Breaking Down the Razorbacks
September 17, 2014
Football (3-0) is seeking to close non-conference play with an unblemished record for the second straight year. The Huskies take on the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-1) 6 p.m. Saturday at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark. Sports Editor Frank Gogola breaks down Arkansas’ key players.
Quarterback: Brandon Allen
Junior quarterback Brandon Allen has shown efficiency is the name of the game for this Razorbacks’ offense. Allen has only attempted 48 passes in a run-heavy offense, and he’s completed 28 (58.3 percent) of those pass attempts. His 157.2 pass efficiency rating ranks eighth-best in the SEC and 30th-best in the country. Allen has thrown for 353 yards (117.7 yards per game) and has spread his six touchdowns passes to six players. While the Razorbacks love to run the ball, they may attempt some passes early to try to catch the Huskies off guard.
Running back: Alex Collins
Sophomore running back Alex Collins leads a Razorbacks’ rushing onslaught that features a variety of power and speed. Collins has carried the ball a team-high 50 times for a team-best 411 yards, and he’s found the end zone on five occasions. In addition to Collins, junior Jonathan Williams has racked up 322 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. Sophomore Korliss Marshall and junior fullback Kody Walker add to the attack, rushing for 4.5 and 4.8 yards on average, respectively. To say the Huskies’ defense has its hands full is an understatement.
Wide Receiver: Demetrius Wilson
Senior wide receiver Keon Hatcher is the lone senior among the Razorbacks’ wide receivers. The Razorbacks, being a run-heavy team, have completed only 28 pass attempts, and Hatcher has six of those receptions. The 6-foot-2, 198-pound wideout redshirted in 2013 after a fall camp injury sidelined him but made his return this season in the season opener against the Auburn Tigers, grabbing four passes for 55 yards. Even though the Razorbacks like to run the ball, the Huskies’ secondary will still face its fair share of tests through the air.
Offensive Line: Dan Skipper
Sophomore left tackle Dan Skipper is a big man on a huge offensive line. At 6-foot-10, 326 pounds, Skipper is the second-tallest player in the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2014. The Razorbacks’ offensive line has allowed only one sack through three games this season after surrendering only eight sacks last season. Their 0.33 sacks allowed per game ranks first in the SEC and tied for fifth in the nation. This Huskies will face a tough battle in trying to control the trenches, but if they do — on both sides of the ball — they may walk away with a victory.
Defensive Line: Trey Flowers
Senior defensive end Trey Flowers is the lone senior and only one of two upperclassmen among defensive linemen on the two-deep. The 6-foot-3, 270-pound NFL prospect leads the offensive line and ranks fourth on the Razorbacks with 13 tackles. He has also recorded two tackles for loss, one pass defensed and one quarterback hurry. Flowers and the rest of the Arkansas defensive line will give the Huskies’ offensive line a chance to see how good they really are in their third year together.
Linebacker: Brooks Ellis
Sophomore middle linebacker Brooks Ellis is stepping up in the middle of veteran linebacking corps. Ellis is flanked by two seniors, and he has shown he can hold his own in the SEC, playing all 12 of the Razorbacks’ games as a true freshman last season and starting the last four. Through three games, Ellis is second on the Razorbacks with 20 tackles and third on the team with 3.5 tackles for loss. Additionally, he leads the team with four passes defensed and is tied for the team lead with one forced fumble.
Secondary: Alan Turner
Senior free safety Alan Turner and the Razorbacks’ secondary will be faced with trying to contain the Huskies’ passing game. Turner can fly around the field, placing third on Arkansas with 17 tackles. He also has tallied one tackle for loss and one pass defensed this season. The Razorbacks have allowed 753 passing yards through three games (251 passing yards per game). Arkansas’ four starters in the secondary are all listed as 5-foot-11, and they may have some trouble defending some of the Huskies’ taller wide receivers.
Special Teams: Sam Irwin-Hill
Senior punter Sam Irwin-Hill is a bit of an abnormality on special teams. Irwin-Hill, of Australia, is an ambidextrous punter, meaning he can punt the ball with either leg. Head coach Rod Carey said Irwin-Hill could present problems for the Huskies’ punt returners because when Irwin-Hill rolls out to his left he punts with his left foot and when he rolls out to the right side he punts with his right foot. The Huskies’ punt returners will need to keep an extra close eye on the punter and the ball’s rotation and movement in the air.