Questions mounting for Bielema, Razorbacks entering rebuilding year

Prior to SEC Media Days July 10-13, Olin will preview each of Texas A&M's conference opponents for the 2017 season. Follow the whole series here.

Bad losses keep piling up for Arkansas coach Bret Bielema. The Razorbacks closed last season by blowing big leads in losses to lowly Missouri and to Virginia Tech in the Belk Bowl. Arkansas was outscored 49-0 in the second half of those two games.

Then the Hogs closed the spring football by losing star running back Rawleigh Williams to a neck injury that has forced him to retire from football. That means Arkansas has lost its leading rusher, its top three receivers, its leading tackler and its leaders in sacks.

And by the way, the Razorbacks in 2017 also will be without tackle Dan Skipper, their only player besides Williams who was named All-SEC last season.

Although productive quarterback Austin Allen, rugged center Frank Ragnow and a couple of strong defensive backs — McTelvin Agim and Bijhon Jackson — are still around, the 2017 season clearly looks like a rebuilding year for fifth-year coach Bret Bielema.

But the restless fans in Arkansas are beginning to wonder just what is Bielema building?

Last season a drunken Arkansas professor was arrested after yelling obscenities at Bielema following a loss to Alabama. Also, a fan took out an ad in the Arkansas Democrat newspaper protesting the futility of Bielema, basketball coach Mike Anderson and Athletic Director Jeff Long. The natives figure to get more restless if the Hogs have a disappointing season.

In an attempt to avoid that, the Razorbacks defense is changing to a 3-4 scheme. A couple of highly-regarded junior college transfers have been brought in to play receiver, and sophomore Devwah Whaley will be promoted to take over Williams’ starting spot at running back.

Will that be enough to end the string of bad losses?

Bielema certainly hopes so. If not, there may be more newspaper ads taken out concerning Arkansas football.

You know, the kind that say: Help wanted.

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Arkansas Razorbacks

2016 record: 7-6, 3-5
Postseason results: Lost to Virginia Tech, 35-24, in the Belk Bowl
Coach: Bret Bielema (5th year, 25-26 at Arkansas)

Returning starters:
Offense (4): QB Austin Allen, G Hjalte Frodoldt, C Frank Ragnow, T Brian Wallace

Defense (4): DE Tevin Beanum, LB Dwayne Eugene, FS Josh Liddell, SS Santos Ramirez

Special teams (2): PR Jared Cornelius, DR Deon Stewart

Strengths: Austin Allen may be the best passing quarterback in the Southeastern Conference. The running game was solid in 2016 and figures to be again, though depth is a concern. The defensive line took major losses, but enough talent returns that the Razorbacks project to be OK there.


Weaknesses: Pass Protection was a major issue in ’16 and likely will be again, especially with All-SEC left tackle Dan Skipper completing his eligibility. The Razorbacks allowed 36 sacks last season, and that total could rise, particularly if the running game falters. The receiving corps is also an area of concern. Jared Cornelius, who had 32 catches for 515 yards last season, is the only returning receiver who had at least 10 catches in ’16. The Hogs are counting on junior college transfers to make significant immediate contributions. Run defense needs to be boosted, too. The Razorbacks hope to upgrade a unit that was 96th in the nation in run defense.

Top three players:
• Austin Allen, QB:  He’s tough and he’s productive. Though constantly under heavy pressure and without elite-level receivers, Allen still passed for 3,430 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2016 — his first season as starter. He needs to reduce his interceptions total (15), which may be a matter of getting better protection.

• Frank Ragnow, C:  Perhaps the best center in the SEC, Ragnow opted to return for his senior season rather than enter the NFL draft. Hogs everywhere are thankful. This will be his third season as a starter.

• McTelvin Agim:  Rarely does Arkansas win a recruiting battle with Alabama, but the Hogs did that in landing Agim in 2016. He posted 27 tackles and 2.5 sacks as a freshman and showed flashes of brilliance. He’s expected to have a full-fledged breakout year.

Emerging star: Speedy sophomore Devwah Whaley was pretty good as Rawleigh Williams’ backup. He averaged more than six yards per carry while rushing for 634 yards as a true freshman. Now that he’s thrust into the starting role, his production surely will increase. He’ll soften the blow of losing Williams.

Impact newcomer: Defensive end Michael Taylor was recruited from Riverside (Cal.) City College last year but was academically ineligible to play. He practiced on the scout team and showed enough that the Razorbacks were extremely encouraged. At 6-foot-3, 245-pounds, he’s projected to be the Hogs’ best pass rusher. They need him to be with last year’s top pass rushers Jeremiah Ledbetter and Deatrich Wise gone to the NFL.

Biggest losses: Running back Rawleigh Williams was forced to quit football in the spring after sustaining his second neck injury in two years. Last season Williams was third in the SEC with 1,360 rushing yards. He also scored 12 touchdowns. His loss cost the Hogs an elite running back and leaves them alarmingly thin at that position.

2017 Schedule
Aug. 31 vs. Florida A&M
Sept. 9 vs. TCU
Sept. 23 vs. Texas A&M in Arlington
Sept. 30 vs. New Mexico State
Oct. 7 at South Carolina
Oct. 14 at Alabama
Oct. 21 vs. Auburn
Oct. 28 at Ole Miss
Nov. 4. vs. Coastal Carolina
Nov. 11 at LSU
Nov. 18 vs. Mississippi State
Nov. 25 vs. Missouri