2016 Football Preview
Arkansas
Coming off an 8-5 season, the Razorbacks again face a tough SEC schedule, facing the likes of Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss and Florida. Before Bret Bielema's team opens the season against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 3, read the stories previewing 2016 in Sunday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
“What they say in preseason polls has nothing more to do with it than what they say in barber shops and restaurants and chat rooms and all that stuff,” Bielema said. “What we say: The end of the season is what matters. … All I know is we’ve improved every year and I continue to say it.”
“The depth that we have right now is crazy,” junior nose guard Bijhon Jackson said. “We have like a legit four-deep at defensive line.”
"Out of the 20 kids that we signed, I think every one of them is a hit," Bielema told the Little Rock Touchdown Club last week. "A lot of times you'll go back after you get through fall camp, and you'll look at that freshman class and you'll say was it a hit, how many did we hit on, how many are going to be players?"
The senior group -- from which Dan Skipper, Kody Walker, Brooks Ellis and Deatrich Wise were selected as team captains last week -- also features a quartet of productive receivers, tight end Jeremy Sprinkle, a trio of defensive linemen, and key defensive backs Jared Collins and DJ Dean.
The Democrat-Gazette's Tom Murphy takes a position-by-position look at the Razorbacks as they enter their 2016 season.
With so much offensive upheaval, predicting this season promises to be even more difficult, but we’re hopeful this Forecast more closely resembles reality, even if the “quotes” and the quirky circumstances do not.
A look at each of Arkansas' opponents in 2016 — their records, schedules, returning starters and more.
The top questions surrounding the Arkansas Razorbacks heading into the 2016 season, including on the offensive line, the secondary, impact players and more.
The top questions surrounding college football heading into the 2016 season, including on the Heisman Trophy, the playoffs, coaches on the hot seat and more.
Trying to pick 10 football games this season involving SEC teams you have to watch is like trying figure out which 10 barbecue places you must eat at around the conference. If you narrow it to 10, there’s going to be something special you’ll regret missing.
State colleges
The Democrat-Gazette's Troy Schulte previews more of the college teams in the state, like Arkansas State, Central Arkansas and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
No longer a weak point, some coaches are identifying ASU’s defensive line as the team’s best unit, powered by depth built over the last two seasons and spurned by a slow finish to a 7-6 season in 2014.
Campbell said the enthusiasm level wasn’t necessarily a problem last season, but given an opportunity to remake a staff when five left on their own accord, he chose to pick replacements with an attitude level that won’t make for boring or quiet practices.
Coleman begins his ninth season as UAPB’s coach this year trying to snap a skid of three consecutive losing seasons. He’s hoping some fresh faces and new ideas among his coaching staff, particularly on offense, can breathe new life into a program that is 8-25 since winning the SWAC title in 2012.
Maxfield believes he has the team to hold off challengers Harding, which was picked second, and third-pick Ouachita Baptist, among others.
High Schools
The high-school season also starts this week, so here's a quick look at some teams and players to watch. For previews on individual teams, visit Arkansas Online's high school sports page.
A look at the 10 best preseason teams in the state and the top six in each class.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette staff chose the best players at each position going into the new season
The action starts Monday and the first week of the season concludes with a full slate of games on Friday night.