Category: Arkansas football

Can Arkansas start 3-0 for first time in five years?

Arkansas vs the Sun Belt has caused a nightmare or two for Razorbacks fans in recent years. Georgia Southern isn’t a pushover this weekend for Hogs.

Is it a warm-up game or a trap game? Is last week what Arkansas really is or was the hype a one-time thing?

Most importantly, can this last into SEC play?

Arkansas football is one of the highest programs in college football this week after making the day for college football fans in literally 49 of the 50 states in Week 2 dismantling big, bad Texas, 40-21. The Hogs were darlings, even in national media. Coach Sam Pittman drew praise for his kinship with players. Quarterback KJ Jefferson went from inexperienced to brimming with potential. The name a defensive player other than Grant Morgan or Jalen Catalon was uttered.

Yes, it was a mighty fine week in the Boston Mountains.

Pittman will tell you, though, that week is over. And a loss in Week 3 would obliterate all the good will created in the last six days.

Arkansas hosts Georgia Southern on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. The Hogs have never played the team from the southern part of the Peach State. Georgia Southern only became an FBS school in 2014. And while the Razorbacks are favored by three-plus touchdowns, GSU isn’t a regular Sun Belt team.

From 1997 to 2012, the Eagles went to five FCS semifinals and played in three FCS national title games. They won two of them. Since arriving in The Belt, they’ve had just two losing seasons. Current coach Chad Lunsford has taken them bowling for three straight years.

Plus, that tricky, ol’ option is their primary offense.

If Arkansas’ defense, ranked No. 28 in total D, can stifle it, the Eagles could be finished before they really start. When Florida Atlantic trounced them last week, the Owls did just that.

And if it happens, those good times will continue. Arkansas will have theoretical momentum (does it really, actually exist?) going into its SEC opener against Texas A&M in Week 4.

My, what a trip that could be.

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Georgia Southern getting closer to full strength for Arkansas game

Arkansas likely to see a different looking Georgia Southern offense than the one that’s shown so far in 2021.

Following their 38-6 loss on Saturday to Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern was probably not looking forward to their trip to Fayetteville.

Especially after seeing what Arkansas did to Texas in front of a ESPN nationally televised audience.

That being said, the Eagles should be getting some key players back in time for Saturday’s 3 p.m. kickoff.

Quarterback Justin Tomlin is now eligible after serving an academic suspension and running back J.D. King is returning from an ACL injury he suffered in Week 7 a year ago.

Return of an old friend

Georgia Southern Director of Athletics Jared Benko worked at Arkansas from 2011-15 as the director of business operations. Arkansas Executive Director of Recruiting and Player Personnel Butler Benton spent the 2020 season at Georgia Southern as the Director of Player Personnel.

Other notes

  • Georgia Southern is 1-13 all-time against current teams from Southeastern Conference. The Eagles’  lone win came against Florida in The Swamp to end the 2013 season.
  • This will be the first of two games against teams from the state of Arkansas this season as the Eagles will host Arkansas State on Oct. 2. Georgia Southern is 3-4 all-time against teams from The Natural State.

 

 

Anthony Brown spurns Alabama, others, commits to Arkansas football

Arkansas picked up a huge commitment from Tennessee high school safety Anthony Brown on Tuesday.

Class of 2022 defensive back Anthony Brown committed Tuesday afternoon to play football for Arkansas next season.

The Milan, Tennessee, safety chose the Razorbacks over Alabama, Oregon, Mississippi State and others. Brown gives Arkansas 19 commits in the Class of 2022 group, including four 4-star players. Coach Sam Pittman’s class is ranked 19th in FBS, per 247Sports.

Brown was on-campus Saturday when Arkansas beat then-No. 15 Texas. It was his third visit to Arkansas.

At Milan, Brown plays running back, quarterback and wide receiver along with defensive back. Pittman and the Hogs recruited him as a safety.

Gabe Brooks, national recruiting analyst for 247Sports, said:

“Owns the requisite height and frame to project as a good-sized safety at the next level,” Brooks wrote. “Lean, athletic build with room to add more mass. Varied on-field experience with three-phase playmaking ability. Could get on the field early as a special teams demon, which he’s shown on his high school’s coverage units. Snaps at running back, receiver, wildcat QB, and safety. Plus athlete on the field who flashes impressive closing speed in pursuit. That speed also manifests at the top end on offense.

 

Why Arkansas’ win over Texas meant everything to Razorback fans

The Razorbacks beating the Longhorns on Saturday gave Hog fans a much deserved reason to celebrate like they never have before.

I arrived at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium at 6am on Saturday morning.

My friends and I began setting up a tailgate in Lot 44 right outside the north side of the stadium. Right in the grassy area next to an empty Hog Town on Maple Street. It was dark, cool, and quiet. We set up tents, put out chairs, fired up the smoker, made sure the Yeti’s had plenty of ice, and had the drinks on the table ready for pouring.

