Portal additions could swing outcome of Hogs-Rebels

Mississippi linebacker Chance Campbell (44) reacts after recovering a fumble during an NCAA college football game against Austin Peay in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Bruce Newman)

FAYETTEVILLE — Identifying a need for depth and experience along the defensive line following spring practices, Arkansas scoured the NCAA transfer portal for plug-and-play talent.

The Razorbacks found that in John Ridgeway, Tre Williams and Markell Utsey, who collectively have rejuvenated Arkansas’ defensive front line and given it a better chance to compete against quality nonconference opponents and in the SEC.

Williams has perhaps been the story of the Razorbacks’ season through five games, almost singlehandedly raising the team’s pass-rush profile.

On Saturday, when No. 13 Arkansas travels to No. 17 Ole Miss, the game’s outcome may hinge on the performances of impact newcomers on both sides. Like the Razorbacks, the Rebels have hit on players from the portal who have immediately impacted winning.

“On defense, the portal has been really good to Ole Miss,” Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said. “They ended up having a pretty good defensive ball club by the end of (last) year. But you can see their transfers.

“Sometimes new people coming into your program can bring a different edge to the program as well.”

Linebacker Chance Campbell has done just that with the Rebels. A transfer from Maryland, Campbell leads Ole Miss with 29 tackles and is second with 4 tackles for loss and 3 quarterback hurries.

In 2020, he topped the Terrapins’ tackle chart with 43 in just four games.

In the Rebels’ loss at No. 1 Alabama last Saturday, Campbell added a career-high 10 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. He has the ninth-best defensive grade among SEC linebackers, according to Pro Football Focus, and could be a potential problem for the Razorbacks.

“Campbell at linebacker makes them better,” Pittman said. “He’s leading the team.”

Three other transfers on the Ole Miss defense are making plays at the second and third levels. Pittman singled out defensive back Otis Reese, who joined the Rebels from Georgia prior to spring drills last year.

Reese is a key piece to the unit at safety, which may be the strength of the defense, Pittman said. Reese is second on the team in tackles with 27 and among the top 11 at his position in the conference, according to PFF.

“Their safeties will smack you,” Pittman said. “If you look through that 'V,' you’ve got (nose tackle KD Hill), then you’ve got Campbell then you’ve got Reese. Those are the three, in my opinion, that are three of the better players, better leaders on their team right now. And it’s right down the middle, where they can go either direction.

“I think that’s what made them a little bit better. That and they’re playing extremely hard. They’re confident.”

Offensively, projected starting center Orlando Umana has aided success for the Rebels, too. A transfer from Utah, he was an All-Pac-12 honorable mention in 2019 and made 26 starts for the Utes.

The quarterback of the offensive line, Umana has helped Ole Miss crack the top five nationally in scoring offense (44.8 points) and top three in total yards (549.2). The Rebels are also averaging 243.5 rushing yards per game.

And in the most interesting note from Pittman’s time with reporters Monday, he said offensive line transfer Ty’Kieast Crawford and redshirt freshman Jalen St. John will move to the interior of the line at guard to push those at the positions.

Crawford, listed at 6-5, 350 pounds, transferred to Arkansas from Charlotte, where he played in six games and started three.

“We’re going to get some guys to challenge inside at the guard spot to see if we can’t get a little heavier, a little more physical in there,” Pittman said. “We’ll give St. John and Crawford some chances to go in there and play a little bit. We’re not firing people because of (the Georgia) game, but we’re always looking to try to get better.

“Those two kids have been playing out at tackle. St. John played a lot at guard, or some, during the game at guard and he’s just a bigger, more physical guy. I think those two guys, we’re going to move inside and see if there’s an opportunity for them to play for us.”