HOUSTON -- The personnel in Arkansas' secondary has fluctuated with defections, injuries and suspensions, but the unit's performance has been on a steady, upward climb in 2014 under the guidance of coordinator Robb Smith and secondary coach Clay Jennings.
While the Razorbacks' defensive backfield might not be considered an overwhelming strength heading into Monday's Texas Bowl against Texas, it has evolved into a solid crew that has done well at minimizing big-play passes, tackling in man coverage and charging up with force against running plays.
"I think we've come a long way," cornerback Jared Collins said. "I think there's a big difference between last year and this year."
The Razorbacks rank No. 64 in pass efficiency defense and No. 55 in allowing 221.4 passing yards per game. Last year Arkansas ranked No. 104 in pass efficiency defense and No. 72 with 235 passing yards allowed per game.
The strongest constant in the unit has been senior safety Alan Turner, a 12-game starter who has seen the Razorbacks' secondary progress from an undermanned, often-burned outfit in 2012 and 2013 to its current standing.
"That's one big thing we've turned around this year," Turner said. "We've given away less big plays than last year. ... It's the whole defense, just preparing and being better students of the game and also communicating.
"The one thing we knew, the breakdowns we had from last year and this year were from guys just simply not communicating, all 11 guys not being on the same page. I just wanted to be the guy just trying to put everything together. If I see something that's not correct, maybe some guy is confused, just try to give them the call and make sure all 11 guys are on the same page."
Three likely starters Monday -- sophomore cornerbacks Collins and D.J. Dean and freshman safety Josh Liddell -- could not have been projected into the starting lineup when camp started.
Dean took over as a starter from freshman Henre Toliver in game eight against Alabama-Birmingham. Collins started opposite senior Carroll Washington in the season opener after Tevin Mitchel opened the year rehabbing from shoulder surgery and Will Hines fell deeply into Coach Bret Bielema's doghouse, never to return.
Mitchel eventually returned against Texas Tech in Week 3 and made an immediate impact as the nickel back.
"Take Tevin Mitchel, a guy who a year ago may have been a target by some offensive preparation," Bielema said. "He's a guy who people probably stayed away from [this year] in critical situations. He got his hands on a lot of balls and played very, very efficient in the nickel position and did a lot of really good things.
"Take a guy like Jared Collins and the progression he made from week one to where we are today. It just says a lot about those guys and also Clay Jennings and Robb Smith. The combination of those guys have made a big difference on our back end."
Liddell of Pine Bluff Dollarway will make his second start at free safety for junior Rohan Gaines, who was suspended for bowl preparation by Bielema for violating team policy.
To picture how far the Hogs' secondary has come, visualize their work in the season opener at Auburn. Tigers sophomore Jeremy Johnson, making a start for suspended Nick Marshall, lit them up for 243 yards and 2 touchdowns on 12-of-16 passing in the first half alone.
There has been only a handful of glaring breakdowns in the 11 games since -- a couple of pass plays in an agonizing overtime loss to Texas A&M stand out, as do plays against Georgia and Mississippi State -- a vast improvement from 2013.
The Razorbacks' game tape is populated with 58 pass breakups, 11 interceptions and assorted other plays that have limited offenses from notching chunk plays and making them earn all their yardage.
Their past five opponents have averaged 11 points per game and have scored three touchdowns through the air.
"We have mental and physical toughness. That's the biggest thing," Collins said. "We just go out there and try to be mentally and physically tough."
Against Texas, the Arkansas secondary will face a quarterback in Tyrone Swoopes, who threw four interceptions in the Longhorns' 48-10 loss to TCU on Thanksgiving Day.
"When he gets in a rhythm and gets going he's a real good quarterback," Turner said. "So that's one thing we want to do. We want to try to get pressure on him and try to get him off rhythm and confuse him a little bit."
Sports on 12/28/2014