It started out as a normal tailgate for us. But as soon as the sun came up and Hog fans began filtering onto campus, what we had hoped for soon became confirmed:

Saturday was going to be a great day to be a Razorback fan. 

You could just feel it in the air. All week this game had been hyped up by myself and other in sports talk radio. All offseason, every Razorback fan circled this game as the key to a successful season. This was it. This was the game where Sam Pittman and Arkansas can finally show all of College Football that they aren’t a Cinderella story anymore. That they are a legit program that can compete in the SEC.

I talked to Hog fans all day long about what this game meant to them. Every single fan felt confident that they would beat Texas that day. Not because of matchups, coaching philosophies, or even talent levels of either team.

Hog fans just wanted it more.

They wore their hatred for Texas on their sleeve all week long. Touting to everyone that would hear them about why they hate Texas and all things burnt orange. Throwing “horns down” to any and every fan (Razorback or Longhorn) that they saw while walking around the stadium. Arkansas fans wanted to beat Texas as badly as they wanted to breathe.

The energy was building all week long, but Saturday came around the energy turned up to an 11 and built even more. Once the flyover happened during the National Anthem on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, Razorback Stadium was at a fever pitch. Kickoff for the most anticipated game in over a decade had finally arrived in Fayetteville.

Only this time, the Hogs didn’t disappoint.

Arkansas dominated Texas in every part of the game. The Hog offense consistently ran it down Texas’ throat. The Hog defense didn’t give up the big plays and made the Longhorns earn every yard. Even the special teams made plays and went four for four on field goal attempts. It was an all out party in Razorback Stadium and no one left early. Well…except Longhorn fans.

Once the clock hit zero, fans added the cherry on top of a great night by rushing the field. At first I wasn’t keen on the idea, but after being a part of that incredible day in Fayetteville, I changed my mind. It was an emotional ending that had some Hog fans crying tears of joy when it was all said and done. Even I started getting a little teary eyed when I saw the reaction of roughly 76,000 Razorback fans in celebration.

You deserved that Hog fans. You deserved every second of what happened last Saturday. You have been through hell and back as a football fanbase over the past decade. You kept trying to put your faith in coaches and administrators that promised you one thing but did another. You were mocked by national pundits on the regular because of how embarrassing your football team was. It was gut wrenching to see how pathetic your once proud Razorback football program be dragged through the mud year after year.

That all came to an end Saturday against Texas. You’re no longer the butt of every college football joke. You’re now the team that other teams don’t want to play. No team is circling the Razorbacks as an easy win the SEC. They are worried about what the Hogs are capable of if they really get going this season. The Hogs have a long way to go this season, but it could not have gotten off to a better start. I can’t wait to see what Arkansas does once SEC play arrives. It’s going to be one heck of a ride all the way into November.

Soak it in Razorback fans. You’ve earned this feeling.

 

Arkansas fined by SEC for fans rushing field after win over Texas

The Southeastern Conference fined the Arkansas athletic department after Razorbacks fans rushed the field to celebrate 40-21 win over Texas.

This is a check the University of Arkansas athletic department probably won’t mind writing.

The Razorbacks have been fined $100,000 for violating the SEC’s policy on access to competition area after thousands of giddy fans rushed the field at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium following Saturday’s 40-21 upset win over Texas, which was ranked No. 15 in the nation at the time.

Texas players were still on the playing field when fans began pouring out of the grandstands.

The win vaulted Arkansas into the No. 24 spot in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll.

The fine is considered a second violation for the Razorbacks in the eyes of the SEC, with the previous transgression coming when fans rushed the field after the Hogs beat LSU, 17-0, on Nov. 15, 2014.

Such fines are deposited into the SEC Post-Graduate Scholarship Fund, according to the conference. A third offense of the policy, which was adopted in 2004, could cost a school up to $250,000.

In the video below, posted by the Arkansas athletic department, athletic director Hunter Yurachek tells a state trooper: “We’re going to let them come down. We’ll get fined for it but if we don’t let them come down, people will get hurt.”

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Arkansas vs. Texas: Players of the Game

Razorbacks Wire editor E. Wayne and contributor John Nabors give their offensive and defensive players of the game Arkansas’ 40-21 win over Texas.

Coaches like to say it’s a team effort when their teams come away with a win. On Saturday against Texas, Arkansas coach Sam Pittman would be justified in such a proclamation.

The Razorbacks never made the big play against the Longhorns, but they also didn’t need to. Efficiency was the name of the game in a 40-21.

Dominique Johnson wasn’t the top Arkansas running back in the statistics department, but a pair of heads-up plays helped the Hogs along. AJ Green joined him in the backfield with a big game.

Linebacker Grant Morgan made a triumphant return after being ejected last week against Rice for targeting. Defensive tackle John Ridgeway, in his Arkansas debut, stuffed the lanes and collapsed the pocket all night.

