Bret Bielema is steadily building a deep program, as Arkansas used just nine of its 25 freshman from the class of 2015 this season.

That’s not to say the class didn’t leave its mark, appearing in a combined 91 games, including 31 starts. Of those freshman, five started at least one game, including Dre Greenlaw, Kendrick Jackson, Jeremiah Ledbetter, Ryan Pulley and Dominique Reed.

PLAYER POSITION STARTS GAMES PLAYED
Hjalte Froholdt DT 0 10
Jeremiah Ledbetter DT 12 13
Zach Rogers OG 0 3
Rawleigh Williams III RB 0 7
Dominique Reed WR 6 12
Dre Greenlaw S 11 13
Kendrick Jackson ILB 1 11
Ryan Pulley CB 1 10
Willie Sykes CB 0 12

OFFENSIVE IMPACT

Only three of the 11 offensive players in Arkansas’ 2015 class saw the field as true freshmen. Of them, Dominique Reed was the sole player to start a game, receiving the nod in six games. Reed caught 28 passes for 535 yards, third-best on the team, and 6 touchdowns.

Rawleigh Williams III saw his debut season cut short after seven contests due to a severe neck injury that will threaten to cut into his sophomore season. He finished with 254 yards and a touchdown. Offensive guard Zach Rogers saw action in three games with no starts.

DEFENSIVE IMPACT

Jeremiah Ledbetter and Dre Greenlaw asserted themselves in the Razorbacks’ starting lineup, combining to start 23 games. Ledbetter tallied 2 sacks and 55 tackles, 7.5 of them for a loss. Greenlaw switched from safety to linebacker and posted 95 tackles (3.5 TFL), second on the team.

The move was made possible by a deep corps of freshmen in the secondary where Ryan Pulley and Willie Sykes played in 10 and 12 games, respectively. It was Pulley’s interception that sealed Arkansas’ Liberty Bowl win over Kansas State.

REDSHIRTS

C.J. O’Grady made the biggest headlines among Arkansas’ 16 redshirt freshmen when the tight end was arrested for a DWI after being pulled over for a faulty taillight on his scooter.

Bielema first suspended O’Grady and then redshirted him, citing the deep class that features two other redshirt tight ends. The freshman class is also deep in the secondary and defensive line with three players apiece.

OVERVIEW

The 2015 class set a tone for Arkansas’ future with several key pieces, specifically on defense in Jeremiah Ledbetter and Dre Greenlaw. The class will also feature Ty Storey, a four-star prospect who will be given his shot to replace Brandon Allen at quarterback.

The third class under Bielema is a testament to the family-atmosphere-type program he’s building in Fayetteville. That class ranked No. 23 in the nation and No. 11 in the SEC and set the tone for even more improvement in 2016 as a prime conference destination for recruits. This year’s class currently ranks No. 22 nationally and No. 9 in the conference, with a good chance for improvement on Feb. 3’s signing day.