Arkansas football returns two of the highest-graded edge rushers in SEC, per PFF

Pro Football Focus (PFF) released a graphic depicting the highest-graded returning edge rushers in the SEC. Arkansas football has two on the list.

Barely squeezing onto the list is Landon Jackson, with a 75.7 grade from PFF. The 6-foot-7-inch bulldozer might be the lowest grade on the list, but arguably, he's the most important returning player on the team. The only major hit the defensive line took was Trajan Jeffcoat running out of eligibility, so most of the production there rolled over to this season.

Jackson was also a Shoo-in for the 2024 NFL draft despite Arkansas's overall record. Instead, he stayed with Arkansas. Anytime a coach can convince a player bound for the league to stay, it's a victory. When Jackson announced his decision to return, he said it was because he needed to "finish his career off a lot better" than 4-8. "Four wins was not acceptable. At all," he said. Of course, for the Razorbacks, Jackson returning to Arkansas could play a pivotal role in pushing the Hogs back to a respectable record.

The other Arkansas player on PFF's high-graded rankings is returning to college football, but he isn't a returning player for Arkansas. It's Anton Juncaj. The transfer from Albany obliterated the FCS in 2023, racking up 55 tackles, 34 solo, 21.5 tackles for loss (118 yards), 15 sacks, and three pass deflections. Sure, it's against FCS competition, but those are still gaudy numbers to put up at any level.

With a grade of 91.6, Juncaj leads the SEC's edge rushers going into the 2024 season. How much of that translates to the SEC remains to be seen, but he seemed to hold his own against the first-team offensive line in the spring game.