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- Feleipe Franks is the sure number on quarterback but the second quarterback will be a hot competition. The Hogs have essentially had a revolving door of quarterbacks since 2017. Ten different quarterbacks have started at least one game. With Kendal Briles coming out and saying it is Franks’ job to lose at this point is a breath of fresh air for a little transparency.
2. Your two starting linebackers will be Bumper Pool and Levi Draper. Ha, wow Jacob that is an impressive bold prediction but hear me out. Grant Morgan is a well of a linebacker and I definitely enjoy watching him play as a former walk-on now part-time starter. Morgan and Hayden Henry will add good depth along with redshirt freshman Zach Zimos. Draper was lost in the shuffle at Oklahoma so a fresh start is something he needed with an Oklahoma boy leading the defense in Barry Odom. Draper will prove his worth early on and find himself in a starting role come opening day.
3. The defense will nearly* have all former four star players in the starting lineup. Defensive end, Dorian Gerald would be the only defender that was rated less than a four star despite being rated at a 90 by 247sports for the JUCO rankings. It’ll be a month and a week before the season actually begins but it is never too early to start figuring out the 3-2-6 base defense that Odom should be fielding. So, who will be starting this fall?
SDE: Dorian Gerald*
WDE: Mataio Soli
DT: Xavier Kelly
LB: Bumper Pool
LB: Levi Draper
CB: Montaric Brown
CB: Devin Bush
CB: LaDarrius Bishop
NB: Greg Brooks
FS: Jalen Catalon
SS: Myles Slusher
4. The offensive line will start out looking like this:
LT: Myron Cunningham
LG: Ty Clary
C: Ricky Stromberg
RG: Luke Jones
RT: Dalton Wagner
Later on if this lineup does not work expect a similar shake up like the one head coach Sam Pittman implemented during the fifth game of the 2013 season (his first as offensive line coach at Arkansas).
LT: Myron Cunningham
LG: Marcus Henderson
C: Ricky Stromberg
RG: Luke Jones
RT: Jalen St. John
This is fun but there are so some really good combinations that this offensive line could have. This unit only allowed a total of 19 sacks in 2019 so expect it to be lower with Pittman and line coach Brad Davis at the helm.
5. Darin Turner forces his way into the wide receiver rotation. At 6’3 215 as a true freshman, he already boasts the size that receivers coach Justin Stepp wants out of his players. Turner has speed, big hands, hops and catches anything near him. He adjusts well to the ball in the air and uses his big frame to steal the ball from the defenders. If he can develop his route running skills this season there is ok reason to doubt him making an impact as a true freshman.