Six questions about Texas A&M football - Arkansas with Austin Farmer of Razorbackers

Gig 'Em Gazette: I've been impressed with the rush defense numbers for this Arkansas team. I know the competition hasn't been great so far, though. Do you think they're for real as an elite run defense?

Farmer: I would hold off on the elite tag for the moment, but the Hogs’ front seven have done their job well. I’m as surprised as you are because I thought their strength would be the pass rush before the season started.

Georgia Transfer Xavian Sorey and the other linebackers have been solid. They have great gap discipline, which is important when you have a defensive coordinator who loves to blitz. And the defensive line really makes it easy for them to do their jobs.

Gig 'Em Gazette: What is your biggest concern for the Hogs in this game?

Farmer: My biggest concern is that Arkansas won’t be able to pass enough to keep Texas A&M honest. The backbone of this team is its rushing game. If the Aggies can load the box every down, Arkansas won’t walk out of Arlington with a win. Green can be dangerous through the air, but the last two weeks haven’t given fans much confidence.

Gig 'Em Gazette: If Sam Pittman is out the door at some point this season, do you foresee Bobby P getting a shot at head man?

Farmer: This is a hard one. I feel like Bobby Petrino returning to Arkansas as its head coach would probably be one of the biggest stories in college football history. I mean, fiction writers couldn’t have written a better character arc. However, I’m not sure if he has the drive to be a head coach in the NIL and transfer portal era.

More than once, he’s talked about how thankful he is to just be an offensive coordinator. If Arkansas fans and the boosters had their way, then yes. He certainly has a chance, but the board of trustees would have to green-light the hire, which might be difficult given Petrino’s past.

Thanks again to Austin for doing this Q&A! If you want to read the answers I rendered to his questions, you can find that over at Razorbackers. BTHOArky!