New Arkansas offensive coordinator Joe Craddock talks about how Hogs’ new offense will look, but running still a priority.
Hogs ranked sixth in Perfect Game preseason poll
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Arkansas earned a spot at No. 6 in the Perfect Game Preseason Poll that was released earlier today.
The Razorbacks join five other SEC teams in the top 25, all of which they will face at some point during the season.
Four teams ranked in the top 25 will visit Baum Stadium this year, including No. 4 Texas Tech (April 24-25), No. 8 Kentucky (March 16-18), No. 15 Texas A&M (May 11-13), and No. 23 Texas (March 13-14).
Arkansas will travel to top-ranked and defending national champion Florida (March 23-25), while also visiting No. 11 Ole Miss (March 29-31), No. 12 LSU (May 4-6), and No. 25 Mississippi State (April 20-22).
Offensively, the Hogs return a potent lineup that includes six of its top eight hitters from a year ago.
Shortstop Jax Biggers is back after hitting .338 with four home runs and 37 RBIs, as he was the first Razorback primary shortstop to hit over .300 in a season since Scott Hode in 2005.
Captaining the outfield is freshman All-American Dominic Fletcher. Fletcher was, arguably, the best freshman hitter in the SEC last year with a .291 average, 12 home runs, and 37 RBIs.
His 12 long balls was just one off from tying the Arkansas freshman record set by Zack Cox back in 2009, but were the most among all freshman in the SEC.
On the mound, Arkansas returns the heart of its pitching staff in preseason All-American Blaine Knight along with redshirt sophomore Isaiah Campbell, junior Kacey Murphy, and junior Jake Reindl.
Entering his second year as the Arkansas pitching coach, Wes Johnson hopes to continue seeing the pitching success the Razorbacks had last year, which combined for a 3.61 team ERA and a school-record 619 strikeouts.
Arkansas is scheduled to open the 2018 season against Bucknell on Friday, Feb. 16 with first pitch at 3 p.m. at Baum Stadium.
2018 Perfect Game NCAA Division I Baseball Preseason Poll
| Rank | Team (2017 Final Record) | 2017 Finish |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida (52-19) | College World Series Champion |
| 2 | Oregon State (56-6) | College World Series |
| 3 | TCU (50-18) | College World Series |
| 4 | Texas Tech (45-17) | Lubbock Regional |
| 5 | Florida (46-23) | College World Series |
| 6 | Arkansas (45-19) | Fayetteville Regional |
| 7 | North Carolina (49-14) | Chapel Hill Regional |
| 8 | Kentucky (43-23) | Louisville Super Regional |
| 9 | Miami (32-27) | Did not make postseason |
| 10 | Stanford (42-16) | Stanford Regional |
| 11 | Ole Miss (32-25) | Did not make postseason |
| 12 | LSU (52-20) | College World Series |
| 13 | NC State (36-25) | Lexington Regional |
| 14 | Louisville (53-12) | College World Series |
| 15 | Texas A&M (41-23) | College World Series |
| 16 | UCLA (30-27) | Long Beach Regional |
| 17 | Indiana (34-24-2) | Lexington Regional |
| 18 | Oklahoma (35-24) | Louisville Regional |
| 19 | Cal State Fullerton (39-24) | College World Series |
| 20 | Duke (30-28) | Did not make postseason |
| 21 | Houston (42-21) | Houston Regional |
| 22 | Sam Houston State (44-23) | Tallahassee Super Regional |
| 23 | Texas (39-24) | Long Beach Regional |
| 24 | Clemson (42-21) | Clemson Regional |
| 25 | Mississippi State (40-27) | Baton Rouge Super Regional |
Scott, Caldwell top finalized Hogs defensive staff
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coach Chad Morris finished off his coaching staff on Wednesday, announcing the hiring of four assistants on defense.
On Tuesday, Morris announced the addition of SEC veteran John Chavis as the program’s defensive coordinator.
Steve Caldwell – Defensive Line
Recently the assistant head coach/defensive line coach for four seasons at Boise State, Caldwell returns to Arkansas for the second time in his career and reunites with defensive coordinator John Chavis, who he spent 15 seasons with at Tennessee.
Ron Cooper – Secondary
A former head coach and a longtime defensive assistant coach, Cooper spent the 2017 season at Texas A&M as the secondary coach under Chavis.
John Scott Jr. – Defensive Line
Served as defensive line coach at Arkansas in 2017 and has 15 years of experience at the college and NFL levels.
Mark Smith – Secondary
The Director of Recruiting for three years for coach Morris at SMU, Smith also served as the program’s defensive analyst in 2017, and was a Texas high school head coach for four seasons from 2011-14.
The Steve Caldwell File
Position: Defensive Line
Hometown: Thayer, Mo.
Education: Arkansas State, 1977 (B.S. & M.S. Physical Education)
Coach Morris on Caldwell
“I consider Steve Caldwell one of the best defensive line coaches around. Steve has a great reputation across the country and when I started to look for a defensive line coach his name was the first to pop up. He has great familiarity with Coach Chavis, this program and has built great relationships in the state. I’m excited about Steve’s strong recruiting ties in our state and to see him development our defensive line.”
Caldwell on joining Coach Morris’ staff at Arkansas
“I’m thrilled to be joining coach Morris’ staff and returning to a place that means so much to me and my family. I have so many fond memories during my time as a Razorback and I’m excited to work with a group of young men that will create more memories for this great fan base.”
Bio
Caldwell comes to Fayetteville for the second time in his career with more than 30 years of coaching experience, highlighted by a 1998 national championship alongside coach Chavis at Tennessee, and 20 bowl games appearances.
From 2014-17, Caldwell served as associate head coach at Boise State while overseeing the defensive line room. Over his four seasons, Boise State accumulated a record of 42-12 with three bowl wins in four appearances while his defensive line unit helped hold 24 of 54 opponents to under 100 yards rushing over that span.
