Robb Smith is the star of the Arkansas defense.

Who, you might ask?

Had the Razorbacks finished with a better overall record last season, their first-year defensive coordinator would’ve been in line for several national assistant coach of the year honors for the work he accomplished on his side of the football.

Smith arrived with little fanfare, but quickly established continuity on a unit that soared above preseason expectations, limiting Top 10 teams Alabama, Mississippi State and Ole Miss (shutout) to 31 total points while also blanking LSU, another SEC elite ranked 17th at the time, and humiliating Texas during the postseason.

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Arkansas’ third DC in three seasons was challenged with the task of revamping a defense that didn’t finish higher than 9th in the SEC over three previous years and provide Bret Bielema’s ball-control offense with a boost of confidence knowing immense production wasn’t always necessary.

This fall, Smith has the demanding task of replacing the quarterback of his defense, two skilled pass rushers and a ballhawk at the back end. Arkansas returns seven starters, but the holes left are quite sizable.

Darius Philon was the easy choice to step up in the absence of Trey Flowers and Martrell Spaight for 2015, but the draft-eligible sophomore surprisingly departed early in January, leaving Smith with issues up front.

There’s two rising juniors who will assume substantial roles this fall — defensive tackle Taiwan Johnson and linebacker Brooks Ellis. The pair combined for 98 tackles — 13.5 behind the line of scrimmage — during the 2014 campaign. Smith will lean on both during spring practice to show others the ropes and lead by example, qualities Flowers and Spaight handled quite well.

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For the most part, the Razorbacks controlled the line of scrimmage for the first time in several years under the direction of Smith and forced the issue up front with a consistent pass rush. It’s what made Arkansas a quality football team by season’s end and has many in Fayetteville, notably Bielema, thinking this year’s team is division-title capable.

Smith helped the Razorbacks generate 24 takeaways (sixth-most in the SEC) in his first season, essential to their success. After starting 3-4 with bowl hopes in jeopardy, Arkansas held a plus-10 advantage in turnover margin over its final six games (4-2) to finish with its first winning campaign since 2011.

SEC coordinator hires have dominated offseason headlines, but Arkansas, right behind Alabama and ahead of Georgia, may have the league’s most underrated leader on defense.

Smith will prove it again this fall.