Crowded Linebacker Room is Good News for the Hogs

By Jerry Meadows

FAYETTEVILLE — At the beginning of spring practice, there were three main concerns about the Razorback football team: the offensive line, the kicking game, and the linebackers. After spring practice, the offensive line appeared headed in the right direction. However, the kicking game and linebackers were still a concern for Coach Pittman.

After the spring game, Pittman added junior Larry Worth (Jacksonville State) and redshirt senior Stephen Dix Jr. (Marshall) to the stable of linebackers for Arkansas in 2024. Adding these two versatile athletes could allow Coach (Travis) Williams to be more creative in his defensive scheme in 2024. With more athletic linebackers, having four linebackers on the field has been seen in recent practices.

Williams said: “Just being able to do some different things because everything is so spread out now, you’ve got to have guys who can run. So, you can take a Brad Spence who can play the Will or the Mack. You can take [Xavian Sorey] and vice versa, or whoever you want to put out there. We try to teach them both, so they’re able to do both. So, we dual train, but really, both guys are in the box and have got to take on blocks and different things like that.”

Williams was asked what he liked about Larry Worth being able to cover slot receivers.

His answer: “Just length. I think when guys are throwing, just having that length, it really throws offenses out when you’ve got a 6-5 guy that’s 225 out there. He has a 41-inch vertical and a 10-9 broad, just some freakish numbers, you know? So he gives us that flexibility out there, and he can do some different things for us. He’s another one that’s like that Swiss army knife. We’ve got to figure out where he’s at and what role he’s going to play, but he’s been a really good addition for us as well.”

So, the most glaring change has been in the linebacker room in fall camp. From having three to four linebackers in spring, Arkansas now has seven. This development will surely reap dividends as the season progresses. Others may develop during the 24′ season but right now this is where Arkansas stands in the linebacker department:

Linebacker Crew

LB – Brad Spence #22 6’2″ 243      

LB – Larry Worth #30 6’4″ 224

LB – Carson Dean #23 6’4″ 231       

LB – Stephen Dix, Jr. #14 6’1″ 235

LB – Xavian Sorey Jr. #10 6’3″ 223  

LB – Alex Sanford #20 6’1″ 225

LB – Bradley Shaw #7 6’1” 235

The first thing you notice about these linebackers is their size. But they are also much stronger and faster than last year. In returning eight starters from last year, both (Sam) Pittman and Williams have added key pieces to the puzzle on defense that should help in keeping Arkansas close in tight games and maybe start winning those winnable games that in the previous two years have slipped through their hands.