FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas defensive tackle Malcolm Sheppard made this declaration following the Razorbacks’ loss to Florida two weeks ago: “We turned a corner today.”

As if to back up their team captain’s statement, the Arkansas defense played its best game of the season in a 25-22 victory at No. 20 Auburn on Saturday.

“It was like a shot of adrenaline for us,” defensive tackles coach Bobby Allen said. “To be able to go down there to Auburn and beat a quality SEC team on the road, our kids — well, all of us — just got back in the locker room and we were all like little kids. It was exciting for them. It was exciting for all of us.”

The Razorbacks’ defense gave up just 13 points in that game, on three Auburn possessions that totaled 21 yards.

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For a unit that had been bludgeoned by Alabama and dissected by Texas, its decisive performance at Auburn has the Razorback defenders juiced up for the last half of the season.

“We’re fixing to roll, man,” sophomore cornerback Ramon Broadway said. “We’re starting to get that same mentality after the loss to USC a couple of years back.

“ We’re starting to get that mentality back of, ‘Let’s just roll this thing all the way out.’”

Even though the Razorbacks rank last in several defensive statistical categories in the SEC, including scoring (35. 3 points per game ), rushing (183 yards per game ), total defense (355. 5 ypg ) and touchdowns allowed (27 ), they feel like they’re becoming a more cohesive unit.

“I think we got used to the system of play a little bit,” defensive end Adrian Davis said. “We’re executing everything they call and just playing hard, playing fast and getting to the ball.”

Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks assessed the Hogs’ defense in the same way.

“I think they’ve made a lot of progress,” Brooks said. “They’re playing some young players, and they’re getting better. I think defensively, the statistics don’t come close to saying what kind of defense they’re playing right now.”

After the Hogs’ 52-10 loss at Texas, defensive coordinator Willy Robinson cut back on the scheming and tried to go with plans and plays his unit could run at full speed without having to think.

“It started off with Coach [Bobby ] Petrino and Coach Robinson and just realizing we’re staying with our fundamentals,” Allen said. “Instead of trying to give the guys a whole bunch of new stuff every week, we’re just trying to hone in and get better fundamentally, and last week I think they went out and executed.”

Arkansas’ improvement stems from several factors: a healthier linebacking unit, with Wendel Davis and Jerry Franklin taking the lead roles; an overall meshing with Robinson’s schemes, pressures and run fits; more seasoning by the very youthful secondary — which will start two sophomores and two true freshmen at Kentucky on Saturday — a better pass rush; and a solid approach against the run.

“Stopping the run, that’s a big major part,” Sheppard said.

“If you can’t stop the run, then you can’t stop that offense. We’ve been able to make more plays on running plays.”

Petrino attributed the start of the improvements to the front four.

“They improved their technique and fundamentals and keeping their shoulders square to the line of scrimmage and understanding how to stop the run,” he said.

“And we’ve done a much better job on our pass rush, getting to the quarterback and putting a clock on him.”

If not for an atrocious fourth quarter performance against Florida, the Razorbacks would have back-to-back solid defensive efforts, following on the heels of some abuse by what is now the top two teams in the country in the Crimson Tide and Longhorns.

“After those games, we stepped up during practice and got better,” freshman defensive tackle Zach Stadther said.

“We’re going to go in, we’re going to do what we did against Auburn. I’d just hate to be Kentucky this Saturday.”

Brash statements aside, the Razorback defenders do have reason to hope their performances will be better in the second half of the season.

“I think it all plays together, getting better, getting more comfortable with what we’re doing,” Petrino said.