Razorback defenders looking to leap forward in Liberty Bowl battle with Red Raiders

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

FAYETTEVILLE – It may only be one win, but the Arkansas defense would love to have a Liberty Bowl victory as an end for the 2024 season and a jumping off point for the 2025 campaign.

The Razorbacks (6-6) will get that chance when it faces Texas Tech (8-4) in Memphis on Friday Dec. 27 at 6 p.m.

Arkansas linebacker Stephen Dix was quick to point Wednesday how close his squad was to having a much better season, something Razorback defensive coordinator Travis Williams has stressed.

“Obviously, going 7-6 with a winning record,  ending the season, that would be good,” Dix said. “ At the end of the day, we know that we’re capable of so much more. When we look back at the games and Coach T-Will showed us like how small the margins was for our losses against really good teams.

“…It was just like “Man, if we was aligned an inch wider or if we were keyed in on our assignment like a little more. If we had a little more discipline in the gap, we could have won this game man. You could really a huge 3 or 4 wins coming out of the 6 losses that we took. “Obviously, getting to win this game would be really nice, just to move forward with a winning record, something to build off of.”

Dix noted that Arkansas’ defensive coaches quickly pointed out where and how their side of the ball could get better for the bowl and next season.

“I think we need to acknowledge what we are already doing with the coaches, Dix said. “The coaches are doing a great job is just understanding how much more disciplined we need to be so we can win these games because we are so capable of winning them.

“We didn’t get blown out at all, except for Ole Miss (maybe, that was just a bad day for us. Every other game, if you go back at the numbers, we really had a chance to win, we just had to be more disciplined. I think it’ll be a good step. We’re going to see what we are capable of this game and just see how it all comes together and we’ll move forward from there.”

Fellow linebacker Xavian Sorey wants a Liberty Bowl win and a change to avenge losses the same five SEC foes Arkansas will play again next season.

“I feel like it is going to leave a bad taste in our mouth – the teams that we lost to, we are going to not want to lose to them again,” Sorey said. “Having something to work towards…I don’t think we should let it affect us a lot bad.”

Arkansas defensive tackle Cam Ball, who paid his respect to late sports writer Bob Holt to begin the press conference, is happy with his team’s early bowl workouts.

“Preparation has been good man,” Ball said. “ We’ve been grinding it out, battling against each other, knocking off the rust from the past week and a half we had off against Missouri. So, it’s been going good.”

Arkansas redshirt senior defensive back Hudson Clark agreed that workouts have started well and will get more in-depth on Texas Tech as the days go on.

“Same thing, been going good-on-good with us, trying to get us better and also just got introduced to Texas Tech, so just kind of trying to get the ground foundation for them and go from there,” Clark said.

“Yeah, i’s going to be a challenge for us, but we’re excited as you mentioned. I think we’re just ready to get back out. We’ve had a couple of weeks off. I think we’re just ready to get back out there and play.
   
While the defense has not been hit as hard by the transfer portal and opt outs as the offense, there are still plenty of new faces getting more snaps in the bowl game.

“Man, you know it looks different, but from a physicality standpoint it’s still the same, if not a little bit harder because you’ve got guys who’ve waited their turn, been hungry and you can tell they’re ready for the opportunity,” Ball said. “They try to give you everything they got just like I am, too.”

The Liberty Bowl will be Clark’s final game as a Razorback after six years of being on the roster.

“Yeah, It’s been an up and down journey,” Clark said. “ I’ve just tried to stay the course. I’m blessed to be in this position. Just being here this long, I think I’ve got to go out the right way and and try to go as hard as I can for my teammates.”

Ball remembers being in high school when Clark had three interceptions in Arkansas win over Ole Miss in 2020.

“Man, I remember watching Hudson in high school, man,” Ball said. “Especially the game where he had the three interceptions, man. It’s just cool even being beside him right now. He’s given his all for the Razorbacks over the years. I’ve seen him grow as a leader as well, being more vocal and just all around a great player. We want to send him out the right way. 

Ball, Dix and Sorey all have eligibility left announced they will be back at Arkansas next season.

Ball was first to do so and made it clear why during Wednesday’s press conference with a nod to Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman and defensive line coach Deke Adams.

“Man, you know just, I’m big on loyalty,” Arkansas believed in me back in high school when nobody did. Coach Pittman did. Coach Adams did, so you know, I just, I fell in love with the state of Arkansas. I fell in love with the university, and I want to be a part of the Arkansas Razorbacks, man, no matter

“… I was recruited before NIL and all of that stuff. It’s kind of, you know what I’m saying, messed up the game a little bit. It’s cool and all, but I came here to play football, and I love where I’m at, and I have no reason to leave.”

Sorey and Dix made their decisions independently of each other, but are pumped about being on the field next season.

“Hey, man, playing with Sly (Sorey) been awesome, man,” Dix said. “He’s a ball player. Love him, man. He goes out there, he plays so hard, man, like, it’s crazy, man. I’ll be telling him, ‘Dog, you play really hard.’ He hits really hard, man. 

“We’re just building our chemistry day-in and day-out, man. I think another year with us, we’re going to be … I think we’re going to be the best duo out there on the field next year in college football. So just stay tuned for that, man. But it’s been awesome having to play next to him.

Texas Tech starting quarterback Behren Morton will not play against Arkansas after having surgery.

“I mean, we got to prepare like their starter is playing,” Clark said. “Obviously he’s not, but their offense is really high-powered. Good running back, good running game, and then they like to take deep shots. I think they’re going to try to do the same thing and we’ve got to be ready for that.”

Clark notes the energy and will to win are there for the Razorbacks.

“I think pretty high,” Clark said. “Everybody here wants to go, not just play in the bowl but go win it. I think, for us, it’s another game that we get to play together and so I think that’s big for us.

Ball agreed and hopes the result is the same as Arkansas’ 55-53 overtime win over Kansas in the 2022 Liberty Bowl.

“ It’s exciting, you know, because this is going to be my second Liberty Bowl, man,” Ball said. “So, just being familiar with the area and I want to say we’ve got something new this year, we’re going to go see the Grizzlies for one of our bowl events and I’ve never been to an NBA game, so it’s going to be a great experience for me.”

Photo by John D. James