Jalen Catalon is fired up about this year’s Arkansas team, and points to several reasons why, starting with the coach and the quarterback.

Catalon in December announced plans to return to Arkansas for another year. On Friday, he spoke with 92.1 The Ticket about what the Razorbacks have this season and his expectations.

Catalon made 2 interceptions this season, and 46 tackles for the Razorbacks, but he missed the final 6 games of the regular season following shoulder surgery. Catalon, one of 5 team captains for the Razorbacks, has recorded 151 tackles (3.5 TFL), 9 pass breakups, 5 interceptions and 3 forced fumbles in 17 career games at Arkansas. Catalon said he got stronger in the mental aspects of the game while he was out, and got a jump on the offseason workouts as well.

“I asked myself ‘What kind of a legacy do I want to leave here?’ And I don’t think 8-4 is good enough. We have to be better than that this year,” he said, per Josh Bertaccini. “Coach Pittman stabilized this program from day 1. He’s not big on talk. All he ever wanted was for us to go to work and get 1 percent better every day. He’s been so consistent with that.”

As for the Razorbacks quarterback, Catalon said KJ Jefferson is a leader.

“KJ Jefferson is a dog. He’s a baller,” Catalon said. “Every single day—with his work ethic—he sets the tone for the rest of the team.”