Credit Bret Bielema for making ‘Calling the Hogs’ meaningful again.

Bielema has spent the last several weeks feeding into the momentum seized by his team at the end of last season, a dominant stronghold defensively over the final month that concluded with a pummeling of rival Texas in Houston.

The 2015 Razorbacks are long removed from the squad that lost 17 consecutive SEC games in the Western Division cellar and their coaching staff is telling the fanbase to take notice:

After emerging from Bobby Petrino’s extensive wreckage to win three games over their last four contests in Bielema’s second season including consecutive shutouts of nationally-ranked LSU and Ole Miss, the Razorbacks will likely be listed in the ‘receiving votes’ category when fall practice begins — a far cry and commendable turnaround from when Bielema arrived.

Bielema isn’t the only staff member hyping this year’s team.

Last week, new offensive coordinator Dan Enos said he was impressed by what he has seen from multi-year returning starter Brandon Allen at quarterback, a rising senior who is known more for facilitating Arkansas’ run-heavy scheme than beating the opposition through the air.

Most have said an elite passer is what the Razorbacks have missed on a team that seems to have the right pieces elsewhere. Enos believes Allen is that guy.

Oft-criticized heading into his junior campaign last fall after tossing 10 picks with a SEC West-low 49.6 completion percentage in 2013, Allen responded with renewed confidence after a solid fall practice with a 4:1 touchdown to interception ratio for the much-improved Razorbacks.

At Central Michigan, Enos called plays as the Chippewas’ head coach and his offenses found success in the passing game with four 3,000-yard seasons in five years. He won’t reinvent the wheel at Arkansas, but Bielema has said the Razorbacks plan to have a more balanced attack this fall.

So where does Arkansas fall in what’s expected to be a competitive Western Division? On paper, the Razorbacks have enough coming back to compete for a title with dual 1,000-yard rushers Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams along with a veteran-led, above average secondary.

If Arkansas can answer questions in the front seven following the departures of Trey Flowers, Darius Philon and Martrell Spaight, nine wins is an achievable goal. Late-game failures kept the Razorbacks away from last season’s championship goals, but close losses were also a necessary reminder that the turnaround doesn’t come easy.

Bielema believes in this year’s group and so should you.