Caldwell mentored an All-Mountain West first team selection in each of his four seasons at Boise State, including defensive end Sam McCaskill and nose tackle David Moa in 2016. In 2017, Caldwell coached defensive lineman Curtis Weaver, who became the first freshman in Mountain West history to earn first-team honors as a freshman. Weaver led the conference and currently leads all FBS freshmen with 11 sacks (T-6th nationally) en route to being named to the USA TODAY Freshman All-America team.
This past season, Boise State tied for the Mountain West lead in sacks and was the only program to finish in the top four in the conference in sacks each of Caldwell’s four seasons (2014-17). The Broncos also ranked second in the Mountain West in rushing defense in 2017, highlighted by holding an explosive Oregon offense to a season-low 47 yards on the ground during their 38-28 win over the Ducks in the Las Vegas Bowl. It also marked the fourth time in Caldwell’s four years that Boise State finished in the top four in the conference in rushing defense.
Caldwell oversaw one of the most dominant defensive lines in the country in 2015, as his front four was the Mountain West standard and ranked fifth in FBS in rushing defense, allowing just 108.2 rushing yards per game. The stubbornness against the run helped the Bronco defensive unit rank second in the conference and 18th in the country in scoring defense with 20.2 points allowed per game.
Among the numerous standouts in the trenches in 2015 was junior Kamalei Correa, who racked up a team-best 11.0 sacks and 7.0 tackles-for-loss, and was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 11th pick of the second round (42nd overall) in the 2016 NFL Draft. Correa finished his collegiate career with a Defensive MVP performance during a Poinsettia Bowl victory over Northern Illinois after recording 2.0 sacks and 2.5 tackles-for-loss.
Prior to Boise State, Caldwell rejoined his alma mater Arkansas State for the 2013 campaign. Red Wolves captured a share of the Sun Belt Conference Championship in 2013, and won the 2013 GoDaddy Bowl. Under Caldwell’s tutelage, Ryan Carrethers garnered first-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors, and went on to be selected by the San Diego Chargers in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Caldwell’s first stint at Arkansas came from 2010-12, when he was in charge of the defensive line. During his time with the Razorbacks, Arkansas posted back-to-back 10-win seasons (2010-11) and played in the Sugar Bowl. Arkansas ranked 36th-or-better nationally in sacks in each of Caldwell’s three seasons, highlighted by finishing the 2010 campaign tied for eighth nationally in sacks.
In 2011, Arkansas’ defensive end group of Jake Bequette, Tenarius Wright, Trey Flowers and Chris Smith combined for 27 tackles for loss and 16 sacks. Bequette earned All-SEC first team honors after leading the SEC with 10 sacks, a mark that was good for ninth nationally. Bequette was named the Defensive MVP of the Cotton Bowl after two sacks and a forced fumble, and went on to be selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
Caldwell spent the 1995-2008 seasons coaching defensive ends at Tennessee alongside Chavis. Over 14 seasons, the Volunteers won the 1998 National Championship, made 13 bowl appearances and finished 10 seasons ranked in the top 25.
Tennessee ranked in the top four among SEC schools in total defense 10 times, and led the league in rushing defense three times. In 2008, the Vols ranked third nationally in total defense (263.5), and in 2005 the team’s rushing defense ranked second nationally (82.5).
A dean’s list student at Arkansas State, Caldwell played four years of football as a defensive end and linebacker. The start of his coaching career came over three seasons at his alma mater from 1978-80. Caldwell then moved on to Northwest Mississippi Community College, where he coached the offensive line for four seasons and was part of a national championship team in 1982.
Caldwell rejoined Arkansas State in 1985 as linebackers coach, and was with the Red Wolves through 1989. The school won back-to-back league championships (1985-86), and made three-straight trips to the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs from 1985-87.
He worked as a graduate assistant at Tennessee in 1990, before moving on to Pacific from 1991-93. He was the linebackers coach in 1991, and added co-defensive coordinator responsibilities in 1992 and 1993.
The Ron Cooper File
Position: Secondary
Hometown: Huntsville, Ala.
Education: Jacksonville State, 1983 (B.S. Physical Education/Biology) & Appalachian State, 1986 (M.S. Athletic Administration)
Coach Morris on Cooper
“I’m excited to have Ron join our staff and help lead our secondary. His time working with coach Chavis along with his knowledge and experience in the SEC are invaluable. He will be a big part of our defensive staff having great continuity right away and I’m excited to see his impact on the recruiting trail.”
Cooper on joining Coach Morris’ staff at Arkansas
“I know from my experiences in the SEC that the University of Arkansas is a special place and I’m excited and grateful about the opportunity to join Coach Morris’ staff. I can’t wait to get to work with a talented group in the secondary.”
Bio
Cooper brings more than 30 years of coaching experience to Arkansas, including 10 as a head coach on the collegiate level, and he has served four stints as a defensive coordinator. He has also worked one year in the NFL as a defensive backs coach while making stops at four other SEC schools during his career.
Cooper took over a youthful secondary room at Texas A&M, as seven different underclassmen, including four freshmen, started in the defensive backfield for the Aggies during the 2017 season. One of the mainstays in the lineup was junior Armani Watts, who finished the season with 87 tackles, four interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one touchdown en route to being named to Associated Press (AP) All-America third team and the All-SEC first team (Coaches & AP)
Prior to Texas A&M, Cooper served as the interim head coach at FIU for the final eight games of the 2016 season. Cooper also served as head coach at Eastern Michigan (1993-94), Louisville (1995-97) and Alabama A&M (1998-2001).
Cooper spent two seasons at FIU with the first as the team’s assistant head coach and defensive backs coach in 2015. He was elevated to the Panthers’ defensive coordinator in 2016 before leading FIU to a 4-4 records as the interim head coach.
Prior to FIU, Cooper served as the assistant head coach and defensive backs coach at South Florida from 2013-14. He helped lead the Bulls to a team record 20-plus takeaways each season and the defense scored four touchdowns.
He coached one season in the NFL as the defensive backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012.
