Missouri’s Drinkwitz sees a much-improved Arkansas squad compared to last season’s 48-14 humiliation

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

FAYETTEVILLE – Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz has had success with Arkansas three times in the last four years, including an embarrassing 48-14 loss on home soil last season.

But the Alma native sees some changes from last season to this one as the Tigers (8-3, 4-3) prepare to face the Razorbacks on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri received.

In the Battle Line Rivalry, televised by the SEC Network, Missouri has won the last two meetings and six of the last eight meetings.

“It’s a great rivalry and a really good football team,” Drinkwitz said Tuesday. “I think (Razorbacks head) coach (Sam) Pittman did a great job at the University of Arkansas. I just saw a stat today that says I believe he is the first coach in their history to go to four bowl games in the first five seasons he was there.

“He did an excellent job recruiting and reshaping last year’s squad. They are very talented, entered the transfer portal, got the right pieces and continue to hire great people.”

Pittman fired Dan Enos as offensive coordinator when the two teams met last season. This move came after a 7-3 home loss to Mississippi State that ended the Razorbacks’ 2-6 season in a 4-8 season.

“Obviously they went through some coordinator issues and changes on their team last year,” Drinkwitz said.

Drinkwitz praised Pittman’s hiring of assistants, including current Arkansas offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino to replace Enos and the retention of defensive coordinator Travis Williams.

“They play fast, they play physical, they play inspired football,” Drinkwitz said of Williams’ defenders. “They beat Tennessee at home, a top-10 team this year. You have done an excellent job.

“Then Coach Petrino is obviously on the offensive side of the ball. One of the best play callers in college football, one of the best offensive minds in college football. There really is no scenario or situation that will be new or unique to him. So it’s a really, really challenging game of football.”

Drinkwitz sees a lot of new weapons that Petrino will have to work with this season, some of which came via the transfer portal and therefore weren’t used in last season’s loss.

“They have a really good quarterback, Taylen Green, running back Ja’Quinden Jackson, tight end Luke Hasz, wide receiver Andrew Armstrong,” Drinkwitz said. “I mean, really, really good skill positions, and Coach Petrino uses them the right way.”

Armstrong is on track for a breakout 2024 season with 69 catches for 1,012 yards and a touchdown after the Texas A&M-Commerce transfer hauled in 56 passes for 764 yards and five scores in 2023.

“I think containment is the wrong word,” Drinkwitz said. “I think you have to limit the yards after the catch. I think he’s an explosive route runner. Obviously he has great length and can go out of bounds. So you have to do a good job of staying on top of the tracks and then we have to do a good job of managing them.

“They create really good yards-after-catch numbers through some of their crossing schemes. So we have to do a really good job.”

Arkansas senior defensive end Landon Jackson (44 sacks, 6.5 sacks, 9 tackles for lost yardage), linebacker Xavian Sorey (team-leading 84 tackles) and senior defensive back Hudson Clark have caught Drinkwitz’s attention.

“Defensively, Landon Jackson is one of the best defensive players in our conference,” Drinkwitz said. “I think the linebacker group plays really well downhill. Xavian Sorey is a guy who bounces off the tape. Behind the scenes, Hudson Clark, we played him five seasons in a row. I remember playing him here as a true freshman during the COVID season.

“…I think the defensive identity has been consistent under Coach Pittman. Relentless pursuit of football. They’ve played more of a three-safety defense the last three games, which is very similar to what they did with coach (Barry) Odom.

“So you can tell there is a style of program, free football. Coach Williams is doing a great job getting these guys to play hard and fast. Since I’ve been here as coach, Arkansas has had really, really good linebacker play, and that’s the case with Coach Williams, who was an elite linebacker himself at Auburn, and that’s why those guys really stand out.

“Their defensive line has continued to improve. They kept some really good players and then added some players so they have more depth there.”

Photo by John D. James

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