FAYETTEVILLE -- Xavian Sorey Jr. was Arkansas' leading tackler in 2024 and returns for his senior season.

Sorey and the Razorbacks will hold the first spring practice on Monday. Sorey talked to the media on Monday prior to practice. Sorey talked about the offseason leading up to the spring drills.

"This offseason, it’s been a lot of lifting and running and stuff," Sorey said. "Personally for me, I wanted to put on a little more weight and get a little stronger. That’s what I’ve been focusing on this offseason. Then like he (Taylen Green) said, just to get back with everybody in the group and stuff, team-wise, and just play football. That’s what I'm happy about. Playing football."

Last season, Sorey was new to the team and Travis Williams' defense. This spring he has been one of the mentors.

"For me, I think when I got here and I was a new guy, I was more so wanting to learn a lot," Sorey said. "I still want to learn this year, but it’s more so building on that, what I’ve learned already. So being with Coach T-Will and the strength and training staff and stuff, it’s a lot to work on still."

Linebacker has a lot of returning players and is the one position on the team where the Hogs didn't add from the transfer portal. Sorey talked about all the experience returning.

"It's very valuable," Sorey said. "Me, Stephen Dix, Bradley Shaw, Wyatt Simmons, those guys, they was all here last year. And then we got freshmen that came in too. So I think our room, I think we're gonna be good. I think we're gonna be good. We got Coach T-Will leading it."

While the Razorbacks didn't add a linebacker from the transfer portal, they did sign two from high school. One of the top linebackers in the nation is Tavion Wallace who inked with Arkansas over Florida State and Georgia. Sorey likes what he has seen so far from the true freshman who arrived in January.

"Oh yeah, Tavion, he's athletic," Sorey said. "He's big, and I think when he got here, he said he was like 220 and it's only been a couple weeks, and he's already like 230-235. So, he's been taking it serious in the weight room and training and stuff like that. And then he’s willing to grow and learn, ask a lot of questions. Even with the older guys on the defense, he'll come up to us ask us questions and stuff. So, he's not just asking coaches questions. He's trying to learn from other players as well. That's one of the big things I’ve taken away from him."

The defensive line returns Cameron Ball among others, but the senior standout is out for the spring.

"A lot of leadership as far as like playing football," Sorey said. "We’ll see today. We haven’t got the chance to see them actually get to play, but as far as working out, running and stuff, team runs and walk throughs, a lot of leadership with all those guys. Every group. Ones, twos and threes."

Arkansas practiced at 4:10 on Monday.