Cooper has deep ties to Arkansas defensive coordinator John Chavis, having served as the LSU secondary coach under Chavis from 2009-11. He mentored one of the top secondary rooms in the country, highlighted by national award winners Morris Claiborne, Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu. In both 2010 and 2011, Cooper and the Tigers defense featured the Thorpe Award winner (nation’s top defensive back) in Patrick Peterson in 2010 and Claiborne in 2011, as well as the Bednarik Award winner (nation’s top defender) in Peterson and Mathieu in 2011. LSU was also home to the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in Peterson (2010), Mathieu (2011 by AP) and Claiborne (2011 by Coaches).
Cooper also made stops in the SEC at South Carolina (2004-08) and Mississippi State (2003). In 2008, Cooper assisted with a defense that ranked No. 1 in the SEC and No. 2 in the nation in pass defense, allowing just 160 yards per game. With the Gamecocks, Cooper helped lead the team to appearances in the 2005 Independence Bowl, 2006 Liberty Bowl and 2009 Outback Bowl.
He broke into the head coaching ranks with Eastern Michigan and went on to become head coach at Louisville and Alabama A&M. Cooper’s 1995 Louisville team led the nation in takeaways and finished No. 9 nationally in scoring defense. The following season, the Cardinals ranked No. 4 in both total defense and rushing defense.
At Alabama A&M, Cooper guided the Bulldogs to the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game in 2000. His squad led the nation in rushing defense and they ranked No. 8 nationally in scoring defense. He also discovered defensive end Robert Mathis and coached him in his first three collegiate seasons. Mathis went on to a 14-year NFL career with the Colts, making six Pro Bowls and earning AFC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2013.
Before becoming the head coach at Eastern Michigan, Cooper served as an assistant coach at Notre Dame (1991-92), helping the Irish to victories in the 1992 Sugar Bowl and 1993 Cotton Bowl.
Cooper also served coaching stints at UNLV (1990), East Carolina (1989), Murray State (1987-88), Austin Peay (1985-86), Minnesota (1984) and Appalachian State (1983).
As a player, Cooper was a four-year letterman at Jacksonville State, where he helped the Gamecocks to Gulf South Conference titles in 1981 and 1982. Cooper played in the NCAA Div. II playoff three times during his career, including a semifinal run in 1982.
The John Scott Jr. File
Position: Defensive Line
Hometown: Greer, S.C.
Education: Western Carolina, 2000 (B.S. Communication) & Louisiana-Lafayette, 2006 (M.S. Education)
Coach Morris on Scott Jr.
“I’m excited to have John on our staff. His connections with our current players and his background at both the college and NFL level is valuable to our growth. We had many quality candidates for this job, but John’s ability to connect with our players here as well as his NFL background is really what intrigued Coach Chavis and myself.”
Scott Jr. on joining Coach Morris’ staff at Arkansas
“I’m thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of Coach Morris’ staff and a member of the Razorback program. I can’t wait to get to work with Coach Chavis and the rest of the defensive staff, and I’m looking forward to continuing to develop our players and get back out on the recruiting trail.”
Bio
Scott Jr., will enter his second season with the Razorbacks after serving as defensive line coach in 2017.
Scott Jr. spent the 2015 and 2016 seasons with the New York Jets, beginning as a defensive quality control coach in 2015 before being promoted to defensive line assistant coach. Prior to his time in the NFL, Scott Jr. spent time as a defensive line or outside linebackers coach at Texas Tech, Georgia Southern, Missouri State, Norfolk State and his alma mater Western Carolina.
The Jets led the NFL in rushing touchdowns allowed and red zone defense in 2015, while finishing second in rushing defense and fourth in total defense. Both defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson and cornerback Darrelle Revis earned Pro Bowl Honors. Scott Jr. was promoted to defensive line assistant prior to the 2016 season in which the Jets finished fifth in the AFC in rush defense and rushing touchdowns allowed. Defensive tackle Leonard Williams earned a Pro Bowl nod.
Scott mentored and coached a trio of defensive lineman at Texas Tech that worked their way into the NFL. In his first season, he tutored Kerry Hyder to All-Big 12 honors and an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine. In his first full season with the Detroit Lions in 2016, Hyder led the team with 8.0 sacks to go along with 36 tackles. Branden Jackson had his best season under Scott Jr. in 2014 as a junior before getting an invite to the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine. Jackson recently finished his rookie season with the Oakland Raiders.
Prior to joining Texas Tech, Scott Jr. spent three seasons (2010-12) as the defensive line coach and special teams coordinator on three Georgia Southern teams that advanced to the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs. Along the defensive line, he mentored two All-Americans, including Brent Russell, who was an All-American all three years under Scott Jr. and finished as the program’s all-time sack leader. In 2011, the Georgia Southern defensive line featured Russell, All-American Roderick Tinsley and All-Southern Conference selection John Douglas. In 2010, Russell was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award for the nation’s top defensive player at the Championship Subdivision level.
Scott Jr. was named defensive line coach at Georgia Southern in January 2010 after one season coaching outside linebackers at Missouri State and three seasons at Western Carolina coaching defensive ends and outside linebackers. As defensive line coach at Norfolk State for the 2005 season, Scott Jr. helped the Spartans achieve a No. 12 national ranking in passing defense. That season, Norfolk State allowed just over 158 yards per game. The Greer, South Carolina, native attended the NCAA’s Minority Coaches Academy in 2008 after being selected from a pool of 400 applicants.
A 2000 graduate of Western Carolina and four-year Catamount letterman, Scott returned to coach at his alma mater in 2006. An All-Southern Conference choice at defensive end in 1998, Scott Jr. had 17 tackles for loss. His career total of 31 tackles for loss ranks 10th in Western Carolina history.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in communications from Western Carolina, Scott Jr. played three years of professional football, including two years with the Greensboro (N.C.) Prowlers of the Arena Football League 2. He was named the team’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2000.
While playing for the Greensboro Prowlers, Scott Jr. gained coaching experience at the high school level as defensive line coach at West Davidson High School in 2001. Scott Jr. then went to Louisiana-Lafayette as a graduate assistant for two years, serving as a defensive line graduate assistant. He completed his master’s degree in education at Louisiana-Lafayette in 2006.
