FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas defensive backs Rohan Gaines and Jared Collins said they believe freshman safety Santos Ramirez will crash the SEC football scene in 2015.
"Santos Ramirez is only a redshirt freshman, and that's scary," Gaines said. "Like, I don't think people realize how scary that is."
POSITION GLANCE
Safeties
RETURNING STARTERS Rohan Gaines (10 starts in 2014)
LOSSES Alan Turner (13 starts), De’Andre Coley (position switch)
WHO’S BACK Josh Liddell (1 start), Davyon McKinney, Kevin Richardson, Santos Ramirez
WHO’S NEW Willie Sykes, Nate Dalton
WALK-ONS Matt Dodson, Scotty Thurman, Ryder Lucas
ANALYSIS Gaines is the veteran on this unit, with his playing time dating all the way back to his selection as a freshman All-American in 2012. He and Liddell, his replacement in the Texas Bowl, give the Razorbacks two proven starters. Kevin Richardson, who can play every position in the secondary, has taken game reps at safety, but beyond him the Razorbacks will have to rely on unproven talent at these spots. Freshman Santos Ramirez could join the list of hard-hitting Arkansas safeties that includes Steve Atwater, but he’s still learning about pursuit angles and other nuances. Signees Willie Sykes and Nate Dalton have high ceilings but might not have to contribute this season. If senior Davyon McKinney can contribute quality reps after his Achilles injury, it’ll be gravy for the Razorbacks.
"Santos is a head hunter," Collins said. "That's how I would describe him. Whenever he gets to the ball, he's going to hit."
Ramirez showed that during Arkansas' first live-tackling day of camp at Reynolds Razorback Stadium when he shot up the middle and nailed tailback Jonathan Williams, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Kevin Richardson on the first play of a red zone segment.
"It was impressive and pleasant to see him come up and fit in the run game like he did the other day," defensive backs coach Clay Jennings said.
"I'm a real physical player," Ramirez said. "In practice we can't really hit, so when it comes to game-time situations I'm loose. I let loose. I go out there and do my thing."
Ramirez's thing about being let loose has spawned a mock campaign for the Arkansas secondary.
" Their joke throughout the week before the scrimmage was 'Free Santos,' " Jennings said.
"I think we started that as a secondary," Gaines said. "We see how it is. When we can't hit, he goes crazy. Free Santos!"
Ramirez, 6-2, 202 pounds, came to Arkansas with a strong endorsement as a hitter and cover safety from Byron Dawson, the former LSU standout who was Ramirez's high school coach at Evangel Christian Academy in Shreveport.
"When he went down to the camp in Baton Rouge ... he went against the Speedy Noils and Malachi Dupres, some of the top skill guys in the country, and they couldn't get off the line with him," Dawson said last summer. "He's a rare combination of a guy that's strong with a long wingspan."
Ramirez was slowed by a hamstring injury in camp last fall but was on the brink of taking off his redshirt in the middle of the year before the coaches chose to protect the redshirt year.
"Last year was real tough for me, but everything happens for a reason," Ramirez said. "I used it as motivation to fuel the fire. This year I came out strong because I want to be a great player."
Ramirez's addition to the group of safeties was a factor in redshirt sophomore De'Andre Coley moving to strong-side linebacker during camp.
Gaines has been helping tutor Ramirez, his backup at strong safety, while sophomore Josh Liddell is atop the depth chart at free safety, with versatile Kevin Richardson and true freshman Willie Sykes behind him. True freshman Nate Dalton, 6-3, 197, might be able to redshirt.
Liddell's progress as a true freshman last season earned him key playing time down the stretch and a start in the Texas Bowl with Gaines serving a suspension. Now Liddell, from Pine Bluff Dollarway, typically runs at the front of the pack in position drills.
"The coaches want me to be more of a leader this year," Liddell said. "I pretty much know what's going on, having been here with Coach Jennings last year and being one of the guys who has played here already, me and Rohan and some of the cornerbacks."
Davyon "Sleepy" McKinney of Forrest City has flashed here and there in camp, but the senior from Forrest City is coming off surgery to repair an Achilles tendon that can tighten up after a couple of hours of work.
Gaines' 25 career starts ties him with quarterback Brandon Allen for most on the team, but after Gaines the Razorbacks are counting on sophomores Liddell and Richardson and a cast of untested players at their safety spots.
"We definitely do have depth back there," Gaines said. "We have guys who are willing to be physical. Some of those young guys, they're doing things at practice that you don't normally see young guys do."
Sports on 08/26/2015