2021 Arkansas Razorbacks football team explained

Year:2021
Team:Arkansas Razorbacks
Sport:football
Logo Alt:Arkansas Razorbacks logo
Conference:Southeastern Conference
Division:West Division
Short Conf:SEC
Coachrank:20
Aprank:21
Record:9–4
Conf Record:4–4
Head Coach:Sam Pittman
Hc Year:2nd
Off Coach:Kendal Briles
Oc Year:2nd
Def Coach:Barry Odom
Dc Year:2nd
Off Scheme:Hurry-up, no-huddle spread
Def Scheme:3–2–6
Captain:
Stadium:Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
War Memorial Stadium
Champion:Outback Bowl champion
Bowl:Outback Bowl
Bowl Result:W 24–10 vs. Penn State

The 2021 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Razorbacks played their home games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Arkansas competed as a member of the West Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and were led by second-year head coach Sam Pittman.

Preseason

Recruits

Arkansas signed 22 recruits for the 2021 class, 21 from high school and one from junior college.

Arkansas also signed six immediately eligible players from the transfer portal for the 2021 class.

QBKade Renfro6inchesft3inchesin (ftin)208lbsStephenville, TexasRedshirt freshmanOle Miss
OLTy'Kieast Crawford6inchesft5inchesin (ftin)355lbsCarthage, TexasSophomoreCharlotte
CBTrent Gordon5inchesft11inchesin (ftin)195lbsManvel, TexasJuniorPenn State
DLJohn Ridgeway III6inchesft6inchesin (ftin)325lbsBloomington, IllinoisSeniorIllinois State
DLMarkell Utsey6inchesft4inchesin (ftin)300lbsLittle Rock, ArkansasSeniorMissouri
DETre Williams6inchesft5inchesin (ftin)260lbsColumbia, MissouriSeniorMissouri

SEC Media Days

The 2021 SEC Media Days were held July 19–22, 2021, at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham – The Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, Alabama. The preseason polls were released on July 23, 2021.[1] Arkansas placed sixth in the West Division in the preseason media poll, and five Arkansas players were selected to the all-SEC media teams.[2]

Preseason media poll

Media poll (West Division)
1 Alabama 932 (130)
2 Texas A&M 760 (1)
3 LSU 633 (1)
4 Ole Miss 529 (1)
5 Auburn 440
6 Arkansas 241 (1)
7 Mississippi State 217

Preseason all-SEC teams

Offense

1st team

Treylon Burks – WR

2nd team

Ricky Stromberg – C

3rd team

Myron Cunningham – OL

Defense

2nd team

Grant Morgan – LB

Jalen Catalon – DB

Personnel

Coaching staff

Arkansas Razorbacks coaches
2nd
Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coachalign=center 2nd
Defensive coordinator/Safeties coach 2nd
Assistant head coach/Special teams coordinator 2nd
Tight ends coach align=center 1st
Cody Kennedy Offensive line coach 1st
Wide receivers coach1st
Jimmy SmithRunning backs coach 2nd
Michael Scherer Linebackers coach 1st
Jermial Ashley Defensive line coach 1st
Sam Carter Cornerbacks coach 2nd
Jamil Walker Strength and conditioning coach 2nd
Reference:[3]

Regular season

Schedule

The Razorbacks' 2021 schedule was released on January 27, 2021, and will consist of 7 home games, 4 away games, and 1 neutral game in the regular season. The Razorbacks hosted SEC foes Auburn, Mississippi State, and Missouri in Fayetteville. The Hogs traveled to face Georgia, Ole Miss, LSU, and Alabama. Arkansas faced rival Texas A&M in Arlington, Texas.

Arkansas hosted all four of its non-conference games: against Rice from Conference USA, Texas from the Big 12 Conference, and Georgia Southern from the Sun Belt Conference in Fayetteville, and against Arkansas–Pine Bluff from the Southwestern Athletic Conference in Little Rock.[4]

Game summaries

Rice

No. 15 Texas

Georgia Southern

Vs. No. 7 Texas A&M

At No. 2 Georgia

At No. 17 Ole Miss

Auburn

Arkansas–Pine Bluff

No. 17 Mississippi State

At LSU

At No. 2 Alabama

Missouri

Vs. Penn State (Outback Bowl)

Outback Bowl MVP - Arkansas QB K. J. Jefferson

Postseason

The 2021 Arkansas Razorbacks finished the season with a 9-4 overall record, 4-4 in SEC play, won the 2022 Outback Bowl over Penn State, and was ranked in the final AP Poll, finishing well above preseason expectations. The bowl win was Arkansas' first bowl victory on New Year's Day since beating the Texas Longhorns in the 2000 Cotton Bowl Classic. The bowl win was also Arkansas' first over a Big Ten opponent. Arkansas' victory over Texas on September 11 was the Razorbacks first win over the Longhorns in Fayetteville since 1981. Arkansas also, for the first time in school history, won all three rivalry trophy games in the same season, beating Texas A&M in Arlington, TX for the Southwest Classic Trophy, at LSU to win the Golden Boot Trophy, and Missouri in Fayetteville to win the Battle Line Rivalry Trophy. Arkansas also ended losing streaks of nine games versus Texas A&M, five games versus LSU, and five games versus Missouri.

Awards

WR Treylon Burks - AP and Coaches 1st Team All-SEC

CB Montaric Brown - Coaches 1st Team All-SEC

LB Bumper Pool - AP and Coaches 2nd Team All-SEC

C Ricky Stromberg - AP 2nd Team All-SEC

RB Raheim Sanders - SEC All-Freshman Team

PK Cam Little - SEC All-Freshman Team; Freshman All-American

LB Grant Morgan - 2021 Burlsworth Trophy winner

P/H Reid Bauer - 2021 Peter Mortell Holder of the Year Award winner

QB KJ Jefferson - Outback Bowl MVP

HC Sam Pittman - AFCA Region 2 Coach of the Year

Players drafted in the NFL

See also: 2022 NFL draft.

1 18 WR Tennessee Titans
5 178 DT Dallas Cowboys
7 222 CB Jacksonville Jaguars

Statistics

Team

Scores by quarter

Notes and References

  1. Web site: SEC Media Days 2021 lineup announced. theacc.com. 247sports.com. Apr 28, 2021. July 12, 2021.
  2. Web site: Preseason Football Media Poll, All-SEC Team Announced . Southeastern Conference . August 24, 2021.
  3. Web site: 2021 Football Coaching Staff. arkansasrazorbacks. August 23, 2021.
  4. Web site: 2021 Arkansas Football Schedule . FBSchedules.com . January 13, 2021.