The Mark Smith File
Position: Secondary
Hometown: Abilene, Texas
Education: Hardin Simmons University, 2000 (B.S. Behavioral Science) & Texas Arlington, 2004 (M.S. Educational Administration)
Coach Morris on Smith
“I’m excited to have Mark Smith join our coaching staff. He did a great job leading our recruiting department at SMU while also handling analyst responsibilities on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. His knowledge and ability to recruit along with his passion for the game excites me about his future. I know he’ll work extremely well with Coach Chavis and Coach Cooper in leading our secondary unit.”
Smith on joining Coach Morris’ staff at Arkansas
“My family and I are thrilled to be a part of Coach Morris’ staff at the University of Arkansas. The fan base and excitement around the program right now is truly amazing. I’m looking forward to working with our student-athletes on being the best that they can be.”
Bio
One of the assistants that helped recruit Arkansas’ early signing class in December, Smith will help lead the secondary. Along with his three seasons at SMU, Smith also has college experience as defensive quality control coach at Oklahoma.
Smith arrived at SMU as Director of Recruiting in 2015, and added defensive analyst to his duties for 2017 season. He arrived at SMU with experience at both the college and high school levels.
Prior to SMU, he served at Hurst L.D. Bell from 2009 to 2014, earning a promotion to head coach in early 2011. With Smith at the helm, Bell made the playoffs for three straight seasons. He also served as an assistant at Irving MacArthur and Colleyville Heritage high schools in Texas.
Smith was a member of the Board of Directors for the Texas High School Coaches Association and served as the President of the North Texas Football Coaches Association.
Lunney retained on new Hogs’ offensive staff
FAYETTEVILLE — After announcing Joe Craddock as offensive coordinator, Arkansas coach Chad Morris announced Tuesday the hiring of four members to the Razorback offensive coaching staff.
Jeff Traylor – Associate Head Coach/Running Backs
A high school coaching legend in Texas who comes to Fayetteville after recent stints at SMU (2017) as associate head coach/running backs and Texas (2015-16) as an assistant coach.
Dustin Fry – Offensive Line/Run-Game Coordinator
A former NFL center who played at Clemson and coached the offensive line at SMU the past three seasons.
Barry Lunney Jr. – Tight Ends
Played quarterback for the Razorbacks from 1992-95 and has served as tight ends coach at Arkansas since 2013.
Justin Stepp – Wide Receivers
Mentored projected first-round 2018 NFL Draft pick Courtland Sutton as wide receivers coach at SMU from 2015-17 and was selected last December to participate in the 2018 AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute.
The Jeff Traylor File
Position: Associate Head Coach/Running Backs
Hometown: Gilmer, Texas
Education: Stephen F. Austin, 1990 (B.S. & M.S. Education)
Coach Morris on Traylor
“Jeff was a phenomenal high school football coach who had a great career in the state of Texas. He has great knowledge of the game, and his development of his players has been special. He’s a phenomenal recruiter and great at creating relationships. His ability to recruit the state of Texas and Arkansas is exciting to us. I’m looking forward to seeing his players develop.”
Traylor on joining Coach Morris’ staff at Arkansas
“I’m honored and couldn’t be more excited to work for Coach Morris and be a part of his staff. I’ve known about the Razorbacks program and its history and tradition for a long time. With my mom being an Arkansas native, we’ve been Calling the Hogs in our house for forever. My high school coach Joe Black at Gilmer played on the 1964 national championship team, so coming to the University of Arkansas is a big deal to me.”
Bio
Traylor spent the 2017 season at SMU as associate head coach/running backs. He served as the Mustangs’ interim coach following the Razorbacks’ hiring of Morris in December.
Before SMU, Traylor spent two seasons at the University of Texas (2015-16). In his first season in Austin, he coached tight ends and was named Scout.com’s Big 12 Recruiter of the Year.
In 2016, Traylor coached tight ends and wide receivers for the Longhorns, who boasted the nation’s No. 16 ranked offense that averaged 491.3 yards per game.
During his time in Austin, Traylor recruited punter Michael Dickson, who went on to earn multiple All-America honors, win Big 12 Conference Special Teams Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017 as well as the 2017 Ray Guy Award.
Prior to Texas, Traylor spent 15 seasons (2000-14) as head coach at Gilmer High School in east Texas, where he had a 175-26 record with three state championships and two state runner-up finishes.
Traylor’s unit totaled 2,223 yards rushing in 2017, highlighted by three players who rushed for 500-plus yards with sophomore Xavier Jones leading the group at 1,075. The Mustangs topped the 200-yard mark on the ground six times with a season-best 311 in a win against Arkansas State.
At Texas, Traylor recruited punter Michael Dickson, who earned All-Big 12 honorable mention honors in , while the tight ends unit caught 22 passes for over 300 yards and two touchdowns. Dickson averaged 41.3 yards per punt on 77 attempts.
Under Traylor, Gilmer High School reached the 10-win mark 11 times, while also recording seven 13-win campaigns. The Buckeyes posted 15 wins three times, all of which resulted in undefeated state championship years, including two 16-0 seasons in 2004 and 2014.
In 2014, the Gilmer offense put up the second-most points in the history of Texas high school football with 950 in 16 games for an average of 59.4 points per game and won the 4A Division 2 state title.
The Buckeyes scored 60-plus points nine times, including two 80-point performances. Gilmer also averaged 536.1 total yards per game (8,577) behind a balanced 293.9 passing yards and 242.1 rushing yards per contest.
The defense was equally dominant, allowing only 276 points (17.3) with five single-digit efforts and two shutouts, while recording 23 interceptions and forcing 17 fumbles.
Gilmer closed out the season with a win over West Orange-Stark at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and had eight different players earn 4A All-State honors from either the Associated Press or Texas Sports Writers Association.
Gilmer’s two other state titles under Traylor both came in 3A in 2004 (Division 2) and 2009 (Division 1), before the change in class structure in Texas high school football moved the school into 4A last season. After 15 years on its sidelines, Gilmer renamed Buckeye stadium to Jeff Traylor Stadium in Traylor’s honor.
