FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas nose guard DeMarcus Hodge and defensive tackle Taiwan Johnson still weigh a combined 610 pounds as they did last season.
Their weight, though, has been equally redistributed over the past few months.
Position glance
Defensive tackles and nose guards
POSITION COACH Rory Segrest
KEY LOSS Darius Philon
RETURNING STARTER Taiwan Johnson.
WHO’S BACK DeMarcus Hodge, Bijhon Jackson, Mitchell Loewen, Brandon Lewis, Armon Watts, Cordale Boyd
WHO’S NEW Hjalte Froholdt, T.J. Smith
ANALYSIS Darius Philon became one of the SEC’s top interior defensive linemen last season when he had 46 tackles, including 11 1/2 for losses of 57 yards, and recovered 3 fumbles. No one can replace Philon, coaches have said, but they expect to fill the void collectively with a talented group of tackles and nose guards. Junior Taiwan Johnson, who started every game at nose guard, moved to tackle with added weight that hasn’t cost him speed. Senior DeMarcus Hodge, a backup for three seasons, is taking over as the starting nose guard after losing weight to increase his stamina. Sophomore Bijhon Jackson is ready for a bigger role at tackle after playing every game off the bench. Hjalte Froholdt, a true freshman nose guard, is expected to play a lot. Coaches rave about Froholdt’s strength and maturity. Senior Mitchell Loewen and junior Brandon Lewis are listed as defensive ends, but they also have been working at tackle in practice and likely will play both positions in games.
Hodge, a 6-1 fifth-year senior from Monroe, La., has lost 30 pounds, going from 355 pounds to 325. Johnson, a 6-2 redshirt junior from Manvel, Texas, has gained 30 pounds, going from 255 to 285.
"I wish I could have just taken it off me and handed it to Taiwan, but it doesn't work that way," Hodge said. "I've lost my pounds, he's gotten some, so I guess it evened up."
Defensive line coach Rory Segrest credited strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert with helping Hodge and Johnson transform their bodies while they continue to gain or maintain speed, quickness and strength.
"Body by Herbs," Segrest said. "They get after it in the weight room during the offseason and they get after it conditioning-wise.
"Herbs does a great job making sure they put on or take off the weight the right way."
Johnson had 26 tackles -- including 8 for losses totaling 45 yards -- last season while starting 13 games at nose guard. He moved to tackle in the spring.
"I feel like I played the nose pretty well last year, but we have other guys that can play there this year," Johnson said. "It's about getting the best guys in the best position where they fit in."
Hodge has played in 26 games and has 34 tackles, but he's never started. A lack of stamina has kept him from playing more, but that doesn't figure to be as much of an issue now with his weight loss.
"DeMarcus has always had the movement that we're looking for inside, it was just the amount of repetitions he was able to take at a heavier weight," Segrest said. "I think with him cutting back, he'll be able to be more effective for a longer period of time."
Arkansas center Mitch Smothers said going against Hodge in practice that it's evident he's quicker but hasn't lost any power.
"DeMarcus is going to plug up some holes, that's for sure," Smothers said.
Hodge said he takes pride in his weight loss, much of which he attributed to making sure he eats breakfast every day, eats healthy snacks throughout the day and doesn't eat late at night.
"I had a hard time eating in the morning, so I didn't eat much, and then when I got to dinner time I wanted to eat a lot at one time," he said. "Now I'm making sure I portion out my meals during the day.
"I used to have to force myself to eat breakfast, and now I've gotten to where I have to eat breakfast every morning."
Hodge said he initially had concern about how he would play at a lighter weight but that he's better than ever in fall camp.
"I actually feel a lot stronger than I did last year," he said. "You wouldn't think you'd get smaller and be stronger, but my body tells me different, so I'm just going to roll with it."
Segrest said Hodge will be a force in the middle of the line.
"DeMarcus is a big, powerful individual, and when he gets his hands on guys it's impressive," Segrest said. "He's got to be a little bit more consistent with his strike and coming out of his hips, being in the right place at the right time, but he can do a great job for what we're asking our nose guard to do."
Johnson said he ate six to seven times daily during the offseason for his weight gain, focusing on protein intake and increasing muscle mass.
"I ate a lot of meals, but I never over-ate," Johnson said. "I just made sure I always had something in my body to keep me going.
"A lot of people tell me, 'You don't look like you're 285,' and I don't feel I'm that big, either. When I move, I still feel the same as I did when I was 255."
Defensive coordinator Robb Smith said Johnson looks as fast as last season.
"A few days ago he did a phenomenal job chasing down a running back on a screen play, so the added weight hasn't affected his speed at all," Smith said. "Where the weight has really shown up in his play is in terms of dictating daylight on the interior of our defense and forcing the ball where we need it to go."
Segrest said the Razorbacks have quality backups in sophomore Bijhon Jackson at defensive tackle and freshman Hjalte Froholdt at nose guard.
Jackson had nine tackles and a pass breakup while playing in 13 games last season. Froholdt enrolled at Arkansas in January and went through spring practice, earning a second-team spot.
"I feel great about our guys on the inside," Johnson said. "The most important part is we've got strong guys who are athletic and physical."
Jackson said the defensive tackles and nose guards take their cues from Johnson and Hodge.
"They've been awesome leaders so far in camp," Jackson said. "We just rally around them. When we're dragging, they help us along.
"Some days we just need a little pick-up, and they're pretty good with that."
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Sports on 08/19/2015