Big Hogs: Arkansas trades top speed for size, stamina | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

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FAYETTEVILLE -- Ben Sowders, who is entering his third season as the strength and conditioning coach for the University of Arkansas football team, said this summer has been one of his best in the profession. His career began in 2012-13 at Southern Miss.

Before fielding questions Thursday -- the final tune-up before the start of fall camp Friday at dawn -- Sowders thanked his staff: Aurmon Satchell, Zach Reed, Cole Forney and Tommy McChesney, who spurred players on as they stretched Friday morning at Walker Pavilion.

That same team mentality shown by Arkansas' players is what has made this summer so distinguished. Sowders said that if players were late or made mistakes, their teammates would set them straight -- the first team to display those actions in his three years with the Razorbacks.

"To me, that tells you a lot about your team," Sowders said Thursday. "The best since I've been here and probably the best since I've been in coaching. ... Very comparable to the '21 team when we were at Georgia. We set the standard and the guys just took it and rolled with it."

Sowders added that coaches have pushed players as hard as they can. Coach Sam Pittman has been raving that the size of his team "looks like an SEC team," particularly on the lines of scrimmage and at cornerback. Sowders said the Razorbacks have spent more time in the weight room than in years past during this spring and into the summer.

"Some of the things that I thought would help us, could turn out cute, and we took the cute out," Sowders said. "It's just straight get after it."

Twenty-four players -- 12 on each side of the ball -- reached 21 mph during team runs this summer. Sowders jumped at breaking down other numbers. Last season, the defensive backs averaged 182 pounds, but now the position is up to a 197 average. Last summer, the group averaged 21.56 mph in runs, which barely declined to 21.45 in 2025, "but we're also heavier and bigger," Sowders said, adding the secondary has the most depth since he's been in Fayetteville.

The tight ends are also bigger, in part due to recruiting, but even senior transfer Rohan Jones from Montana State is nine pounds heavier, up to 242. The running backs improved running speeds from 20.6 mph last summer to 21.3 now, while the wide receivers slightly regressed from 21.8 to 21.2 in 2025.

"We're able to maintain our speed for longer distances and that's what we attacked this summer," Sowders said. "Whereas last year: 'Hey, let's try to see how high we can get.'

"But maintaining your speed throughout the game is really what's indicative of your team, right? ... This year's team, we're able to cover more yardage at a higher speed and that's what we threw at them. There's a few guys that may not have hit 22 (mph) in the summer, but they're hitting 21 (mph) longer, for more reps and at a longer distance. We think that's what's going to benefit us better."

When asked about feats of athleticism from younger players that have caught his attention, Sowders pointed to 6-1, 200-pound wide receiver CJ Brown. The sophomore ran with the first team in Friday's fastball period of practice. Brown effectively took the spot of injured Stanford transfer Ismael Cisse, one of the trio of first-team receivers in an April scrimmage.

"CJ Brown's had a really good summer, really, really impressed with CJ," Sowders said. "He's hit 22 (mph) like five or six times, and we've had eight sessions, or eight weeks, I should say. So very, very consistent. Put on weight. He's up 10 pounds."

During individual work for each position group, namely the receivers, Cisse stretched nearby on the sidelines while wearing a cast to protect his left wrist. He's rehabbing after surgery to repair torn ligaments that Pittman said would likely keep him out for the 2025 season.

Sowders was also impressed with Julian Neal's lifting capability -- another example of older, developed players still making physical strides. Neal, a 6-2, 208-pound defensive back, transferred from Fresno State, where he spent the last four seasons. The strength coach said he can power clean and bench press 315 pounds and squat 500 pounds, going along with his 38 1/2-inch vertical and nearly 12-foot broad jump. He has topped at 21 mph.

"He told me, the last week, that this is the best he's felt, this is the highest he's been able to perform," Sowders said. "I'm saying that because it's a fifth-year guy. You come in, you put the work in, you reap your rewards. ... Rodney Hill has had a really good summer, too. He ran 21.9 (mph) something, almost 22. He only hit 21 once or twice last summer. He's up in weight, too."

Neal played cornerback with the second team during Friday's fastballs, while Hill did not get reps with the first three teams. Nor did sophomore Braylen Russell, who swapped places on the depth chart from that April scrimmage with redshirt senior AJ Green on Friday. Cam Settles earned third-team reps behind Green.

Pittman said the running backs were one of the highlighted position battles for camp.

The 6-1, 238-pound Russell suffered a minor MCL injury to his knee in the scrimmage. It didn't require surgery and after about four months he was healthy on the practice fields. When asked about concern over Russell losing weight, given his bruiser style, Sowders showed none. He was actually more eager to see the sophomore in action.

"But the best ability is availability, right?" he said. "Being able to repeat it over and over and over and over. I'm not sure if y'all remember, but the Mississippi State game, he kind of strained his hamstring. Well, that's the fastest he had ever ran since he had been here.

"A point of emphasis in the spring and summer is we have to repeat your speeds over and over and over, so when you do get that breakout run, you don't have the tissue and the strain on the hamstring like that. But you can't just coast, coast and when it's time to go, go, go. That's not how this league works. But his body fat has dropped."

In the present era of frequent transfers, the priority for Sowder and his staff when taking in new players is to evaluate. That includes freshmen. They're not as familiar with their bodies and assuming isn't worth the short time it may save. So they take weeks to evaluate and then turn it into stages of progression, which can also vary by factors such as age.

"Because some guys, we get for six months, seven months," he said. "Some guys, like your high school kids, like an Antonio Jordan, hopefully we get him four ... so it's kind of a skew."

Transfers like Larry Worth III are apparently an anomaly. The versatile defensive back made five starts in 2024 after transferring from Jacksonville State. Asked why eventual contributors can slip through the recruiting cracks, Sowders offered potential reasons, such as where they're from, the level of competition they play at and specific builds that colleges are looking for.

"When Larry was coming out, a lot of people liked him," Sowders said. "But it's like, 'Well, where do we play him? Well, what is he?' I don't know, but dude jumps 11-4, runs 21 (mph), he's 225 (pounds), jumped 40 (inches). I mean, I'm going to find a spot for him, right? That's kind of what we've done here."

Worth added with a grin after Friday's practice, "Oh yeah, I bounce around. You know. You're going to see that every day."

Matt Byrne is the Bob Holt Razorback Reporter, named in honor of the longtime reporter who covered University of Arkansas sports. This position is funded by the ADG Community Journalism Project.