Arkansas defensive back Jaheim Singletary is prepared to take that next step in his third season with the Hogs
Entering his third season at Arkansas, redshirt junior cornerback Jaheim Singletary will be one of the most tenured returners on the Razorback defense for a secondary that also has a new face leading the room in Nick Perry, who was hired from the NFL last offseason.
As a unit, this is the best group of cornerbacks that Singletary has lined up next to during his time with the Hogs.
“I would say, yes,” Singletary said regarding the collective talent in the Arkansas secondary during a press conference on Tuesday following practice five of fall camp. “The size, the athleticism, just a lot to go with, I would say, just being around them it just feels so much better. Like we bond so well, and it’s way more positive. Like I said first, this year is going to be very good.”
Jaheim Singletary ready to take next step
Singletary arrived in Fayetteville from Georgia following the 2022 season, where he played in three games as a freshman and was on the Bulldogs’ roster with current Arkansas linebacker Xavian Sorey Jr.
The 6-foot-2, 201-pound Jacksonville (Fla.) native was a five-star prospect per Rivals, but Singletary has yet to reach his full potential in college. He played in 20 games over the past two seasons with 10 starts and is coming off of his best season thus far after logging 25 tackles, including 14 solo, along with two pass breakups and nabbed an interception.
With the majority of last season’s Arkansas cornerbacks now in the NFL or playing for other teams, the new guys who came in during the offseason have adjusted well.
“Having them has been fun,” Singletary said. “Great competition, it feels like the room is just one. And we’re all older so it’s just a bond. We’re connecting so well, I love that for this year.”
The group will not only be tight-knit, but it is one with no shortage of length as the majority of Arkansas’ defensive backs, including Singletary, are over six feet tall.
“I’d say what makes us good is just like the length and wingspan like we do a lot on the field” Singletary said. “We cover a lot of grass, play a lot more man to man, just a lot more things, and we could be much more trustworthy to the coaches.”
If the cohesiveness and talent comes together, the coaching staff will feel more comfortable calling man coverages, which will ultimately open opportunities for the defense.
“Yeah, different schemes from previous years, running a lot more man and just like it goes together as a whole,” Singletary said. “Like D-line eat, backend cover, we all work as one.”
On that same note, corners are expected be versatile.
“You’ve got to learn how to play both sides,” Singletary mentioned. “You never know where the ball’s going to be spotted during the games.”
Dreams of the next level
For now, the goal is to build on a seven-win season, but football players – especially at the Power Four level – are always working to get to the NFL.
With Perry as his position coach, Singletary is now being mentored by someone who not only had a brief stint at the highest level, but also coached in The League from 2021-2024 with Perry’s most recent stop being the Seattle Seahawks.
“Coach P came, man, he’s got the energy. I love Coach P’s energy, and what he lets us do. He lets us be ourselves,” Singletary said. “He’s very young, so it’s more relatable. We can relate to him way more. And just the swag he brings, the energy, I just love it. I love it every day. Every day he comes with it.
“Just from him being (having) his experience in the league, him taking us to the gyms and tools to use being on the younger level trying to get there to that point, it’s awesome. We are learning stuff like others don’t have in their toolbox yet. It’s been good doing things like he was coaching in the league helping us with that, it’s been good for the whole summer.”
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