Tag: Treylon Burks

WATCH: Arkansas on the board with Jefferson-to-Burks

KJ Jefferson caps 104-yard drive with a touchdown pass to Treylon Burks, getting Arkansas on the board against Alabama.

They aren’t scared. Arkansas is giving Alabama all it wants on the road Saturday afternoon.

The Razorbacks scored their first touchdown of the day midway through the second quarter when KJ Jefferson found Treylon Burks for a 15-yard touchdown to trim the Crimson Tide’s lead to three, 10-7, with 6:06 left in the frame.

The score capped a ridiculous 14-play, 104-yard drive. Burks hauled in three balls for 47 yards on it and has five grabs for 82 yards in the game. He was removed momentarily earlier with an injury to his upper right side. It wasn’t immediately clear what body part, but appeared to be his arm, chest or shoulder.

Jefferson is 10 of 13 passing for 107 yards and the score so far.

Less than ideal: Burks to locker room

Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks has been taken to the locker room.

Arkansas has been hanging tough with Alabama through a quarter.

Treylon Burks caught 2 passes for 25 yards but was taken on a cart to the Razorback locker room.

It was an apparent wrist injury and was confirmed by Chuck Barrett on the radio broadcast.

Behind Enemy Lines: Razorbacks Wire previews Alabama-Arkansas

Behind enemy lines with Eric Bolin of Razorbacks Wire

No. 2 Alabama will play host to No. 21 Arkansas Saturday afternoon inside of Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Arkansas comes in with a 7-3 record on the season and 3-3 SEC play. Alabama is 9-1 overall with a 5-1 record in the SEC.

I had a chance to catch up with Eric Bolin of Razorbacks Wire to preview the matchup between the Crimson Tide and the Razorbacks.

1. KJ Jefferson is obviously a physically gifted runner, where have you seen him grow in the passing game?
Jefferson will never be the most accurate of passers. A lot of his improvement in completion percentage is thanks to offensive coordinator Kendal Briles approach. Arkansas runs a lot of short, screen-type passes for Jefferson, which builds his confidence and has the added effect of lulling some defenses to sleep. At his best, though, he can hit those then counter with a deep ball that has plenty of juice. It’s the in-between where the results are mostly mixed.

2. Sam Pittman is one of the most likable coaches in the SEC. What makes Pittman the right fit in Arkansas?
Pittman’s persona is everything Arkansas needed. It’s what the program thought it had with Bret Bielema. Pittman, however, seems more genuine. He’s the same guy who used to enter media availabilities as an offensive line coach in Fayetteville, spin his chair around backward or throw his feet up on a desk and answer questions. He’s nonchalant but at the same time clearly caring. Given the history of Bobby Petrino and Chad Morris – two total opposites – the change has been refreshing. And rare.
3. Defensively Barry Odom has done a really good job for the Razorbacks, what is the strength of this year’s defensive unit?
It is going to sound reductive, but Arkansas’ defense, especially at linebacker, just has good, solid college football players. Guys like Bumper Pool and Grant Morgan won’t have lengthy NFL careers, probably, but they’re the kinds of players college football teams used to be built around, the kinds of players who simply get it, for lack of a better term. What’s most impressive, though, is Odom has done it without locks for the NFL outside of now-injured safety Jalen Catalon.
4. Just how special is Treylon Burks?
From 2008-2011, Arkansas had a trio of wide receivers – Joe Adams, Jarius Wright, and Greg Childs, who, by the time they were elders, could have been considered one of the best units in college football. Burks is better than all three. His combination of speed, size, and ability is unmatched amongst anyone the opposition so far this season could counter with at cornerback or opposite wideout. That said, if things aren’t working elsewhere, he’s a team that great defenses have keyed on and neutralized.

5. Who is a player Alabama fans should be watching out for this Saturday?

Offensively, Dominique Johnson, Arkansas’ newly-inserted starting running back, began the year as the fourth-stringer, was moved to tight end, then back. His numbers don’t totally reflect his impact because he was lower on the depth chart, but he’s the definite No. 1 now. Defensively, John Ridgeway at defensive tackle has been a lightning rod. He transferred from FCS Illinois State with little fanfare and while his numbers don’t scream ‘stud,’ he’s given the defense a player on the interior who can clog lanes and allow those aforementioned linebackers to go to work. 

5 Tide players who could impact Alabama-Arkansas

These 5 players could play a pivotal role for the Tide as they take on the Arkansas Razorbacks!

