If Arkansas wants its front seven to pick up where it left off last season, it needs an excellent season from Brooks Ellis.

At 6-foot-2 and 237 pounds, Ellis is shifting to the weakside linebacker position previously occupied by Martrell Spaight, the SEC’s leading tackler in 2014. He must do so while also adjusting to life without Randy Shannon, the former Razorbacks linebackers coach and now a co-defensive coordinator at Florida.

“Coach Smith came up and asked if I wanted to replace Spaight (at ‘Will’ linebacker),” Ellis said, according to 247Sports. “I said I’m all for it, let’s do it. And that’s what happened.”

RELATED: Ellis capable of replicating Spaight’s production for Hogs

It’s hard to blame Ellis for his willingness to move, given what he saw Spaight accomplish last season (10.5 tackles for loss). Ellis finished second on the team in tackles in ’14 despite missing two games, making two interceptions and forcing two fumbles, but he’ll have more opportunities to blitz and showcase his versatility.

“Just being out in space a little bit more,” Ellis said of the differences in responsibility, according to 247Sports. “Just being able to make a little more plays. Obviously Spaight took advantage of that. He made all the plays he should have and that’s why I like it.”

Ellis has played Mike linebacker “pretty much my entire life,” and it will be an adjustment at times. However, it fits his skill set perhaps even better, as he excels in drop coverage as an instinctual player and sometimes struggles to disengage from blocks.

Josh Williams is a natural fit at the Mike, as he proved in making 14 tackles for an injured Ellis against Georgia last season.

Particularly during the second half of last season, the Razorbacks’ front seven bludgeoned opposing offenses, always knowing where to line up and spearheaded by the feared “Bermuda Triangle.” Ellis must complete the seamless transition while ensuring there’s no pre-snap slippage despite some new faces.

In Fayetteville, Ark., to make sure that happens is Vernon Hargreaves.

“I really like him as a coach. He has a different style of coaching from Coach Shannon. I like both coaches, but he’s getting us right and making sure we’re on top of things,” Ellis said. “Making sure we’re accountable for each other and he’s doing a good job. He’s a little more in your face (than Shannon). It’s a change of pace, but he’s getting us right and we’re getting better. It’s fun to be around him.”

If the Razorbacks defense continues to propel the program’s resurgence during the Bret Bielema era, credit Ellis’ leadership and production at a new position.