ATLANTA — Razorbacks’ Xavian Sorey Jr. Embracing the Grind, Emerging as Defensive Leader
On top of adding 10 pounds of muscle this offseason, Arkansas linebacker Xavian Sorey Jr. has spent the summer locked in the film room — not just watching highlights, but focusing on his self-described “bad plays.”
It’s a tactic encouraged by Razorbacks defensive coordinator Travis Williams, who stitched together a reel of Sorey’s mistakes to help sharpen his instincts ahead of fall camp.
“I’m going to be honest, I don’t remember a whole lot from that day,” Sorey said at SEC Media Days last week, reflecting on his standout performance in the team’s April scrimmage. “But I know I was out there having fun.”
Fun came in the form of dominance. The redshirt senior from Campbellton, Fla., unofficially led the team with three sacks and an interception during that scrimmage at Reynolds Razorback Stadium — a preview of what Arkansas fans hope is a breakout season.
Now standing at 6-foot-3 and 231 pounds, Sorey’s blend of size and speed has him primed to be one of the Razorbacks’ most disruptive defenders. He’s embraced the coaching staff’s tough-love approach, using it as fuel.
“He’s got all the tools — range, quickness, physicality,” Williams said. “What’s exciting is how hungry he is to correct the little things.”
With SEC play looming, Sorey is positioning himself not only as a difference-maker on the field but as a veteran voice in a locker room eager to bounce back.
“Every day I walk in with something to prove,” Sorey said. “This is the year to make it count.”
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