HOOVER, Ala. — Arkansas' defense is excited about opening the season against one of the best offenses in the country.
When the Razorbacks take the field Aug. 30, they will do so against an Auburn team that averaged 501.3 yards per game in 2013, which was 12th in the NCAA.
"It's a big opportunity for us to start with a team like Auburn, the defending SEC champion and runner-up in the national championship," senior safety Alan Turner said Tuesday at SEC Media Days. "We're already motivated, but through the summer we knew we couldn't take anything for granted."
The Tigers are led by senior quarterback Nick Marshall, who gained a combined 3,044 yards through the air and on the ground last season, his first as a starter.
However, Marshall's status for the Arkansas game is uncertain because he was cited for possession of marijuana last week.
"You never want to see a player get in trouble," Turner said. "I would really like to play him. He is their established quarterback and he helps them go. We would like to play their best."
If he does play, senior defensive end Trey Flowers said the key to stopping Marshall is being disciplined.
"They do a lot of things, like misdirection and a lot of options that they read you and go where you're not," Flowers said. "It's all about being disciplined."
Regardless of whether the Tigers are with or without their star quarterback, the Razorbacks know a season opener at Jordan-Hare Stadium will be tough and could set the tone for the rest of the season.
"We understand that we don't have that three to four game window where we're playing non-conference games," Flowers said. "It's right now. We're hopping into conference. If we take care of business then, that will set us on a good path during the season."