Arkansas football positional previews: Jaylon Braxton looks to replicate success of 2023

FAYETTEVILLE — There are eight weekends remaining until the return of Arkansas football.

The Razorbacks open the 2024 season in Little Rock against UAPB. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. (ESPNU) on Thursday, Aug. 29.

Arkansas is coming off a disappointing 4-8 campaign that saw offensive coordinator Dan Enos get fired midseason and the eventual transfers of KJ Jefferson and Raheim 'Rocket' Sanders, two faces of the program.

In response, the Hogs hired Bobby Petrino and hit the transfer portal, bringing in plenty of newcomers for what feels like an all-important season for head coach Sam Pittman.

Over the next month, the Southwest Times Record will run positional previews twice a week, asking two questions and providing one bold prediction. We tackled the entire offense earlier this month, including key position groups like the quarterbacks and offensive line.

Here's a look at the defensive backs entering 2024.

Are there clear starters in the secondary for Arkansas football?

Jaylon Braxton is the undisputed top cornerback on the roster. The Texas native became a starter as a true freshman in 2023 and earned Freshman All-SEC honors from the league’s coaches. He led the team with eight pass break-ups while recording 20 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception.

Tennessee transfer Doneiko Slaughter also has the inside track to start at the nickel after finishing the spring with the first team, eventually pushing Lorando Johnson to transfer back to Baylor. The other three spots are up for grabs.

South Alabama transfer Marquise Robinson will compete with returnees Kee'yon Stewart and Jaheim Singletary to be the second outside cornerback. At safety, Jayden Johnson and Hudson Clark are back for their final seasons of college football, but Florida transfer Miguel Mitchell and rising sophomore TJ Metcalf are other options. Utah State transfer Anthony Switzer could provide depth or challenge to start at a variety of positions.

With plenty of returnees combined with potentially high-impact transfers, there isn't a more interesting position group entering fall camp.

Was last year's pass defense a fluke?

The Hogs ranked 33rd in the country in 2023 by allowing just 202.8 passing yards per game. Only one quarterback — LSU Heisman winner Jayden Daniels — threw for more than 300 yards. Arkansas gave up at least 300 yards passing six times in 2022.

There wasn't a surge in talent within the secondary last year. Dwight McGlothern went undrafted and outside of Jaylon Braxton, there isn't an obvious prospect to play in the NFL.

New defensive coordinator Travis Williams and a revamped defensive line played a massive role, but the Hogs also displayed great development with their defensive backs. If that trend continues in 2024, Arkansas will have a chance to boast one of the best defenses in the conference.

One bold prediction: Selman Bridges becomes a starter by season's end

Standing at 6-foot-2, the freshman looks like an NFL cornerback. Bridges was the No. 100 overall prospect in Top247 rankings coming out of Lake Belton High School in Texas and has all of the tools to be a future star.

There were some growing pains in the spring, and those will extend to the early part of the fall, but Bridges' talent is undeniable. He will become a starter at some point during the 2024 season and give Arkansas one of the best cornerback duos in the country next year with Braxton.

What the coaches said this spring

"Good player. Really good player. Really good leader for a young man but that comes from his family. Really strong family, very knowledgeable football family, high school program, but he’s just a wonderful kid. Very very talented, wants to do everything right and it’s important to him."

— Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman on rising sophomore Jaylon Braxton.

Projected depth chart

• Jaylon Braxton, sophomore; Doneiko Slaughter, senior; Jayden Johnson, senior; Miguel Mitchell, junior; Marquise Robinson, senior.
• Kee'yon Stewart, redshirt senior; Anthony Switzer, redshirt senior; Hudson Clark, redshirt senior; TJ Metcalf, sophomore; Jaheim Singletary, junior.