an offseason, went to JuCo, COVID happened, never had an offseason. So, I feel like the weight room aspect, coaches, technique, all that stuff really played into it all.”

In recruiting, Juncaj visited Texas A&M and then Arkansas. He signed with the Hogs while on the visit.

“Yeah,” Juncaj said. “I always had a feeling I could play bigger ball, but this was always my dream, to get to one of these big schools and it just finally happened, thanks to the transfer portal, a little bit.”

Juncaj being from Albany has drawn some comparisons to Jared Verse, who transferred from Albany to Florida State.

“I mean, I take it as a compliment,” Verse said. “We’re different players, but yeah, Jared’s like my big brother.”

Like Verse, Juncaj had a lot of options when he went to the transfer portal. His final list in addition to Arkansas and Texas A&M included Oklahoma and Arizona.

“It’s just surreal,” Juncaj said. “When you go into the portal, you’re not really expecting [it]. Like some some people are saying, ‘You’re going to get just Group of 5.’ And just going on the phone with Coach (Sam) Pittman and Coach (Brent) Venables, it was just like a surreal experience.”

What stood out and helped lead you to Arkansas?

“It gave me the family feel and that’s really what brought me here,” Juncaj said.

Landon Jackson has impressed Juncaj like he has everyone else and is someone the transfer is glad a teammate now.

“Yeah, just learning,” Juncaj said. “That’s a guy to look up to and learn from everything he does. Like he’s projected a top draft pick. So just really everything he does, just learning from him. And really the whole defensive line, I always pick up on stuff from everybody.”

Arkansas will return to the practice fields this afternoon.