FAYETTEVILLE — Prior to the start of training camp, Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said that a player the program brought in from the transfer portal would not start for him on Day 1.
But if he quickly proves capable of contributing to the Razorbacks in key ways, Pittman said, there was a chance he would start the next day.
John Ridgeway, Tre Williams and Markell Utsey — Arkansas’ three defensive line additions via the NCAA transfer portal this offseason — are in solid position to potentially start as of Thursday, the team’s first day of full pads.
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Working together on the third team earlier in the week, each player is now in the two-deep depth chart less than one week into the preseason.
Arkansas nickel back Greg Brooks has taken notice of the trio’s disruptive play, which could also pay dividends for him and others in the secondary.
“Oh, man, those dudes are going to make us 100 times better this year,” Brooks said. “I feel like we are going to create a lot more just (turnovers) with those three guys alone. It’s just better for us.
“They are the ones that are going to get us the picks.”
A Little Rock native and Parkview High School graduate, Utsey (6-4, 290 pounds) transferred from Missouri and put together the best season of his college career in 2020 when he finished with 19 tackles and two tackles for loss. He had totaled just 21 tackles over the previous four seasons.
He was one of two former Mizzou players — and Barry Odom recruits — to commit to the Razorbacks in an eight-day span this year, joining Tre Williams, a twitchy 6-5, 260-pound defensive end. Williams provides Arkansas with another threat off the edge.
He had 12 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks to his credit at Missouri, and made a career-high 24 tackles in 2019.
Ridgeway, a 6-6, 320-pound tackle from Illinois State, tied for the team lead with 22 tackles over four games in the team’s 2021 spring season. A four-year letterman and Illinois state champion in wrestling, he adds physicality, toughness and edge to the Razorbacks’ front line.
"Those are great guys,” Arkansas linebacker Bumper Pool said. “Ridgeway, he's a big dude. He comes off the ball fast. I think a few linebackers today were talking about just the kind of dynamic explosiveness he's got. I'm excited to see it.
“Those guys are going to help us tremendously."
Pittman said Thursday that all three are talented players with good work ethics. He is hopeful they will help boost Arkansas’ havoc numbers defensively.
The Razorbacks finished tied for last in the SEC last season with 14 sacks, and they were tied for 10th with 50 tackles for loss. Eleven tackles for loss came during the 33-21 home victory against Ole Miss in the fourth game of the season.
“They’re going to help us. They’re good kids,” Pittman said. “It was kind of easy, when they got in the portal, to recruit them because two of them had been playing SEC football. Then the other one had played [in the Football Championship Subdivision] and played it at a high level.
“Maybe some days they’re starting and some days they’re in the two deep, but all three of them are going to help us, I believe, and help us a lot.”