Saturday’s contest between Alabama and Arkansas should be a fun matchup of SEC West foes.

Alabama currently sits atop the SEC West standings with a 9-1 overall record (5-1 SEC), while Arkansas is having a much improved second season under Sam Pittman as they are 7-3 overall (3-3 SEC).

Any time two SEC schools clash there will be plenty of talent on each side of the ball. Today we will look at five players who could have a big impact on the contest for the Crimson Tide!

Burks’ omission from consideration for Biletnikoff Award is a travesty

Treylon Burks is one of the 10 best wide receivers in the country, but not according to the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation.

Treylon Burks is one of the top football players in the country.

He is definitely one of the ten best wide receivers in America.

So when the ten semifinalists were announced on Monday, Burks’ name was nowhere to be found.

It’s not that the players named to the list weren’t deserving.

But Burks deserves to be on the list.

For the season, Burks has 52 catches for 815 yards and 8 touchdowns, when everyone around the nation knows he is the top threat on the team and there hasn’t been a true No. 2 guy emerge.

No offense to Deven Thompkins and Jerreth Sterns, they’ve put up video game numbers this year for their respective teams.

Let’s be real though, those guys would not be doing that against SEC competition.

Sterns has faced one Power 5 team. He torched the Michigan State secondary in a loss to the tune of 17 catches for 186 yards and a touchdown.

Thompkins has played one ranked team (BYU) and had a solid outing, 9 catches for 125 yards and a score.

Burks doesn’t need the accolades. He will most likely be a first round NFL draft pick in April.

It would just be nice for the program and the state, being that he is an in-state product, to have some recognition.

That’s all.

LSU vs Arkansas: Wide Receiver Tale of the Tape

Looking at this weekend’s wide receiver matchup.

LSU is preparing for the sixth-consecutive game against a ranked opponent now that the Arkansas Razorbacks are No. 25 in the College Football Playoff rankings. The Tigers need another solid defensive effort to slow down the trio of KJ Jefferson, Trelon Smith, and Treylon Burks. LSU counters with Max Johnson/Garrett Nussmeier, Ty Davis-Price, and Jack Bech.

With the focus on the offensive side of the ball, we have previewed both the quarterbacks and running backs in this matchup. Eyes turn to the pass catchers, do the Tigers have a player who can compete with Burks?

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Treylon Burks vs Jack Bech

(Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

How the two receivers compare

Burks vs Bech
6-3 Ht 6-2
225 Wt 207
Junior Class Freshman
9 Games 9
65 Targets 53
48 Rec 33
73.8 Catch % 62.3
799 Yards 366
16.6 YPR 11.1
8 TDs 2

Edge: Treylon Burks

The clear edge in this matchup goes to Burks, who has shown of the past two seasons to be one of the most consistent pass-catchers in the SEC. The real question in this matchup is can the Tigers’ secondary slow down the big play ability of Burks.

With no Sage Ryan, Eli Ricks, and Derek Stingley Jr, the task is tall. Cordale Flott is trying to get back from injury. Dwight McGlothern will likely be tasked with trying to limit his impact. Against  Alabama on Saturday, the secondary gave up 233 yards and two touchdowns to Jameson Williams and John Metchie. Burks will likely look to take advantage in the same regard. It will be up to the pass rush to disrupt Jefferson in the pocket.

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Heaven bless those Hogs: Arkansas gets miracle last-seconds win over Mississippi State

Dominique Johnson scored the go-ahead touchdown with 22 seconds left to lift Arkansas over Mississippi State.

A game that was always going to be close was, well, close.

Arkansas and Mississippi State, with identical 5-3 records this season and 8-10 records over the last two years, played expectedly tight on Saturday inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

But no one thought it would be like that.

The Razorbacks (6-3, 2-3 in SEC) became bowl-eligible and ensured themselves of a .500 or better record for the first time since 2016 with a 31-28 win over the Bulldogs on Saturday night.

Dominique Johnson’s four-yard score with 21 seconds left was the game-winner. Mississippi State had a chance to tie the game after getting to the Arkansas 25 with two seconds left, but the second-string kicker, Nolan McCord, missed the try wide and Arkansas players rushed the field in celebration.

McCord was only on because the starter, Brandon Ruiz, had missed two before that, including one from 22 yards.