Prior to Gilmer, Traylor was an assistant coach at Jacksonville High School (1993-99) in Texas, where he served as passing coordinator, defensive backs coach, receivers coach and special teams coordinator.
Traylor began his coaching career at Big Sandy High School in Texas, where he spent four years as an assistant coach from 1990-1993. After graduating from Gilmer High School in 1986, Traylor played football at Stephen F. Austin as a walk-on.
The Dustin Fry File
Position: Offensive Line/Run-Game Coordinator
Hometown: Summerville, S.C.
Education: Clemson, 2006 (B.S. Sport Management)
Coach Morris on Fry
“Dustin is a guy who had a very successful playing career and was instrumental in our success at Clemson. He brings a lot to the table with his offensive line knowledge and his ability to teach the techniques and intricate details of what it takes to be a great offensive lineman. The success our offense has had over the last three years was a reflection of the growth and development of our offensive line.”
Fry on joining Coach Morris’ staff at Arkansas
“I am grateful for this opportunity to join Coach Morris’ staff and be a part of Razorback nation. The opportunity to coach in the SEC is exciting, and I look forward to re-establishing the Razorback offensive line as one of the top units in the country. I’m excited to get to work with our players and staff.”
Bio
Fry joins the Razorback staff after spending three seasons at SMU (2015-17) as offensive line coach. Prior to his stint in Dallas, he served as an offensive graduate assistant at Clemson from 2012-14.
At SMU, Fry’s offensive line cleared paths for a 1,000-yard rusher in both 2016 and 2017. His 2017 unit blocked for the Mustangs’ offense to produce 3,000-plus passing yards and 2,000-plus rushing yards. The Mustangs averaged 5.0 yards per carry and were one of 18 FBS programs, including one of three in the American Athletic Conference, to accomplish that feat during the regular season. SMU’s 2,230 rushing yards were its most in a regular season in 10 years.
According to Sport Source Analytics, Fry’s offensive line in 2017 ranked No. 14 nationally in efficiency (79.6), based on tackle for loss percentage, sack percentage and third and fourth down run percentage.
In his three years at Clemson, he helped the Tigers to a 31-7 record with two top-10 finishes. He was a player development coach with the offensive line and helped center Dalton Freeman earn first-team All-America honors in 2012.
Fry lettered four years with Clemson and was a first-team All-ACC center and a National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) All-American on the 2006 offense that averaged a school-record 6.5 yards per play. He played in the Senior Bowl and was a fifth-round draft pick of the Rams, playing for St. Louis in 2007 and 2008. He also spent time with the Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers.
The Barry Lunney Jr. File
Position: Tight Ends
Hometown: Fort Smith, Ark.
Education: Arkansas, 1996 (B.S. Kinesiology)
Coach Morris on Lunney Jr.
“Barry has had a great career here and has a valuable reputation around the state of Arkansas. He’s built and maintained exceptional relationships with Razorbacks of the past, present and future. I’m excited to have his knowledge of the game, his recruiting ability, and his familiarity with our program.”
Lunney Jr. on joining Coach Morris’ staff at Arkansas
“I’m grateful and excited for the opportunity Coach Morris has given me to continue to be a part of Razorback football. This is an exciting time for the program and I’m looking forward to being able to continue to coach and develop our tight ends.”
Bio
Lunney Jr., has strengthened the program’s reputation as #TEU during his five seasons in Fayetteville.
Lunney’s work has not only resulted success as Razorbacks, but also caught the interest of NFL personnel. Highlighted by Hunter Henry being the first tight end taken off the board in the 2016 NFL Draft, Arkansas is the only program in the country to have a tight end taken in each of the last three drafts dating back to 2015.
From 2014 to 2016, Lunney helped develop Henry into the best tight end in the nation. On Dec. 9, 2015, that became official when Henry was named the John Mackey Award winner following his junior season. Henry joined 2010 recipient D.J. Williams to make Arkansas the only school to produce multiple winners in the award’s history.
After earning All-SEC second team honors in 2013 and 2014, Henry won the John Mackey Award and was a consensus first-team All-American as a junior in 2015. He led all Football Bowl Subdivision tight ends with 739 receiving yards on 51 receptions — each career highs — and hauled in three touchdown passes. In addition, Henry and tight end mate Jeremy Sprinkle combined for a league-best 1,128 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. The 1,128 receiving yards are the most by an Arkansas tight end corps in program history.
A fellow Arkansas native, Henry was selected with the 35th overall pick by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. A year later, Sprinkle followed Henry’s footsteps and was taken by the Washington Redskins in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. During his senior season, Sprinkle set the Arkansas record for career TDs by a tight end with 11 and was also invited to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl.
Lunney also oversaw the transition of A.J. Derby from quarterback to tight end. Derby finished fifth in the SEC with 303 receiving yards during the 2014 season and was a sixth-round draft choice of the New England Patriots despite playing the position for less than a year.
Before returning to the Razorbacks, Lunney served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Bentonville High School from 2005-13.
Lunney spent two seasons as the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at San Jose State. During his tenure, the offense produced six all-conference performers, and tight end Courtney Anderson was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the 2004 NFL Draft.
Prior to that, Lunney spent three seasons at Tulsa, first working with quarterbacks in 2000 and 2001 and then moving to wide receivers in 2002. In 2000, quarterback Josh Blankenship ranked fifth in the WAC in total offense and receiver Don Shoals led the conference and ranked 11th in the NCAA in receptions per game.
His coaching career began with two seasons as a graduate assistant at Arkansas. In 1998, Arkansas won its first eight games and rose to No. 9 in the national rankings on the way to sharing the SEC Western Division title and earning a berth in the Citrus Bowl. Lunney served as the Razorbacks’ running backs coach for the bowl game and throughout the spring of 1999. Arkansas spent the majority of the 1999 season in the top 25 of the national rankings and finished the year with a 27-6 win over No. 14 Texas in the Cotton Bowl.
The Justin Stepp File
Position: Wide Receivers
Hometown: Pelion, S.C.
