The Arkansas Razorbacks showed flashes of brilliance during a dominant non-conference stretch to open the 2014 season, and eventually they broke through and carried that success into SEC play, snapping a 17-game conference losing skid with back to back shutouts of ranked opponents.

The Hogs closed the year with 7 victories including one of the SEC’s most convincing bowl performances, but unfortunately that 2014 team has lost some tremendous talents in the form of seniors and early entrants into the NFL Draft.

If Arkansas wishes to build on its success from last season, it will need to rely heavily on these five players when SEC action kicks off again this fall:

T-1. RB Jonathan Williams: The highlight of the Hogs’ offseason actually took place on the eve of their Texas Bowl victory in late-December, when Williams announced he was returning to Arkansas for his senior season in lieu of entering the NFL Draft a year early. Williams ran for 1,190 yards and 12 touchdowns, ranking fourth in the SEC in both categories, and he would’ve posted even better numbers had he not shared time evenly with fellow superstar tailback Alex Collins (see below).

T-1. RB Alex Collins: Unlike Williams, Collins was a sophomore in 2014, meaning there was no questioning whether or not he’d be back at Arkansas for his junior season in 2015. Nevertheless, the Razorbacks are thrilled to have him back, as he also ran for 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns, finishing fifth in the conference in yards and tying Williams for fourth in touchdowns. He and Williams are expected to split carries once again (Williams earned 211 in 2014 and Collins earned 204), and that time-share should keep both backs healthy and productive all season.

3. TE Hunter Henry: Like the aforementioned tailbacks, Henry had to split time at the tight end position with A.J. Derby in 2014, but now that Derby has graduated and is moving on to a potential NFL career, it’s Henry’s time to shine in an offense that makes great use of the tight end. At 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, Henry has the frame of a prototypical tight end, and while he’s more than capable as a blocker he’s also an excellent route runner and pass catcher, making him a valuable asset in the Razorbacks’ passing game, especially in play-action situations created by the team’s tandem of 1,000-yard backs.

4. LB Brooks Ellis: Ellis was hampered by injuries in 2014 and was at times overshadowed by fellow defensive stars like Trey Flowers, Darius Philon and Martrell Spaight, but with all three of those players on their way to the NFL, Ellis appears to be on the short list of potential leaders on the 2015 Arkansas defense. He’s an instinctive player who has proven to be an excellent run stopper (72 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles in 2014), but he’s also capable of playing in coverage, and that versatility will go a long way for an Arkansas defense losing a tremendous amount of talent in the front seven.

5. CB Jared Collins: It may seem hard to believe that a starting cornerback who failed to record a single interception in 2014 could be on the short list of key players for the 2015 season, but Collins is far and away the most talented player returning to the Razorbacks’ secondary this fall. His 53 tackles last year were more than most other cornerbacks in the SEC, and his 4 tackles for loss and forced fumble show he’s not only great at tracking down ball-carriers but a playmaker in doing so. And for those who think his lack of a pick indicates a lack of abilities in coverage, his 13 passes defended beg to differ.