Accordingly, they are Razorbacks Wire’s Players of the Week against Texas.

Read editor E. Wayne’s and contributor John Nabors’ reasons for their selections as such below. And be sure to stay with Razorbacks Wire all season long for the best Arkansas coverage.

Hook This, Horns: Arkansas rolls over Texas, 40-21

Arkansas dominated Texas from the opening kick and upset the No. 15 Longhorns, 40-21, on Saturday night.

Arkansas hooked ’em.

The Razorbacks dominated No. 15 Texas from the opening kick Saturday night and sent its longtime rival back to the Lone Star State with a 40-21 loss.

Arkansas limited the Longhorns to just 256 yards of total offense and Texas’ only touchdown came after a Razorbacks turnover in their own territory. Other than that, the the Horns never made it inside the Arkansas 35.

Texas quarterback Hudson Card was under pressure on nearly every drop. Running back Bijan Robinson never got untracked. The Longhorns defense was looked lost.

The combination led to Arkansas holding a 16-0 advantage at halftime. When Texas scored the first touchdown of the second half after KJ Jefferson’s interception on the first Arkansas pass of the second, the ninth-largest crowd in school history went quiet.

On Arkansas next drive, when Jefferson found Tyson Morris for a 46-yard gain, they were back. They wouldn’t go away again. The Hogs scored a field goal on that drive, strip-sacked Texas quarterback Hudson Card on the next and Rocket Sanders took the very next play 26 yards to the house.

The hole was too deep, even if Texas did manage a respectable fourth quarter.

Arkansas is sure to pick up more votes when the Top 25 is released and the Hogs could be ranked for the first time since 2016.

Arkansas-Texas: Stay updated here with 1st half LIVE highlights, summary

Arkansas and Texas live blog with updated summary and stats can be found right here on Razorbacks Wire.

Arkansas and No. 15 Texas are underway inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

If you can’t watch, keep it right here for constant updates every drive of the night.

Special teams aren’t exactly special

A raucous crowd probably didn’t help on the first play as a false start begins Arkansas’ first drive. After the whistle, right tackle Dalton Wagner was gesturing to the crowd to lessen the noise. It was too much as a couple of completed passes later, Arkansas still had to punt.

After a dynamite defensive series, Texas was forced to punt, as well. Problem was that brought on Arkansas special teams.

Punt returner Greg Brooks Jr. inexplicably attempted to field the punt around his own 5 adjacent to the sideline, bobbled it and Texas pounced. Fortunately for the Razorbacks, the Texas player was out of bounds when he recovered and Arkansas kept the ball, starting on its own 4.

Welcome back, Grant

Trelon Smith hit a hole up the middle two plays later to give Arkansas the game’s first first down and putting the Razorbacks on the 19. Freshman running back AJ Green received his first touch of the season, catching a pass in the flat, but ended up a yard short of the marker on third down.

Welcome back, Grant Morgan. The super senior linebacker was the first man to Bijan Robinson on second down as his teammates swarmed the Texas back behind the line. A play later, his sack of Hudson Card forced the Longhorns to kick away.

KJ Moving Things

KJ Jefferson’s quarterback draw moved the Razorbacks past midfield on their third drive of the game for the first time. The drive stalled on the next three plays, but with the ball on the Texas 37, coach Sam Pittman elected to go for it. Jefferson faked a handoff in the backfield, Texas bit and he went around the right side for a gain of 12. One play later, he found Treylon Burks over the middle for a 14-yard pick-up and the Hogs were inside the 10.

There would be no second attempted fourth-down conversion. Freshman kicker Cam Little knocked through a 23-yard field goal with 2:03 left in the first to open the scoring.

Arkansas 3, Texas 0, 2:03 1st

Arkansas fans are PUMPED ahead of kickoff with Texas

Arkansas fans are loud already about a half-hour ahead of kickoff with Texas.

Arkansas fans are out in full force in and around Donald W. Reynolds Stadium ahead of 6 p.m. kickoff against old rival Texas.

It took this writer almost an hour to make a 10-block drive from the interstate to the stadium.

Spots of burnt orange can be seen throughout the stadium and on the streets outside, but it’s a red-and-white kind of evening. And loud already, too.

The game against Texas is the first sellout at DWRRS since 2017 when the Hogs hosted Texas Christian. Arkansas lost that game 28-7.

The Longhorns enter Saturday as the No. 15 team in both the Associated Press and USA TODAY SPORTS AFCA Coaches Poll. Tonight marks the teams’ first meeting since 2014 when the Razorbacks beat the Longhorns in the Texas Bowl in Houston.

Want to watch? Check out how.

We will keep you updated throughout the game with breaking news and a halftime update. Plus stick around afterward and check in tomorrow morning for complete coverage here on Razorbacks Wire.