Education: Furman, 2007 (B.S. Health and Exercise Science)
Coach Morris on Stepp
“Justin is a very engaging person and I’m excited to have him and what he brings to our receiving group. He has a great knack for recruiting and developing his players. Justin has had the honor and privilege of developing many players in his career, most notably All-Americans Courtland Sutton and Trey Quinn.”
Stepp on joining Coach Morris’ staff at Arkansas
“I am very excited about being at the University of Arkansas with Coach Morris,” Stepp said. “I look forward to working in the best conference in the country and developing the Razorback wide receivers group into the best unit in the country.”
Bio
Stepp joins the Razorbacks after spending six seasons as a wide receivers coach at SMU (2015-17) and Appalachian State (2012-14). Prior to Appalachian State, he spent three seasons at Clemson as an offensive graduate assistant coach (2011) and an offensive video graduate assistant (2009-10).
Last December, he was selected to participate in the 2018 AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute, a prestigious program aimed at identifying and developing premier, future leaders in the football coaching profession that will take place on Jan. 7, during the 2018 AFCA Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was also named a finalist for the 2017 FootballScoop Wide Receivers Coach of the Year award.
During Stepp’s six seasons as a wide receivers coach, he’s tutored three different players who have combined for four 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
Stepp’s protégés Courtland Sutton and Trey Quinn at SMU were two of the most dynamic wide receivers in college football in 2017. The Mustangs boasted one of the most prolific passing attacks in the nation on the strength of All-Americans Sutton and Quinn each posting 1,000-yard receiving seasons. SMU was one of only two schools with multiple 1,000-yard receivers in 2017. In addition, Sutton and Quinn were the only pair of teammates to rank in the top 10 in touchdown receptions and combined for 12 100-yard receiving games with six apiece. Quinn finished the year with 13 TD catches, while Sutton had 12.
A Biletnikoff Award and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose semifinalist, Quinn led the nation in receptions with 114 and ranked inside the top 15 nationally in receiving touchdowns (No. 4, 13), receiving yards per game (No. 10, 95.1) and receiving yards (No. 11, 1,236). He turned in two of the three top reception performances in the FBS during the regular season with 17 catches twice and became the only player this century to register 15-plus catches in three straight games.
Sutton, a projected first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, posted career receiving totals of 3,152 yards and 31 touchdowns on 189 receptions in four seasons at SMU. He averaged 16.4 yards per catch in each of his last two seasons, and finished third on the Mustangs’ all-time receiving chart behind Emmanuel Sanders and Aldrick Robinson.
In 2016, Sutton led the SMU offense for the second straight season, hauling in 76 passes for 1,246 yards and 10 TDs to become SMU’s first 1,000-yard receiver since 2013. Sutton was not the Mustangs’ only threat through the air, though, as James Proche, caught 57 passes for 709 yards and six scores on his way to Freshman All-America honors.
Stepp’s first season at SMU saw him develop Sutton into one of the country’s top freshman. Sutton was named a Freshman All-American in 2015 after leading all FBS freshmen with nine receiving touchdowns. He set an SMU freshman record for receiving yards with 862 and tied Sanders for most touchdowns by a freshman.
Over Stepp’s first two seasons at Appalachian State, he coached three players who combined to earn five All-Southern Conference honors, including All-American Sean Price who set NCAA Division I FCS freshman records with 81 receptions and 1,196 receiving yards in 2012.
In 2011, Stepp played a key role in Clemson’s offense, alongside Morris who was offensive coordinator. Stepp worked directly with the Tigers’ running backs, quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends, while assisting in game-planning and in-game play-calling adjustments. With Stepp on the sideline, Clemson ranked second in the ACC and in the top 30 nationally in scoring (33.6) and total offense (440.8) and boasted a pair of all-Americans on the offensive side of the ball.
Stepp got his coaching start as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at NCAA Division II North Greenville in 2008. He also served as wide receivers and strength coach at Fort Mill (S.C.) High School in 2007.
Stepp was a standout wide receiver and punt returner at Furman from 2003-06. He earned All-SoCon recognition as a junior and senior and finished his playing career with 1,568 yards, 10 touchdown catches and 118 receptions, good for No. 4 on the school’s career list at the time.
It’s finally official — Chavis takes over defense
(NOTE: Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in the story)
Chad Morris finally made official Tuesday what everyone suspected for weeks now and John Chavis officially takes over as defensive coordinator.
Official announcements of assistants are coming on a regular basis Tuesday morning from the Arkansas media relations folks with other staff announcements expected.
“It’s so important to play great defense in the SEC and Coach Chavis brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and success in the league to the table,” Morris said in a press released.”
Chavis spent the last 23 years as a defensive coordinator at Tennessee (1995-2008), LSU (2009-14) and Texas A&M (2015-17).
The 2011 winner of the Broyles Award as the top assistant coach in college football, Chavis has been part of 21 bowl games, 12 10-win seasons and appeared in the SEC Championship game six times over his 23 years as a defensive coordinator in the SEC.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to help Coach Morris build the Arkansas program and join the great staff that he is putting together,” Chavis said. “It’s a great time to be at the University of Arkansas and I can’t wait to get started on building a defense that our fans can be excited about.”
Five Chavis Notes To Know
1. Has a career record of 214-80 (72.8 percent) over his 23 seasons as a defensive coordinator, including a 129-60 mark (68.3 percent) in SEC games.
2. Chavis-led defenses have posted 14 shutouts during his career.
3. He has coached 81 players that have been selected in the NFL Draft over his 37 years as a coach, including 15 first round picks.
4. Chavis-led defenses have held 52 opponents to single-digit points.
5. He has developed 44 players into All-SEC first team selections since 1995.
Success In The SEC
Chavis, who has 29 years of experience in the rugged SEC, has produced a defense that has ranked among the top four in the league in total defense 15 times during his 23 seasons as a coordinator.
During his time at Texas A&M as associate head coach and defensive coordinator, the Aggies were one of five FBS programs (Alabama, Clemson, Penn State & Washington) to rank in the top 25 in sacks each season from 2015-17, highlighted by an SEC-best 43 this past fall.
