Arkansas football is overachieving with high midseason grades

Defense: A-

The most surprising part about Arkansas's team is the defense. Holy Cow, have they played spectacularly, or what?

The defense has done enough every game to help Arkansas win, save their one bad performance against UAB. Sure, you could throw the loss against Oklahoma State in there, too, but the Offense gave up a pick-six and more turnovers deep in their own territory. You can't expect the defense to overcome those circumstances that many times in one game.

Apart from those games, they are really good defense. They've given up an average of only 16 points a game in SEC play and 19 throughout the season. They're also a top-5 rushing defense in the SEC, giving up 106.5 yards a game. They're worse in the back end, giving up 215 yards a game passing (No. 11 in the SEC), but the difference between No. 7 and No. 12 is 15.8 yards per game.

While they are statistically the worst part of Arkansas's defense, they have been clutch through SEC games, despite playing the majority of the season without star Jaylon Braxton. Still, they've recorded six interceptions so far, and through SEC play, they've only given up an average of 202 yards through the air.

The most disappointing position group up until the Texas A&M game was the D-line, but they've come together. They were one of the worst teams in the FBS at pressure rate, but now they've reached the quarterback nine times in the last three games to bring their season total to 14 (tied for seventh in the SEC).

The linebackers are the most impressive group. They can do it all. They can blitz, play in coverage, and attack the run with ease, and it's not just the former five-star Georgia transfer, Xavian Sorey. Stephen Dix Jr., Brad Spence, and Anthony Switzer have all balled out, counting for 101 of the team's 346 tackles.

Next: Special Teams