Coach Odom in less than one year has completely transformed the defensive side of the ball at Arkansas despite losing three players to the NFL Draft from last year’s defense. Through eight SEC games this season compared to Arkansas’s eight SEC games last year, the Razorbacks have improved in almost every defensive category. Allowing less points (2020 – 30.9 ppg, 2019 – 39.9 ppg), fewer total yards per game (2020 – 427.6 ypg, 2019 – 471.5 ypg) and rushing yards per game (2020 – 179.0 ypg, 2019 – 249.6 ypg). Arkansas’ 13 interceptions are nearly double the team’s output from 2019 (7) and more than the combined total from the Razorbacks’ 2018 (5) and 2019 (7) seasons. Odom’s 2020 defense has also improved in the red zone (2020 – 74%, 2019 – 86%) and third down (2020 – 43%, 2019 – 53%). The defense’s improvement have helped lead Arkansas to three wins this season, the team’s most since 2017 and most SEC wins since 2016.
