Wide receiver Treylon Burks will look to built on his solid 2020 season. | arkansasrazorbacks.com/sport/m-footbl/media-guide/
Wide receiver Treylon Burks will look to built on his solid 2020 season. | arkansasrazorbacks.com/sport/m-footbl/media-guide/
The AP Top 25 Poll has been released and to no one’s surprise the Arkansas Razorbacks are not ranked, however that isn’t stopping the team from hoping to improve on last year’s 3-7 season.
The Associated Press' college football poll is led by the usual suspects with Alabama at No. 1, Oklahoma at No. 2, Clemson at No. 3, Ohio State at No. 4 and Georgia at No.5.
With both Alabama and Georgia in the top five, the SEC is well represented and that is not including the rest of the poll with other teams in the conference also garnering recognition — Texas A&M at No. 6, Florida No. 13 and LSU No. 16.
The AP Poll has been part of the game since Oct. 19, 1936, and the preseason poll started in 1950. A national group of 62 sports writers and broadcasters vote weekly, ranking the best teams in college football.
FOX College Football took to Twitter to ask if the Crimson Tide will have what it takes to go wire to wire as collegiate champions.
"Only 3 teams ranked No. 1 in the Preseason AP Poll have won the National Championship over the last 25 years. Will @AlabamaFTBL do it again this season?" FOX College Football wrote.
Last year, linebacker Grant Morgan earned first team All-SEC honors last season in both coaches’ and AP team with safety Jalen Catalon joining him in the AP team.
Linebacker Bumper Pool and safety Jalen Catalon were named to the second team in the coaches’ poll.
Wide receiver Treylon Burks and defensive tackle Jonathan Marshall garnered recognition on the AP’s second team offense and defense, respectively.
The team will look for Morgan, Catalon, Pool and Burks as cornerstones this season as all return to improve on their stellar 2020 seasons.
Arkansas offensive coordinator Kendal Briles said after practice Aug. 20 that offense is right where it needs to be.
“The main thing that you want (right now) is guys learning and then retaining,” he said. “I feel like we are doing that offensively at all positions and then staying healthy. That’s what the game is all about.”
These guys already know us, we’ve been here, and they know what to expect, he added.
During a press conference, Quarterback KJ Jefferson said his teammates’ confidence is all the motivation he needs as the team continues to hone their skills in situational football scenarios.
“As an offensive unit I feel like we are still improving on the things that we have been working on like short yardage situations, converting on third downs and third and short situations," he said.
In this league, it’s kind of hard to be too far behind the chains, he added.
The Razorbacks will kick off the season at home Sept. 4 against Rice.
| RANK | TEAM |
|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama |
| 2 | Oklahoma |
| 3 | Clemson |
| 4 | Ohio State |
| 5 | Georgia |
| 6 | Texas A&M |
| 7 | Iowa State |
| 8 | Cincinnati |
| 9 | Norte Dame |
| 10 | North Carolina |
| 11 | Oregon |
| 12 | Wisconsin |
| 13 | Florida |
| 14 | Miami |
| 15 | USC |
| 16 | LSU |
| 17 | Indiana |
| 18 | Iowa |
| 19 | Penn State |
| 20 | Washington |
| 21 | Texas |
| 22 | Costal Carolina |
| 23 | Louisiana-Lafayette |
| 24 | Utah |
| 25 | Arizona State |
| JI2SOURCE: Associated Press | |
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