Jaylon Braxton set for outstanding sophomore season

FAYETTEVILLE — Last year as a true freshman Jaylon Braxton played, but seems much more confident and advanced this season as a sophomore.

Deron Wilson, who helps with the secondary along with Marcus Woodson, talked about Braxton’s improvement following Monday’s practice.

“He’s a guy that even now we kind of go back, whether it’s the first game against Western Carolina and we talk about the maturation process as a player,” Wilson said. “First game he played some snaps and he was like, ‘Hey, I was just out there.’ The speed of college football has slowed down and understanding route concepts. A lot of times when you’re a true freshman, you’re playing off of all ability because the game is still going fast. Now, him going into year two, the game is slowing down, he’s reading concepts, he’s asking next level questions.

“We talk about in a defensive back room having a PhD in football, right? When you think about elite players, they’re just not playing off ability. They’re playing off of ability and football IQ. When you get a PhD in football, right, that means you’ll be in the NFL for six plus years just off of, ‘Hey, I understand when two go in, what one is going to do; when two go out, what one is going to do.’ When it comes down to reading concepts, when they talk about man coverage coming down to ability, the stems of receiver, and you see it on film and I know we’re heading in a right direction.

“When we talk about a PhD in football, when I see something a third time and I come back in and I’m about to walk up to them and talk to them, I’ll be about to walk up and they say that. They say exactly what I was thinking. I’m like, ‘All right, we’re heading in the right direction.’ We’re definitely climbing and we’re trending upwards.”

In nine games last season, Braxton had 20 tackles, 11 solo, an interception, eight pass breakups, forced a fumble against Florida and recovered it taking it 33 yards for a touchdown.

“From my freshman year to now, I think I’ve gotten better with just knowing what the offense is trying to do to me, what they’re trying to do to the defense,” Braxton said. “Just recognizing route concepts. 

“For the group, we’ve been doing real good in camp. I would say for myself, I had a rough day the first day, but I’ve been getting better from the first day and just keep stacking good days. We’ve got a lot of depth in the cornerback room this year and you’re going to see a lot of us on the field this year.”

Wilson said they don’t have starters particularly at cornerback just standards, Braxton explained what Wilson meant by standards.

“Just showing up every day, just knowing your assignment every day on the field,” Braxton said. “Every day we take the field it’s a standard. You go hard every time, run to the ball, be intentional. Coach Wilson always tells us, be intentional in everything you do. If you’re not holding up to that standard, you’re not going to be on the field.”

Braxton was asked to go into more detail on the area where he feels he has made the most improvement since last season.

“Just the learning of the game, understanding,” Braxton said. “As much time as we put in on the field, you’ve got to do the same off the field. Film study, getting in the training room. Just a lot.”

Braxton admitted it was completely different coming in this year as opposed to last year as a true freshman even though he did go through spring drills in 2023.

“It feels better for me just to have a year under my belt and know what I’m doing now,” Braxton said. “So I’m out there more comfortable.”

The catch of the preseason remains an unbelievable catch by Tyrone Broden with Braxton defending him. Broden made a one-handed grab of the pass from Taylen Green despite outstanding coverage from Braxton.

“Oh yeah,” Braxton said. “Ty, he’s going to make a lot of deep plays. He was doing that in the spring. That’s just what he does, so yeah, you expect that a lot from him.”

Arkansas will return to the practice fields at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.