How will Arkansas handle defensive line rotation?

While the depth across the defensive line projects to be a team strength for Arkansas football in 2023, there is still something to be said for who emerges from the pack and rolls out with the first-team defense against Western Carolina next Saturday.

Throughout fall camp and preseason practices, the buzz around Fayetteville has been that the Razorbacks could theoretically go thee deep on the D-Line without a substantial drop off.

Head coach Sam Pittman agrees the depth in the trenches will pay dividends early on in the September heat and as the season progresses in what can become a war of attrition in the SEC. But make no mistake, the four players who ultimately get the opening nod as starters will have earned the honor and a healthy share of the reps.

"Depth is going to show later, and it can show early in the heat," Pittman said. "So, I think it's huge for us going against Western Carolina early because it's going to be hot in Little Rock, real hot on the turf as well. To be honest with you, I don't want a four-man rotation and then a four-man rotation and then a four-man rotation. The guys who run out there first, those are the ones that deserve to be running out there first.

"In other words, I don't want it to be each week 'these four guys go out first and then the next four.' If these four guys down here, if one of them outplays a guy, now he goes out there first in this group. I don't want it to be 'Oh, they're all playing the same amount. Well, somebody is playing better, and he doesn't have a chance to run out (first)' because it's more important to the kid than it is to us who runs out there first if you're rotating."

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Newly-named captains Landon Jackson and Trajan Jeffcoat stand out as the logical choices at defensive end with transfer John Morgan, returners Zach Williams and Nico Davillier and others factoring into the rotation mix.

The pecking order is a bit more murky on the interior where Arkansas has an intriguing mix of talent back in the room with the likes of Taurean Carter, Cameron Ball and Eric Gregory complimented by key transfer additions in Anthony Booker and Keivie Rose.

What is true in the regular season opener is certainly subject to change on a weekly basis as Pittman and the coaching staff are likely to continue mixing and matching to see which combinations play with the best continuity and effectiveness.

Naturally, regardless of who trots out with the first group in Week 1, Arkansas will have a game plan to get everyone who has earned snaps an opportunity early and will adjust as needed as the game progressed based on who is playing well and what the matchups or situation calls for.

"I think four plays and then we'll probably rotate in and out at that point," Pittman said. "Then at the end of the game, you want to make sure you have who you think are your best four out there, and it could be a different four if you're trying to keep them from scoring on two-minute and your first best pass rushers. It could be get the ball back, it might be your four best guys against the run."

The Arkansas Razorbacks will open the regular season against the Western Carolina Catamounts on Saturday, Sept. 2 inside War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed on ESPN+.