A few weeks ago, Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman said he had “no indication” that the Razorbacks were going to make any coaching changes this offseason, offering some welcome stability heading into 2025.
But obviously, plans change quickly on the coaching carousel. The Hogs will have a vacancy after all, as secondary coach Deron Wilson is reportedly taking the defensive coordinator job at Georgia State. The 34-year-old spent two years with the Hogs coaching the defensive backs alongside co-defensive coordinator Marcus Woodson, and served as a quality control assistant at Florida prior to that.
His first season in Fayetteville was a marked success, as Arkansas finished 4th in the SEC in passing defense while led by Dwight McGlothern, who ended up publicly burning a bridge with Sam Pittman a year later. The secondary was hardly at fault for the team’s miserable 4-8 campaign. In 2024, however, the unit saw a severe dropoff with McGlothern, who’d departed for the NFL, or Jaylon Braxton, who missed most of the season with an injury.
The result was a secondary that finished 110th nationally and dead last in the SEC in passing defense, allowing 246.9 yards per game through the air. While Wilson’s exit obviously adds another inconvenience to Pittman’s to-do list, it also presents an opportunity for a promising upgrade to the defensive staff.
With that in mind, here are some realistic replacement candidates to lead the Hogs’ secondary alongside Woodson.
Travis Williams’ Tie to Miraculous Auburn Player-Turned-Coach
One connection that defensive coordinator Travis Willams can leverage to land a home run hire is Houston defensive backs coach Zac Etheridge. He led the Cougars’ secondary to finish the season ranked 2nd in the conference and 29th nationally in pass defense, allowing just 188.8 yards per game in the usually score-happy Big 12. Prior to that, Etheridge spent three years as an assistant at Auburn, his alma mater.
That’s where he crossed paths with Williams, who was a graduate assistant for the Tigers while Etheridge was playing for the Tigers in 2009-10. If anyone can attest to Etheridge’s tenacity and devotion to the game, it’s Williams – who would have been watching from the sidelines as the defensive back suffered a life-threatening neck injury against Ole Miss on a most scary Halloween Day in 2009.
“Etheridge had two options: surgery that likely would have ended his playing career, or three months of wearing neck brace 24/7,” wrote Tom Green of AL.com. “With a return to the field even a possibility, Etheridge chose the latter.”
After an extensive rehab process that lasted nine months, he miraculously returned to the field to captain Auburn to the BCS National Title. During that campaign, Etheridge returned a fumble 47 yards for a touchdown against Arkansas.
With his improbable playing career now in the books, the 36-year-old is working his way up the coaching ranks. Williams will surely give his former player and rising coaching star a ring to fill Arkansas’ vacancy.
Other Candidates to Replace Deron Wilson
If Pittman wants to stay true to his mantra of “embracing the Hog,” then he’s got an opportunity to bring a former Arkansas standout back home. Rohan Gaines was a Razorback safety from 2012-15, totaling 234 tackles during his career. The Georgia native has since moved into coaching, and is currently serving as a defensive analyst at Auburn overseeing the cornerbacks after spending some time at Texas A&M under current Auburn DC DJ Durkin. The Tigers ranked a respectable 54th in the nation in passing defense this season.
Arkansas’ last hire in the secondary came from the support staff of an SEC school, so Gaines moving back to Arkansas would place him a same career path to Wilson. Of course, the outgoing secondary coach had previous experience as a coordinator at McNeese State before going to Florida, while Gaines has only ever been a lower-level staffer.
One option from the Group of Five ranks that the Razorbacks have firsthand experience with is UAB safeties coach CJ Cox. The Blazers’ shutdown secondary ranked 17th nationally in pass defense. Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green felt the brunt of that, as he struggled mightily against UAB. He managed just 161 passing yards on 26 attempts, and the Hogs won by only 10 points.
Cox also has a connection in the building already in UAB wide receiver Kam Shanks, who is transferring to Arkansas. He could surely play a role in enticing Cox to step up to the SEC. Arkansas was also hot on the heels of Blazer safety Adrian Maddox, though he seems destined for Georgia at this point.
Louisiana Tech cornerbacks coach Keelon Brookins is another promising option that visited Razorback Stadium this past season. LA Tech had a losing record this season, but the Bulldogs’ secondary ranked 7th nationally in passing defense, allowing just 172.8 yards per game through the air.
The Razorbacks know that unit’s abilities well, as they were shut out by the Bulldogs well into the second quarter of their matchup this past season. Green finished with just 6.0 passing yards per attempt against LA Tech.
Tulane defensive backs coach JJ McCleskey’s unit ranked 14th nationally in pass defense this past season, and led the American Conference in interceptions and turnovers forced in 2023. The 54-year-old has spent the last six seasons with the Green Wave, and spent this season working under head coach Jon Sumrall, a defensive savant.
Arkansas Football Coaching Staff
So far, Deron Wilson is the only departure from the Arkansas football staff. If the other nine assistants remain in place, here’s what the Razorbacks’ on-field staff will look like in 2025:
- Bobby Petrino – offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
- Kolby Smith – running backs
- Ronnie Fouch – wide receivers
- Morgan Turner – tight ends
- Eric Mateos – offensive line
- Travis Williams – defensive coordinator/linebackers
- Marcus Woodson – co-defensive coordinator/secondary
- Deke Adams – defensive line
- Scott Fountain – special teams coordinator
- OPEN (vacated by Deron Wilson)
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See Zac Etheridge’s incredible story here:
Inside Arkansas talks Deron Wilson’s departure:
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