A key contributor to those sack totals was Myles Garrett, who led the SEC in sacks in 2015, and was a unanimous first-team All-American in 2016 en route to being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.
Prior to his three seasons at Texas A&M, Chavis was a key piece to a successful six-year run at LSU that saw the Tiger defense finish in the top 15 nationally in total defense five times (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014).
During Chavis’ tenure in Baton Rouge, the Tigers forced 152 turnovers and accounted for 14 touchdowns and two safeties. In 79 total games, Chavis’ defenses held the opponent under 100 yards rushing 32 times.
LSU had its best year under Chavis in 2011, as the Tigers capped the year ranked in the top five in the nation in four categories including total defense (No. 2 at 261.5), scoring defense (No. 2 at 11.29), pass efficiency defense (No. 3 with 95.58 rating) and rushing defense (No. 5 at 90.1).
LSU also ranked No. 8 nationally in pass defense with 171.43 yards allowed per game.
LSU’s 2011 defense featured a young and explosive defensive front along with arguably the nation’s top secondary with two national award winners in Tyrann Mathieu and Morris Claiborne.
LSU allowed only six first-half touchdowns, including just two in the first quarter all season, as the Tigers rode their dominant defense’s style of play to a 13-0 regular season mark, the SEC title and a spot in the BCS National Championship Game.
In both 2010 and 2011, Chavis and the Tigers defense featured the Thorpe Award winner (nation’s top defensive back) in Patrick Peterson in 2010 and Claiborne in 2011, as well as the Bednarik Award winner (nation’s top defender) in Peterson and Mathieu in 2011.
LSU was also home to the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in Peterson (2010), Mathieu (2011 by AP) and Claiborne (2011 by Coaches).
Over Chavis’ six years at LSU, the Tigers and Alabama were the only two SEC programs to rank in the league’s top four in scoring defense every year from 2009-14.
LSU finished in the top 12 nationally in scoring defense five of six years under Chavis, highlighted by No. 2 and No. 4 in 2011 and 2014, respectively.
The Tigers led the SEC in passing defense twice (2010, 2014) in his six years while they led the league in total defense his final season in 2014.
Prior to his arrival in Baton Rouge in 2009, Chavis spent 14 seasons as the defensive coordinator at Tennessee, helping the Vols win at least nine games in a season 11 times.
The Vols reached the 10-win mark eight times during his time as defensive coordinator, which included a school-record 13 victories during their national championship season in 1998.
The Vols had 11 wins in 1995, 1997 and 2001, and they won 10 games in 1996, 2003, 2004 and 2007.
With Chavis as the defensive coordinator, Tennessee made five appearances in the SEC Championship game, winning the league title in 1997 and 1998, and it was invited to three BCS bowl games.
Next Level
Behind a recruiting belief that there is no substitute for speed and an aggressive defensive philosophy, Chavis has coached and mentored 70 NFL Draft picks, including 15 first rounders, during his time as a defensive coordinator in the SEC.
Chavis has seen one of his defensive standouts taken in 22 straight NFL Drafts as a defensive coordinator and 26 consecutive years dating back to his time as the defensive line/linebackers coach at Tennessee.
Out of the 70 players selected, 42 have been taken in the top three rounds.
Over a run of eight NFL Drafts from 2006-13, Chavis saw eight players taken in the first round with at least one going in seven of them.
In 2013, LSU became the first school in NFL Draft history to have six defensive players selected during the first three rounds.
LSU finished with eight defenders selected in the 2013 NFL Draft, including the second straight year with a pair of first rounders.
In all, Chavis has coached 81 players taken in the NFL Draft during his time as a defensive coordinator or from his position room as an assistant coach. Over his 29 years in the SEC, he has seen a player taken in 27 of a possible 28 drafts.
Background
Chavis, who is originally from Dillon, South Carolina, is married to the former Diane Crisp. They are the parents of sons, John and Jason. He graduated from Tennessee in 1978, as a three-year letterwinner at middle guard for head coach Johnny Majors.
Coaching History
1979: Tennessee (Graduate Assistant)
1980-1983: Alabama A&M (Defensive Line)
1984-1985: Alabama State (Defensive Coordinator)
1986-1988: Alabama A&M (Defensive Coordinator)
1989-1994: Tennessee (Defensive Line/Linebackers)
1995-2008: Tennessee (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2009-2014: LSU (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2015-2017: Texas A&M (Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2018-present: Arkansas (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
As expected, Morris officially picks Craddock OC
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coach Chad Morris announced Tuesday the hiring of Joe Craddock as the program’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
“Joe is one of the bright, young minds in all of college football,” Morris said. “He worked underneath us at Clemson and was very instrumental in our success there. I took him with me to SMU and saw him grow both as a person and as a coordinator during the last three years. He has a great mind and feel for the game, and I’m excited to have him on our staff and what we bring to the table in our high-powered offense.”
Craddock comes to Fayetteville after spending the past three seasons (2015-17) as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at SMU.
Prior to SMU, he coached at Clemson for three seasons as an offensive graduate assistant (2013-14) and a player development coach (2012).
“I am extremely excited to be a Razorback,” Craddock said. “This is a great opportunity for me and my family. I’m honored to continue to serve alongside Coach Morris and work with an incredible offensive staff. I can’t wait to develop relationships with our players and get to work on the field this spring. I look forward to recruiting elite talent to Fayetteville, developing our players, putting together an explosive offense, and competing in a league as competitive and strong as the SEC.”
Over his three seasons with the Mustangs, Craddock’s offense produced a 3,000-yard passer (Ben Hicks, 2017), two 1,000-yard rushers (Xavier Jones, 2017; Braeden West, 2016), and two 1,000-yard receivers (Courtland Sutton, 2017 and 2016; Trey Quinn, 2017).
Sutton, a projected first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, posted career receiving totals of 3,152 yards and 31 touchdowns on 189 receptions in four seasons at SMU. He averaged 16.4 yards per catch in each of his last two seasons, and finished third on the Mustangs’ all-time receiving list.
