Winners and Losers of the Arkansas Spring Football Game

Saturday was a day that the Arkansas Razorbacks needed.

It has been 11 days since Bobby Petrino was fired, so the Hogs needed this day to play the spring game and feel like the 2012 season is right around the corner.

This spring game was not only about progressing as a team on the field, it was also about growing as a family off the field, and I think the Razorbacks did that on Saturday.

But like in any other spring game, there have to be winners and losers. Here's my take on them from the Red and White game.

Winner: Tyler Wilson

Tyler Wilson had a great spring and he ended his spring season with a monster Red-White game. Wilson passed for over 400 yards and two touchdowns, while completing 26 of his 34 passes.

Despite playing against the reserves, Wilson made all his throws look effortless, and the Razorbacks need him to play like that in the fall in order to win the SEC West.

Wilson will be in the running for the Heisman if he isn't already.

Winner: Chris Gragg

The senior tight end had a huge spring game, racking up nine receptions for 130 yards and two scores. He was Wilson's go-to guy all game long and he will look to be the same guy this fall.

The Razorbacks have the receiving talent with Cobi Hamilton and Marquel Wade, but Gragg will have to be the guy Wilson relies on because his size and speed will frustrate opposing defenses.

Loser: The White Team

There's really no other way to put it: the White team got rocked.

It's not entirely surprising because all the players on the team were reserves. But to lose 65-0 is never a good thing no matter who you are playing.

The White team does have some promising players that will be impact players in the next few years, but right now they are not there yet. This loss will help them get to where they want to be. 

Winner: Taver Johnson

Acting head coach Taver Johnson wanted his players to go out there and play the game.

The players did that and more, and it looks like they are rallying behind a guy that could be the permanent head coach if he continues the upward trend.

Johnson was recently on the Ohio State coaching staff and is a defensive-minded guy. If he lets offensive coordinator Paul Petrino run a high-powered offense and helps develop and improve the defense, the Razorbacks will be an contender for the SEC West title.

Winner: The Razorback Fans

The Arkansas officials wanted at least 41,000 fans to come to Razorback stadium on Saturday. Well, 41,000 fans did not show up. There were 42,250 fans who made the trip to support the Razorbacks.

The fans loved what Bobby Petrino did on the field the last four years. But no coach is bigger than the program and the fans realize that. They know they have the players to compete for an SEC title and they will be there with the team through thick and thin.