FAYETTEVILLE -- The Arkansas defense has been much maligned this season, but they played a much better game on Saturday against Auburn.
This time, the loss was more on the offense and special teams. Linebacker Xavian Sorey Jr. had 11 tackles against Auburn to lead the Razorbacks. Sorey is tied for the team lead in tackles with 59, including 28 solo, and has 1.5 sacks, 2 pass breakups, 1 interception and a forced fumble. What led to the better performance against Auburn?
"I would say just being disciplined, having clean eyes and just doing our jobs," Sorey said.
Against Auburn, Sorey played some defensive end-outside linebacker. Did that present any new challenges for you?
"I’m not sure," Sorey said. "Challenge, I’m not sure of any challenge because I practice it during the week and the coaches coach me up on what to do and things like that. So just going out there and executing and just doing my job. That’s one of the biggest things I went out there and tried to do this past weekend and help the team out."
Sorey said he has previous experience at that spot.
"I did that my freshman year," Sorey said. "Coming out of high school, when I first got to college I was an edge rusher, outside linebacker. So you know it kind of took me back a little bit and there were a lot of things I had heard before, early on in my career. So that helped me out a lot."
Sorey expects to see more up-tempo this week than in the Auburn game.
"Yeah, I think they like to go fast a little bit more than Auburn does," Sorey said. "And, they got a quarterback that's really good at getting everybody lined up and making sure everybody's on the same page so that they can go fast. And then if they get a positive player or something, they tend to go fast."
Sorey reflected back on Arkansas making Bobby Petrino the interim head coach following the firing of Sam Pittman following the loss to Notre Dame.
"I would just say, like, through all the change that's been going on these last couple weeks and, you know, just a lot of change and, just been different," Sorey said. "And, you know, Coach Petrino just did a good job at just making sure that we all stay together and just, you know, like, we all still got a goal. Like, we got a lot of seniors on the team and a lot of people with no years left.
"So, still got a goal and still got to go out there and play football and play good winning football. I think the biggest message these last couple of weeks is just for us to stay together as a team and as players. I mean, whether he's a good candidate or not for us, I mean."
Some speculated that the team might let go of the rope following the loss to Auburn. Sorey said if Tuesday's practice was any indication not true.
"I thought it was a lot of energy, all the guys was focused today," Sorey said. "We was getting after it today. We was getting after it."
The Razorbacks had an easy win over Mississippi State last year in Starkville. Sorey reflected back on that game.
"I remember that game," Sorey said. "I thought we had a really good game on defense. Obviously, we could have been better, but the thing I do remember is really getting after and really holding a lot of… Getting a lot of good key stops. Our offense is doing really well also putting up a lot of points, so I just remember us going out there and being dominant. We just got to figure out what it was last year that we did and just build off of it this year. Obviously, it's a new team, but hey man, the goal is the same. And I think we got all the guys we need to get the job done against this team."
What would Sorey consider a good ending to this season?
"I think the guys in the locker room, like, instead of looking at how many games we got left, we got Mississippi State this week," Sorey said. "That's kind of what we focusing on and trying not to look too far ahead on anybody else. We got Mississippi State this week, and that’s what we're gonna focus on, and we'll worry about everybody else when the time comes. But to answer your question, everybody on the team is excited and you got younger players that's like, they know they got older players on the team that got no more years. So they’re going hard. Like today in practice. It was a great day. Everybody was getting at it and yeah, it was a good day."
Arkansas and Mississippi State will kickoff at 3 p.m. Saturday in Razorback Stadium on the SEC Network.