Johnson’s touchdown came at the end of a 10-play, 75-yard drive that took just 2:01. Arkansas appeared to have lost the game two plays before when KJ Jefferson’s fourth-down pass to Treylon Burks fell to the turf, but Mississippi State was flagged for holding, giving the Razorbacks resuscitation.

The Bulldogs had taken the lead on the series before, with 2:22 left when Jo’quavious Marks hauled in a 15-yard score from quarterback Will Rogers. Rogers threw for 417 yards and four touchdowns in the game. Mississippi State entered the game averaging 371 yards through the air.

Arkansas’ win snapped a three-game losing streak and provides positive vibes heading into LSU next week. The Hogs have won in Baton Rouge just three times since joining the SEC.

Treylon Burks’ taking limited reps, should be good-to-go for Mississippi State

Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks recovering from injury, should be good for Mississippi State.

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Treylon Burks is Arkansas’ best and most important player. If he goes down, the entire Razorbacks offense changes. Not a little bit. A lot.

The good news is, despite the bangs and bruises football season brings, Burks has yet to miss a game. Coach Sam Pittman told the media this week, too, that those aren’t the only issues. Burks has dealt with a foot injury he suffered in fall camp the entire season, too.

“We’re still limiting some of his reps to this point,” Pittman said. “He basically didn’t do anything the week before.”

Arkansas played Arkansas-Pine Bluff on October 23. The Razorbacks were off on October 30. Pittman had mentioned Burks’ injuries in the fall, but he never provided specifics on what they were. That’s for a reason. Rather, a few reasons.

“You talk about injuries and sometimes I address them, sometimes I don’t,” he said. “There’s a lot of different reasons for that: Opponents, I don’t want to hurt the kid in the draft, there’s a lot of reasons that you don’t comment on injuries.”

Burks, by the way, leads the team in catches with 42 (the next highest catch total on the team is Tyson Morris’ 14), yards receiving with 717 (Morris: 236) and touchdowns with seven (Morris and Warren Thompson: 2). He’s first in the SEC in yards, second in touchdowns and tied for fifth in receptions.

Pittman expects Burks to be full-go against Mississippi State on Saturday.

“I think he’s back healthy now and ready to go. I think he’ll be just fine.”

Midseason(ish) Awards: Arkansas’ top 3 offensive players of the year

The only question about Arkansas’ best three offensive players is the order in which they’re ranked.

Before the season began, one would have been hard pressed to find someone outside Razorbacks Country to find a ton of confidence about where Arkansas would be offensively this year.

That preseason feeling last, oh, about one half of football.

At the two-thirds mark of the season, Arkansas is one of the best offensive teams in the country. With an SEC schedule and Texas having been on the slate, even.

Some better-than-expected years out of some backs. A steady stream of complementary players to the star out wide. A superb performance from a first-year quarterback. Arkansas has had things go right.

Here are the top three players on the Hogs offense through eight games.

Take a moment and realize how insanely good Treylon Burks is

Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks is the sort of special player that comes around once in a generation.

He is first in yards, yards per game, catches for more than 20 yards, catches for more than 30 yards and catches for more than 80 yards. He’s second in touchdowns and catches of 50-plus, 60-plus and 70-plus yards. He’s fifth in receptions.

Treylon Burks has established himself as the premier wide receiver in the SEC, if not FBS, this year.

Saturday against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, despite only playing a half, Arkansas’ junior wide receiver caught four passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns. For fun, he had a 49-yard touchdown run, too, on a jet sweep. Only four players at college football’s highest level have caught a pass in every game of their career (with a minimum of 20 games).

Burks is not only the best wide receiver in the SEC, he may be establishing himself as the best wide receiver in Arkansas history.

It’s high praise, but the Warren native deserves to be in the conversation. In, basically, two-and-a-half seasons, Burks has registered 122 receptions for 1,295 yards receiving with 14 touchdowns. Those totals have him 14th, 21st and 13th in the Arkansas record books.

And Burks still has four, likely five if the Razorbacks make a bowl game, left in this season. At his current pace, he would finish his third season sixth in receptions, sixth in touchdowns and 16th in yards. The only reason he wouldn’t crack the top five in each category is if he leaves early for the NFL.

That, however, is a distinct possibility. He’s been a projected first-rounder since before the season began and ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has him at No. 18 on his latest Big Board. The second question Burks was asked after Arkansas 45-3 defeat of Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday was about the NFL.

He answered the way one would expect: it isn’t on his mind right now. Nor should it be.

For now, the college football world should took full stock of the special season and special player that is Treylon Burks.