Tag: Malik Hornsby

Hogs will rely on Jefferson running against Penn State, meaning Hornsby needs to be ready

Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson’s body will be on the line against Penn State, which means Malik Hornsby needs to be ready to go.

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The best thing for teams who make a bowl game isn’t the game itself. Unless, of course, that game is the College Football Playoff.

But most coaches across the country say the biggest benefit is the extra practices allowed for those teams who are postseason-eligible.

At Arkansas, which hasn’t made a bowl since 2016, it’s a bit of both, even if it leans more toward the latter, still. So Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman is using the extra time to prep for the future.

Quarterback KJ Jefferson is the unquestioned starter entering 2022. He threw for 2,578 yards and 21 touchdowns and ran for another 554 yards with five scores. Just a junior next year, Jefferson will enter play as one of the SEC’s top signal-callers.

Back-up quarterbacks are always necessary, though, even with someone like Jefferson who is all but guaranteed to take the best and most important snaps. A team is always just one injury away from losing its ace.

Freshman Malik Hornsby, Ole Miss transfer Kade Renfro and freshman Lucas Coley have all received extra work during the month of December as Arkansas prepares for its Outback Bowl game against Penn State on January 1. With wide receiver Treylon Burks off to prepare for the NFL draft, the Razorbacks will likely rely even more heavily on Jefferson’s legs, which could put his body in danger.

Jefferson’s best running game came against Ole Miss in a one-point loss. He went for 85 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. The next week, against Auburn, he ran another 18 times for 66 yards. Pittman thinks it took its toll.

“Obviously we went into Ole Miss thinking that (Jefferson running the ball) would be the way for us to win the game,” Pittman said. “I’m not for sure with us using him that much that it didn’t affect him a little bit against Auburn being beat up.”

That puts Hornsby, the No. 2 all season, and the others into the wings. The extra practices can only help.

Arkansas football freshman power rankings: No surprise at No. 1

Arkansas hasn’t played many freshmen in 2021, but these five have had an impact.

Freshmen in the SEC often find college football tough sledding. Rare is the time a first-year player provides a massive spark to his program. Rare, but not unheard of.

Arkansas has a number of first-year players who have affected the season in a positive way.

Coach Sam Pittman and his position coaches haven’t played many of their freshmen. Arkansas is, after all, a team still building depth and with several super-seniors choosing to return after the 2020 was largely a wash, the Razorbacks a bit more upperclassmen depth than they would have in a normal year.

Still, a few of the young bucks have affected the season in a positive way. Here is a midseason-ish look at the five who have done the most.

Arkansas-Arkansas-Pine Bluff: 3 Predictions, 1 Crazy

Arkansas and Arkansas-Pine Bluff are set for an FBS versus FCS matchup in Little Rock on Saturday.

Arkansas and Arkansas-Pine Bluff kick off from War Memorial Stadium at 11 a.m. on Saturday in a game the Razorbacks almost certainly won’t lose.

But it’s still important for a Hogs team that has lost three straight games to get a victory and snap the feeling.

Every Saturday morning on Hogs football gamedays, you will find editor E. Wayne and contributors John Nabors and Derek Oxford giving three picks on events that will take place in that day’s game. One of those picks has to be a little bit off the wall, something that could happen, but it’d be wild if it did.

Picking Arkansas to complete a pass to Treylon Burks, for example, is a bad prediction for these purposes. Picking Burks to have eight catches and 100 yards, that’s better. Also picking, say, a penalty for targeting, another nice one. It’s unlikely, but has potential.

Want to join? You’re probably better at it than we are. Make your picks in the comments section on the Razorbacks Wire at your favorite social media site.

Without further ado, welcome to 3 Predictions, 1 Crazy, Arkansas-Ole Miss.

This Will Happen

Oxford: Arkansas 49, UAPB 7

Nabors: Arkansas 45, UAPB 17

Wayne: Arkansas 55, UAPB 7

No one is predicting a repeat of what happened the last time Arkansas played an FCS team, when the Hogs slipped by Portland State by a mere seven points in the Chad Morris era.

And this isn’t even “these Hogs are mad.” The Razorbacks are a good SEC team and Pine Bluff is a bad SWAC team. Sometimes it’s just about the matchup.

This Might Happen

Oxford: Trelon Smith runs for 150 yards

Nabors: Arkansas scores three touchdowns in the first quarter

Wayne: Arkansas gets touchdowns from five different players

Trelon Smith is likely to see a bulk of his carries in the first half as the starter and senior, so the suggestion Oxford is making is that Arkansas runs away in the first half.

Nabors and Wayne have high point totals. Wayne thinks, with the score likely a blowout, the Razorbacks will get an opportunity to play a lot of bodies more often than usual.

This Is Crazy

Oxford: Malik Hornsby throws two touchdowns

Nabors: Arkansas defense gets three sacks

Wayne: Malik Hornsby runs for 100 and throws for 150

Not sure how crazy it is that this Arkansas defense comes up with three sacks against an FCS team. But given the Hogs’ lack of a pass rush in recent seasons, the pick does make a bit sense as crazy.

Hornsby should see quite a bit of playing time as the back-up quarterback and he has the skills to go off.

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