Arkansas’ defense has some players showing improvement

FAYETTEVILLE — Sam Pittman knows the defense needs some more help from the transfer portal when it reopens in April.

But the Razorbacks have had six spring practices and Pittman likes what he has seen from some players on defense.

One such player is cornerback Keshawn Davila who came to the Razorbacks from junior college at midterm.

“Yeah, I like him, and I think he’s done a good job,’ Pittman said. “Obviously, he’s battling with those other corners, but I think we hit on him. I like him. He’s really, really fast. As we continue to go, I look for him to get better and better, which we really have done that. Our defense has really improved I think over the last few days. I think the corners are part of the reason.”

Pittman went on to name some players who have caught his eye thus far in the spring drills.

“Quincy Rhodes, Ian Geffrard and Danny Saili,” Pittman said. “Those are 3 guys that I think, they didn’t play a lot. But those three are as improved as anyone that we have on the team. They’ve done a really good job in there. Obviously we’re without Cam (Ball) and (David) Oke inside. Those guys, (Xavian) Sorey and (Stephen) Dix, but they’ve played, but you can feel them. I’ll tell you a guy: Selman Bridges is getting better. Jaden Allen. And then we’ve talked about Davila. But I think those guys that we hadn’t seen play a lot of ball, those are the ones that I feel like, hey, they’re gonna be OK if they’ll continue to improve.”

Oke hasn’t practiced yet due to an injury, but that is about to change.

“We probably could’ve brought him back today probably,” Pittman said Thursday. “We thought we had went this far, another 10 days. But he will be back on Tuesday. So he’ll get nine of them. And that’s kind of most of these guys, without the… Jordan Young had the surgery, so we know that he can’t come back. Most of the guys… Kani Walker is a guy that we need to see that will be back Tuesday as well.”

Pittman has been impressed with one of the true freshmen on defense. JJ Shelton is from Dallas (Texas) South Oak Cliff. He was the Metroplex Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.

“You know, right off the top of my head, the No. 1 guy would be JJ Shelton,” Pittman said. “I think he’s a guy — obviously we recruited him at linebacker — but he’s playing the nickel, the HOG, whatever you want to call it. I think that would be the No. 1 guy on defense that kind of sticks out.”

With Sorey and Dix the clear starters at linebacker, Pittman named who else is in running for playing time there.

“(Bradley) Shaw,” Pittman said. “Shaw would be that. It’s unfortunate that we had a hamstring pull with Wyatt Simmons. But JJ Shelton is kind of there. But the top three would be those two, as you said, and then Shaw and we’re certainly counting on Wyatt Simmons to probably be the next guy.”

Caleb Bell and Kevin Oatis are two true freshmen at defensive tackle who are trying to earn playing time as well.

“They might,” Pittman said. “Certainly have the athletic ability. I like both those kids. They’re doing better. They certainly might. They’re both good gets. I’ll tell you that. They’re athletic.”

Larry Worth III is set for his second season with the Razorbacks. He’s playing both safety and the HOG as well as becoming the leader of the defense.

“That’s who it is,” Pittman said. “Well, we’re kind of rotating him a little bit at HOG and safety. Obviously we have, I think we have four guys in the secondary that we’re going to get back, they’re just not healthy right now, so we’re trying to find out exactly which place Larry can play. He ran, I believe, 47-something in the 400 meters in high school and just wasn’t as big as he is now. But I believe he’s an NFL-type player. He can really run and he’s physical. You’re right, he’s always been a vocal guy. I don’t know if they were listening to him as much as they do now since he’s starting and he’s making good plays and all that, but he has that capability and I like him a lot. He’s really, really physical. So we just need to find out which… We’re a better a defense, whether he’s at Hog or whether he’s at safety. Right now he’s playing more safety.”

Arkansas is on spring break this week. The spring game is set for Saturday, April 19, at 1 p.m.