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Arkansas isn’t going to lose to Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday inside War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. The game is considered more of a break for a Razorbacks team that needs it.
Still, there is some amount of intrigue as Arkansas has some positions with which to tinker because of injury.
Is Dalton Wagner going to be back from his finger injury? Can Joe Foucha be a leader in the Arkansas secondary? Will another, underused player step to the fore against the FCS team?
Plenty of questions and while none of them may carry a ton of weight against the Golden Lions, they could provide clues for how Arkansas finishes its final four games after.
With that in mind, here are the four players, including two from Pine Bluff, we will be keeping an eye on Saturday.
Arkansas RT Ty Clary
Is Ty Clary the semi-permanent answer at right tackle?
Coach Sam Pittman has called the fifth-year senior his most versatile lineman. He also declined to start Clary until injuries pressed him into action. Clary will get at least one more start (barring something odd) at right tackle as usual starter Dalton Wagner is expected to miss the game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
But Wagner should be back for Mississippi State two weeks from Saturday, after Arkansas’ bye. Clary could continue playing super-sub or he could play well enough to continue to earn starts.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff RB Kierre Crossley
Crossley, a Texas native, began his career at FCS Central Arkansas. With the Bears, he led the team in yards rushing as a freshman. Now, having transferred down the road to the southeast, he’s doing the same with UAPB.
Crossley leads the Golden Lions with 252 yards and five touchdowns. As the Pine Bluff is more of a running team than a passing one, expect a healthy dose of Crossley on Saturday.
Arkansas S Joe Foucha
With fellow safety and Preseason All-American Jalen Catalon out for the season, the back of the Arkansas defense will be led by Foucha. He’s fifth on the team in tackles with 41 and has four tackles for-loss and two pass break-ups.
Foucha has been a solid, if unspectacular player, for most of the last couple seasons with the Razorbacks. More will be thrust upon him now, though, as the Razorbacks attempt to turn things around in the second half of the year without their star.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff LB Monroe Beard III
The sophomore linebacker from Tennessee has been a borderline All-SWAC player this season. He leads the Golden Lions in tackles, tackles for-loss, sacks and forced fumbles.
Even on a bad team by SWAC standards, Beard has been a good player. He could still put up good numbers against the Razorbacks, as such.