Seniors Xavian Sorey and Stephen Dix lead fresh crop of LBs ready to blossom by the fall

If there is one level the Arkansas Razorback defense can consider a strength going into the 2025 football season, it's at the linebacker position where starters Stephen Dix Jr. and Xavian Sorey Jr. return from last year. But, just like up front on the defensive line and on the back end with the secondary, the head of the defensive unit has concerns about depth and inexperience.

Thankfully Spring is the time where green things grow and blossom, so Razorback defensive coordinator Travis Williams feels the top of the linebacker depth charter — all of which are four star recruits or higher — should emerge as the strength of his unit.

Who is the Mack?

Williams is a former All-SEC linebacker at Auburn who had a stint in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons. In his defensive system where two linebackers are mostly used today in order to match up with three-wide reciever offensive sets, his defense is captained by the strong side "Mack" linebacker with a more versatile "Mike" linebacker playing the weak side.

Dix will once again captain the defense from the Mack position. He recorded 72 total tackles last season to finish third on the team behind Sorey, who had 99 and departed safety Doneiko Slaughter. Dix also had two and a half tackles for a loss of 14 yards and two and a half sacks.

"Stephen is our interior inside linebacker, but there are times he’s going to be flexed out depending on what the other team gives us," Williams said of the Florida native who previously played at Florida State and Marshall. "We usually go field boundary but now we are doing some things where we are matching with the tightend so we are doing some different things. 

"But we want Stephen in the middle quarterbacking the defense. Then we want Sorey outside where you can blitz with him and do some different things with him. If you could draw it up perfectly, you can get guys that can play the same position no matter where the ball is at or where guys can rotate different sides and that type of deal."

Mike Check One-Two

Sorey — a former five star recruit out of high school who transferred from Georgia — had 99 tackles last season to go with two sacks and an interception. He and Dix give Arkansas a pair of proven SEC starters to lead a young defense with unproven talent all around them.

Williams says he believes Sorey will get an opportunity to prove himself on the next level once his college career is done.

"He just understands the scheme and the knowledge of what we are doing," Williams said. "Not only is he asking questions, he’s actually helping the young players on the scheme that we have. We’re seeing that growth and we have that conversation a lot. I tell him all the time. 'This time next year you are going to be in those rooms and those GMs and coaches are going to be asking you these questions.'

"He’s become like a student of the game. He’s in my office all the time asking questions. He’s kind of getting in my mind a little bit trying to understand what we are trying to do and what plays we are calling."

Between the two returning starters, the Razorback defense can count on the expected leadership they will undoubtedly need from the linebacker position.

"I think we both had the experience of playing together and as the season went on we both bring that tenacity it takes," Dix said. "We’re both hard-hitting linebackers and we like to get after the ball and we both love playing football and playing together cohesively. 

"With him and me being back and going through the spring we are just going to build on that chemistry so we can trust each other out there. You’re just going to see us flourishing and blossoming out there on that field for our last ride. I think for us coming back as leaders for the young guys, we are going to be able to set that example so that when they get in the game,  you won’t see a difference in production and it will be amazing."

New Spring Crops

A pair of former four star high school recruits in Tavion Wallace and Bradley Shaw are in line to back up the senior starters. Wallace, a freshman who also hails from Georgia, is in line behind Dix in the middle and Shaw — a sophomore from Alabama — is expected to back up Sorey at the offside linebacker spot. Shaw recorded four tackles a sack in last season as a freshman.

Both Shaw and freshman linebacker Wyatt Simmons from Searcy, Ark., have been limited by injuries this spring, but are expected to see the field at times during the fall.

Shaw chose to come to Arkansas over offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Missouri, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas A&M — among others.

"I think Brad Shaw is going to be a good football player for us," Williams said. "Wyatt (Simmons) as well is going through a little hamstring. It’s about seeing the guys get the reps and seeing what they can do but having Stephen and Xavian and Shaw coming along because I consider him as a starter as well right now.

"Tavion has been running with the twos and he’s been doing some really good things for us. It's always good to see the high school guys go through spring ball because once the summer starts it’s almost like they’ve been here a year. It’s good to get them out there and and assist them and see them move around. He looks like an SEC linebacker. He has the size and the length that you are looking for. He’s also a really smart kid off the field as well. I’m very very pleased with him."

Wallace chose Arkansas over Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi State, South Carolina and Southern California among others. Meanwhile, Shaw had offers from the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Florida State.

The other young linebacker in the mix this spring is freshman Justin Logan. The former four-star prospect out of Marietta Georgia came to Arkansas despite offers from rival SEC programs like Missouri, Mississippi State, South Carolina and Vanderbilt.

"We are just trying to figure out the best way to get the best 11 on the field in different schemes," Williams said. "He does have pass rush ability and he’s very, very smart. He will play the mack, the money, the penny, he can edge rush. He can do different things. So I have to be careful not to give him too many things because it can slow a guy down. We’ve got to get him on the field. 

Simmons — a three star prospect coming out of Harding Academy — had scholarship offers from Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Tennesee among others.

Dix expressed confidence in the young linebackers and thinks they have the ability to help the Razorbacks compete in the SEC this upcoming season and in the future.

"Shaw came from a system in high school where they did a lot of what we do now, so that puts him ahead light years of where most freshmen are. I think he really has a chance to separate himself and take a huge role this year," Dix said last week. "Tavion is just learning his way as a freshman. We’ve all been there, but I think it shows the strength overall in that room. The guys are developing and getting better because they’ve got to be prepared to play on Saturday’s when we need them."