| FTBL Why Arkansas can and can’t beat Alabama in October

Arkansas football took a significant step in its second season under coach Sam Pittman.

After a 3-7 record in 2020, the Razorbacks defeated Texas A&M, Mississippi State and LSU en route to a 9-4 season that ended with a victory over Penn State in the Outback Bowl.

The year also included a close loss to Alabama, which needed a career day from quarterback Bryce Young to win 42-35 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

This year, the game will be played in Fayetteville, where Pittman and company will aim to get Arkansas' first victory over the Crimson Tide since 2006.

Alabama is likely to be favored heading into the game, but could Arkansas pull off the upset?

Throughout the summer, The Tuscaloosa News will take a look at each Alabama opponent that has a shot, even if it's slim, to defeat the Crimson Tide. Sorry, Vanderbilt.

This week, we examine the Razorbacks, whom Alabama will face on Saturday, Oct. 1, in the fifth game of the season.

Here's what Arkansas does and doesn't have going for it against the Crimson Tide.

Why Arkansas can win: QB KJ Jefferson

If Arkansas is going to win, Jefferson will almost certainly be a significant part of it.

He's a threat as a passer and a runner. Jefferson threw for 2,676 yards, 21 touchdowns and four interceptions while also leading the Razorbacks in rushing with 664 yards to go with six touchdowns on the ground.

Working with offensive coordinator Kendal Briles for a third season, Jefferson could be even more of a problem for opposing defenses in 2022.

Running game

Most of the SEC's top rushing team returns from 2021, when the Razorbacks led the conference with 227.8 yards per game on the ground.

Running back Trelon Smith is gone, and he accounted for 598 yards on 119 carries with five touchdowns. But Arkansas brings back its leading rusher in Jefferson, as well as Raheim Sanders (578 yards, five touchdowns), Dominique Johnson (575 yards, seven touchdowns) and AJ Green (227 yards, one touchdown). Plus it has an experienced offensive line returning.

Alabama figures to be strong in run defense again, but Arkansas could be one of the tougher tests.

Why Arkansas can't win: Questions at receiver

Good news for Alabama's defensive backs — receiver Treylon Burks won't be lining up across from them this time around.

After he caught eight passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns against Alabama in 2021, Burks went on to become the 18th overall pick in the NFL Draft. That gives SEC West opponents much-needed relief but leaves the Razorbacks with questions at the position.

Gone also are the second (Tyson Morris) and fourth (De'Vion Warren) receivers in yards from 2021. Arkansas did add Jadon Haselwood, a transfer from Oklahoma whom 247Sports ranked as the No. 26 player in the transfer portal this offseason. The Razorbacks also return Warren Thompson, the Razorbacks' No. 3 receiver in yards (304) who also had 19 receptions and two touchdowns.

But that's likely not enough to constantly threaten Alabama's secondary like Burks did. Especially when the Crimson Tide secondary could be quite stout in 2022.

Unproven pass rush

Arkansas could find a pass rush as the season progresses, but as of now, there's no sign of significant threats the Alabama offensive line will have to neutralize.

Last year, the Razorbacks finished second to last in sacks per game in the SEC with 1.85. By comparison, Alabama averaged 3.80.

And Arkansas is losing some of its better rushers from 2021. It will be without its two most productive pass rushers in Tre Williams (six sacks) and Hayden Henry (four).

The Razorbacks did add players through the portal who might help, including former Alabama five-star linebacker Drew Sanders. But Arkansas will likely need an overwhelming rush to slow down quarterback Bryce Young from going off like he did in 2021, throwing for 559 yards and five touchdowns.

 
Why Arkansas can win: QB KJ Jefferson

If Arkansas is going to win, Jefferson will almost certainly be a significant part of it.

He's a threat as a passer and a runner. Jefferson threw for 2,676 yards, 21 touchdowns and four interceptions while also leading the Razorbacks in rushing with 664 yards to go with six touchdowns on the ground.

Working with offensive coordinator Kendal Briles for a third season, Jefferson could be even more of a problem for opposing defenses in 2022.



I think both Anderson and Turner would like to have a word with this writer.
 
Why Arkansas can win: QB KJ Jefferson

If Arkansas is going to win, Jefferson will almost certainly be a significant part of it.

He's a threat as a passer and a runner. Jefferson threw for 2,676 yards, 21 touchdowns and four interceptions while also leading the Razorbacks in rushing with 664 yards to go with six touchdowns on the ground.

Working with offensive coordinator Kendal Briles for a third season, Jefferson could be even more of a problem for opposing defenses in 2022.



I think both Anderson and Turner would like to have a word with this writer.

Jefferson is a year older, as is the regime in Fayetteville, but we all saw what happened against Georgia last year. Our team this year will have a better defense than they did in my mind. We may not be as strong at linebacker as they were, but our secondary blows theirs away, and our line cannot be rivaled. I just can't see a running quarterback having success against us with Turner and Anderson manning each side. It's one thing if we were lacking on an end, but we likely put two on the first team All-American list this year, and they aren't going to be fooled enough in a single game for a guy like Jefferson to beat us. It's going to take a CJ Stroud to beat our defense this year, and I'm not even sure he has "it", contrary to every media person out there.
 
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