During the 2017 regular season, Craddock’s unit ranked No. 8 in the FBS in scoring offense (40.2 points), No. 13 in total offense (493.8 yards) and No. 16 in passing yards (308 yards) and was one of just two in the country that featured a 3,000-yard passer, 1000-yard rusher and multiple 1,000-yard receivers in All-Americans Sutton and Quinn.
Two of the most dynamic receivers in college football, Sutton and Quinn were the only pair of teammates to rank in the top 10 in touchdown receptions. Quinn finished the year with 13 TD catches, while Sutton had 12. The duo also combined for 12 100-yard receiving games with six apiece.
A Biletnikoff Award and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose semifinalist, Quinn led the nation in receptions with 114 and ranked inside the top 15 nationally in receiving touchdowns (No. 4, 13), receiving yards per game (No. 10, 95.1) and receiving yards (No. 11, 1,236).
He turned in two of the three top reception performances in the FBS during the regular season with 17 catches twice and became the only player this century to register 15-plus catches in three straight games.
Hicks finished his sophomore season with 3,569 passing yards (No. 18 in FBS) and 33 touchdown passes (No.9 in FBS).
In 2016, SMU had a 1,000-yard rusher (West, 1,036) and 1,000-yard receiver (Sutton, 1,246) for the first time since 2011 and three players with at least 1,000 all-purpose yards for the first time since 2011 (Sutton, West, James Proche).
As a freshman, Hicks threw for 2,930 yards, third-best among all freshmen and eighth-best in a season at SMU.
In Craddock’s first year at SMU, the Mustangs increased their scoring output by 16.7 points per game — the second-largest increase in the nation in 2015.
He also helped develop two of the nation’s top freshmen in Sutton and Jones.
Sutton was named a Freshman All-American in 2015 after ranking No. 1 among freshmen with nine touchdown catches.
During his time at Clemson, Craddock, alongside Morris who was offensive coordinator, aided in the development of quarterback Deshaun Watson.
In 2014, the Tigers’ offense averaged 448.2 yards of total offense per game, ranked No. 21 in scoring offense (35.4) and was one of just 14 teams in the FBS to average both 200 yards rushing and passing per game.
Prior to his collegiate coaching career, Craddock was the offensive coordinator at Briarwood Christian School in Birmingham, Alabama, during the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Briarwood Christian went 25-4 during Craddock’s tenure and finished as the state runner-up in 2010.
Following the 2011 season, he was hired as an offensive player development coach at Clemson by coach Dabo Swinney.
After the 2012 season, Craddock was given on-field graduate assistant duties working with the quarterbacks, a role he held until December 2014.
Craddock played at Middle Tennessee from 2004-08 and was a team captain his senior year. He also played baseball for the Blue Raiders in 2008.
A native of Chelsea, Alabama, Craddock earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts at Middle Tennessee in 2008. He and his wife, Abby, have one daughter, Charlie.
Hogs add Carroll as strength, conditioning coach
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coach Chad Morris announced Tuesday the hiring of Trumain Carroll as the program’s head strength and conditioning coach.
“Trumain transformed our student-athletes at SMU and the success we saw on and off the field was a direct reflection of the culture he helped establish,” Morris said. “He has a great pedigree having been mentored by Rob Glass and does a great job of emphasizing strength, speed, quickness and recovery, which are all important to our style of play. He’s a key piece to our staff here at the University of Arkansas and I’m excited to continue to work with him.”
Carroll most recently worked with Morris at SMU, where he was the Mustangs’ strength and conditioning coach for the last three seasons (2015-17).
“I’m extremely honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as the head strength and conditioning coach at the University of Arkansas,” said Carroll. “The standard for Razorback football is to be the best and that is exactly what we are going to give every single day.”
Carroll joined the SMU staff after two seasons (2013-14) as assistant strength and conditioning coach at his alma mater Oklahoma State, his second stint with the Cowboys.
During his tenure at SMU, Carroll’s efforts in the weight room aided in the development of wide receivers Courtland Sutton and Trey Quinn into All-Americans and future NFL Draft selections.
Sutton and Trey Quinn at SMU were two of the most dynamic wide receivers in college football in 2017, each turning in 1,000-yard receiving seasons to become one of only to pairs of teammates in the FBS to accomplish that feat.
A projected first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Sutton posted career receiving totals of 3,152 yards and 31 touchdowns on 189 receptions in four seasons at SMU.
He averaged 16.4 yards per catch in each of his last two seasons, and finished third on the Mustangs’ all-time receiving chart behind Emmanuel Sanders and Aldrick Robinson.
Quinn, a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, led the nation in receptions with 114 and ranked inside the top 15 nationally in receiving touchdowns (No. 4, 13), receiving yards per game (No. 10, 95.1) and receiving yards (No. 11, 1,236).
He posted two of the three top reception performances in the FBS during the regular season with 17 catches twice and became the only player this century to register 15-plus catches in three straight games.
Prior to Oklahoma State, Carroll was director of strength and conditioning South Carolina State (2011-12) after serving in the same role at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (2008-11).
Carroll joined UMKC from Oklahoma State, where he was the assistant strength and conditioning coach from 2006-08. While in Stillwater, Carroll designed and directed the strength program for the Oklahoma State women’s basketball program that advanced to the Sweet 16 in the 2007 NCAA Tournament.
He also assisted in the strength and conditioning program with the Oklahoma State football team that won the 2006 Independence Bowl and the 2007 Insight.com Bowl.
Carroll was defensive end at Oklahoma State from 2001 to 2005. During his playing career, he helped guide the Cowboys to three consecutive bowl games, including a victory in the 2002 Houston Bowl and appearances in the 2003 Cotton Bowl and 2004 Alamo Bowl.
Carroll received his Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coach Certification in May 2007 and his USA Weightlifting Sports Performance Certification in February 2008.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Oklahoma State in December 2005.
Carroll and his wife, Jarne, have a three-month old son, Trumain “Deuce” Carroll and a dog, Bo.
