Ranking the Top 100 College Football Teams for 2018: No. 55 Arkansas

In the 100 days leading up to the kickoff of the college football season on Saturday, Aug. 25, HERO Sports is ranking the top 100 teams in the FBS. Each day, starting May 17 and ending Aug. 24, a new team is revealed in the HERO Sports Top 100. 

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No. 55 Arkansas

Bret Bielema out, Chad Morris in. A new era of Arkansas football begins in a much different fashion than the last one did.

Morris inherits a roster laced with holes but has plenty of talent to fill them. Devwah Whaley, Hjalte Froholdt, De'Jon Harris and Randy Ramsey lead a starving team that should contend for a bowl game.

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2017 Record: 4-8 (1-7, SEC)

For the third time in six seasons, Arkansas failed to win five games. They gave up at least 28 points in 10 of their 12 games, including five with at least 50 points, and lost five games by at least 21 points.

It was rock bottom and the end of the road for both athletics director Jeff Long and head coach Bret Bielema, whom Long hired away from Wisconsin with a massive deal that made Bielema one of the highest-paid coaches in the country.

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Head Coach: Chad Morris (1st Year)

"We're here to win, we want to win, and we want to win championships," Morris said at his introductory press conference in December. "That's what we're going to do." 

If Chad Morris wins championships at Arkansas — the Razorbacks have never won an SEC championship, haven't won a conference title since winning the Southwest Conference championship in 1989 and claim only one national championship (1964) — he'll be a Greek God.

It's hard to believe that just nine years ago he was a high school coach in Texas. 

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Player Losses

QB Austin Allen, RB David Williams, C Frank Ragnow, CB Kevin Richardson, CB Henre' Toliver

Two-year starting quarterback Austin Allen is gone after throwing for the eighth-most passing yards and seventh-most passing touchdowns (36) in program history (5,045). He took his lumps but was a semi-reliable piece on a team without many of them.

After a few injury-plagued seasons, David Williams finally broke out as a senior, averaging nearly six yards per carry while scoring 10 total touchdowns, numbers partially aided by center Frank Ragnow, one of the best linemen in program history.

Defensively, they lost two corners in Kevin Richardson and Henre' Toliver. Richardson was a team captain who tied for the team lead with interceptions.

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Returning Offensive Players

QB Cole Kelley, QB Ty Storey, RB Devway Whaley, RB Chase Hayden, RB T.J. Hammonds, WR Jonathan Nance, WR La'Michael Pettway, TE Jeremy Patton, TE Austin Cantrell, OT Colton Jackson, OT Brian Wallace, G Hjalte Froholdt, G Johnny Gibson

Among the coaches that Morris brought from SMU is coordinator Joe Craddock, whom Morris first worked with at Clemson and will call the plays. The pair spent the offseason installing a unique version of a spread, up-tempo offense that requires versatility and often employs two tight ends. 

Neither Cole Kelley, a massive (6-foot-7, 268 pounds) redshirt sophomore who started four games in 2017, nor Ty Storey, a junior pro-style quarterback who's attempted four passes in his career, separated themselves in spring practice. 

“It’s a wash right now at quarterback,” Morris said late in spring practice. “I’m not going to name one coming out of spring. It’ll probably be into fall camp before we name one. I will say this, that Ty really started spring out progressing heavily and has continued to do well. Cole did not start as fast as Ty did, but has really came on.”

Despite the departure of David Williams, they are talented and deep at running back, with at least three players capable of carrying the load. Junior Devwah Whaley (below) is atop the depth chart, followed by sophomore Chase Hayden and junior T.J. Hammonds, the latter of whom averaged a staggering 8.2 yards per tote on 32 carries last year.

Leading receiver Jonathan Nance is back, as is junior La'Michael Pettway, who had only six receptions in nine appearances last year but ran with the first team for most of spring practice and can be a vertical threat.

"He’s big, he’s physical, he runs well, he’s got good ball skills,” Morris said of the 6-foot-2, 224-pound Pettway. “It’s time for him to be a guy.”

The offensive line returns four starters, including All-SEC candidate Hjalte Froholdt at guard, but needs to be a lot better. Arkansas ranked 118th in sack rate (9.4 percent), and while their yards-per-carry average improved by nearly 20 percent, they still only averaged 4.3 yards per tote. 

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Returning Defensive Players

DE Gabe Richardson, DE Randy Ramsey, DT McTelvin Agim, LB De'Jon Harris, LB Dre Greenlaw, CB Ryan Pulley, S Santos Ramirez, S Kamren Curl

The good news for new defensive coordinator John Chavis: Arkansas returns seven starters, including their top three tacklers and top three sack producers.

The bad news: The defense couldn't stop a fat, blind, leg-less pig.

Not one player had more than 3.5 sacks or 8.5 tackles for loss. They ranked 127th nationally on third downs, 107th in yards per rush, 99th in sack rate, 120th in yards per pass attempt and 122nd in yards per pass completion. They allowed a staggering 7.1 yards per play in eight SEC games and 6.6 on the season.

The numbers are particularly shocking because Arkansas has defensive talent. De'Jon Harris is one of the country's best tacklers, Randy Ramsey has the pass-rushing skills to register 10 sacks and Kamren Curl made several impressive plays as a freshman corner (he moved to safety in the offseason).

“He is kind of more high energy when we’re in individual drills,” Harris (below) said of Chavis, who runs a 4-3 system. “He’ll get on you, but he doesn’t do any fussing at you. He’s always right there behind us, looking at our mistakes, and as soon as we come off, he’ll make a correction.”

Ramsey is a 6-foot-4, 227-pound senior who's appeared on the verge of a breakout season the last couple years but can't get over the hump. He was praised by coaches and players throughout spring practice.

“He’s a natural, no question about it,” Chavis said of Ramsey. “I’ve been blessed to be around and coach some of the best defensive ends in the country in college football and I made the statement I’d love to have him for two or three years.”

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Player Additions

QB Daulton Hyatt, WR Michael Woods

It'd be shocking if either Cole Kelley and Ty Storey wasn't under center in Week 1 but keep an eye on redshirt freshman quarterback Daulton Hyatt. Reportedly, he was often the best passer of the group during spring ball.

Michael Woods was a three-star member of their 2018 class, enrolled early and has been noticed for his work ethic. It's still unclear where he fits into a crowded receiver room but he'll find a spot soon.

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Schedule

There's a lot to break down with Arkansas' schedule.

First, one of the most underrated non-conference games of the season: North Texas at Arkansas in Week 3. 

Second, Arkansas plays only four true road games and doesn't play a true road game from Sept. 22 until Nov. 17. During that stretch, they play Texas A&M at AT&T Stadium and Ole Miss in Little Rock.

And third, Chad Morris faces his first college employer, Tulsa, on Oct. 20.