Hogs expect big things from Jackson

By Nate Allen

Special to News-Times

FAYETTEVILLE - Last autumn the Arkansas Razorbacks coaches allowed Bijhon Jackson to develop at his own freshman pace.

This spring the Razorbacks accelerate Jackson's development at their pace. Their pace puts the sophomore from El Dorado as the starting defensive nose tackle playing alongside instead of backing up veteran Taiwan Johnson.

Last year's starting nose tackle, Johnson starts his senior year moved to the 3-technique tackle vacated by 2-year starter Darius Philon turning pro.

Johnson too played well on the nose last for Coach Bret Bielema, defensive coordinator Robb Smith and defensive line coach Rory Segrest collectively to approve the move unless they felt Jackson ready to start living up to his 4-star billing coming out of El Dorado as the No. 1 recruit in the state of Arkansas' high school freshman class for the 2013 season and 2014 signing.

"Bijhon Jackson stands out," Bielema said at the outset of spring drills. "A very sudden player that’s made nice progress on his physical development. So that’s what kind of prompted the move to get Bijhon on the field and let Hodge back in."

DeMarcus Hodge, now a senior, was beaten out by Jackson last season as the backup to Johnson.

By season's end Jackson actually was beyond backup, Segrest said.

"Bijhon there toward the end of the year, he and Taiwan were splitting reps, probably about 50-50 if you were looking at it," Segrest said.

Is Jackson ready to assert himself No. 1 now?

"Most definitely," Segrest said. "He just really made a lot of progress. He did a lot better job of using his hands as we went along and just understanding the big picture of the game."

Listed 6-2 and apparently last year arriving considerably above the 334 pounds listed as his 2014 season's weight, Jackson discovered he would figure bigger in the picture if he weren't quite so big.

"He's dropped some weight considerably since he got here," Segrest said. "You could see that show up with his quickness and agility. He's still bringing that power and explosion that he had obviously when he first got here. He's trying to put all that together and we're definitely looking for big things from him this spring."

Bielema terms Jackson's quickness "so much better now."

"He's come down from 345-350 when he first came here," Bielema said. "Now he's not little by any means, but you can just tell the leanness of what he's got."

And that he senses the defensive line competition stepped up with junior college transfer defensive end/defensive tackle defensive end/defensive tackle Jeremiah Ledbetter and already graduated from high school college freshman Hhalte Froholdt both arriving at semester.

"I think with Led (Ledbetter) and I think Hjalte Froholdt, to see that guy coming up behind you," Bielema said of competition along the D-line. "I think some very nice things will happen there. It's virtually going to be impossible to keep Hjalte off the field."

For Bielema, Smith and Segrest to have the 1A and 1B defensive line rotation they prefer, there is room for them all among the newcomers and the returning tackles and veteran ends JaMichael Winston, Deatrich Wise, Forrest City's Tevin Beanum and two currently injured, Brandon Lewis and Mitch Loewen, expected healthy next fall.

While there is room for all, only so many can anchor from the start.

And they start the spring with Jackson counted upon considerably for more than the nine tackles and and one quarterback hurry he produced last year.

"I think he's got a better sense of what he's doing within the system and the package," Smith said. "Last year as a true freshman I think it all gets sprung on you a little bit. But he has had a year in the system so he knows what he's doing. He is able to play faster and react faster. He has worked extremely hard with Coach Herbs in the weight room and kind of trimmed himself down and redeveloped his body a little bit. We are excited to see what he can show when we get the pads on."

The Razorbacks had just one practice in pads for their three workouts two weeks ago before the UA's March 21-29 spring break.

For the next four weeks, they'll complete the last 12 of their allotted 15 spring practice dates on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, finishing spring drills April 25 with the annual Red-White intrasquad game at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

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