We continue our HawgBeat position preview series ahead of the start of fall camp with the defensive ends.
Defensive line coach Deke Adams is back after the team broke the program record with an SEC-best 42 sacks in 2022. While Adams lost his top defensive end in Jordan Domineck, he added two veterans guys in Trajan Jeffcoat and John Morgan III.
It is a strong group of veteran returnees that highlights the group, though. Super senior Zach Williams is back, as is senior Jashaud Stewart. But the most intriguing name of all is junior Landon Jackson, who is 6-foot-7, 281 pounds following the summer.
Here is a full preview of the defense end position for Arkansas ahead of fall camp, including a breakdown of each guy, a projected depth chart and storylines to watch...
Arkansas Defensive Ends
Returning players: Zach Williams (super senior), Jashaud Stewart (senior), Landon Jackson (junior), Nico Davillier (sophomore), Jon Hill (redshirt sophomore - walk-on), Kyle Thompson (redshirt freshman - walk-on)
Additions: Trajan Jeffcoat (super senior), John Morgan III (super senior), Quincy Rhodes Jr. (freshman), Kaleb James (freshman)
The Starters
If we had to pick two guys that would line up with the first team defense to start fall camp, it would Landon Jackson and Trajan Jeffcoat. Both are transfers from SEC programs with a Tiger mascot.
Entering his second season in Fayetteville, Jackson has seen his expectations grow exponentially since spring football. The Texarkana, Texas, native is up to 281 pounds after ending the 2022 season at 236 pounds, according to head coach Sam Pittman.
A former LSU Tiger, Jackson could have a breakout season with the Razorbacks if he can stay healthy and keep the weight on. Standing at 6-feet-7-inches tall, Jackson is a former four-star prospect who has a very high ceiling.
Jeffcoat transferred in from Missouri to use his final season of eligibility at Arkansas. The Columbia, South Carolina, native wasn't very productive on the stat sheet in 2022, but he has valuable experience that the Hogs need.
As a redshirt senior last season, Jeffcoat tallied 21 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack across 10 starts. It wasn't so long ago that Jeffcoat was among the SEC's best, though, as he was named a First-Team All-SEC defensive end after tacking up six sacks in 2020.
