Landon Jackson set to anchor Arkansas’ defense

FAYETTEVILLE — Defensive end Landon Jackson opted to return to Arkansas for this season instead of entering the 2024 NFL Draft.

Jackson, who was Arkansas’ lone player named to the All-SEC teams released Friday. In 2023, Jackson finished with 44 tackles, including 22 solo, 13.5 for loss, 6.5 sacks, one pass breakup and two quarterback hurries. In a 24-21 loss to Alabama, Jackson had 11 tackles, including seven solo, 3.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks.

Arkansas is coming off a 4-8 season. Jackson was asked what Arkansas can do on defense to get more wins this fall?

“Really just finish close games,” Jackson said. “It starts back in January. Workouts, everything like that, you just have to execute, finish those. It’s about all the little details. Really, in those tight games we’ve got to do all we can to prevent them from getting first downs and really just dominate line of scrimmage, play as a unit, and get the job done.”

While Arkansas lost some close games early and midway through the season such as LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss and BYU, they also suffered some blowout losses later in the year to Auburn and Missouri. Jackson is one the team’s key leaders and admitted it was a difficult job keeping the team together as the one-sided losses started piling up.

“Yeah, that’s when it gets tough,” Jackson said. “I mean, that’s when you need a lot of leaders. I think we got that this year. I think overall there’s a bunch of us who can really keep the team together when adversity hits because, I mean, you could even — we can go undefeated this season. Adversity is going to hit at some point.

“We just have to stay together and find ways to bring other guys on the team up and really just battle back adversity.”

Jackson talked about the task Sam Pittman had getting the returning and new players to buy in with the season ending like it did.

“Really when you got enough players on the team that realize it’s not just on one person, it’s not just on Coach Pittman, the offense, the defense,” Jackson said. “It’s the whole thing. I mean, there’s ways all of us could have been better last year. I feel like a lot of guys on our team understood that and kind of accepted that and were, like, yeah, we’ve got to be better.

“I mean, we all just realized we had to be better, and I feel like we’ve done all the things we need to do in this offseason to really better our season.”

Jackson was asked if his success against Alabama was due more to him playing the best game of his career or the Tide having some offensive line issues?

“A little bit of both,” Jackson said. “I just studied film and found a few weaknesses and tried capitalizing on those weaknesses. I feel like overall they got — they had one of the best units in the country last year. They just had a few little problems, but every team has problems at some point.

“But, I mean, phenomenal players. Tyler Booker is a great player, and overall their whole unit. I mean, they had JC Latham last year. Their whole unit is really dominant on the offensive line. I feel like they’re going to be just as good this year.

“I mean, I think I had a good game, but I got to make that into multiple games throughout the year and put up more games like that to be who I think I should be.”

In Arkansas’ first five games they will play in five different stadiums. The Hogs open the season on Thursday, Aug, 29, against UAPB in Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium. Jackson was asked about Arkansas having home games in two different stadiums?

“No, it’s pretty cool,” Jackson said. “We go down to Little Rock for a game every year. I think it’s great for the state. A lot of families from South Arkansas that, I mean, just don’t have the time or the money to drive up to Northwest Arkansas to watch us play are able to go to Little Rock Stadium and watch us and really be there to support us. Yeah, love our stadium up at Fayetteville. There’s nothing like it. Ready to get to it.”

While Jackson likes the Little Rock game, he isn’t a fan of playing Texas A&M in Arlington, Texas.

“Honestly, my preference would be no neutral sites,” Jackson said. “I’m big on — I really like home games, and I love away games. I either love the crowd hating me or loving me. I don’t like the mixed vibe, you know.

“I’m big on — I love going somewhere and running out the tunnel and getting booed. It makes you work a little bit harder, but I also love running out the tunnel and just seeing my whole fan base. I prefer it like that than neutral sites.”