Arkansas Razorbacks Season Preview

Ryan Mallett is no longer taking snaps under center, but there is no need to worry when the replacement is the same guy who took over against Auburn.

In that game when most expected all hell to break loose, Tyler Wilson took the reins and just torched the eventual National Champions by throwing for 332 yards and four touchdowns.

He came right in for the injured Mallett who left with a concussion after a solid hit by All-American Nick Fairley by throwing a 34-yard hose to Greg Childs for six points.

Those same Razorbacks return six starters on offense and seven on defense. Of those five who left on offense, only Mallet, his security blanket D.J. Williams and his two tackles should be missed.  The fifth who left was a solid guard in Wade Grayson.

Best in America?

So, you may be asking: what is the strength of this team? Meet the best receiving corps in the universe led by Greg Childs, Jairius Wright and Joe Adams. Adams has deceptive speed with great hands. 

Childs is the complete package and could be a future first rounder whereas Wright runs a 4.37 40-yard dash. This unit was nearly unstoppable against the best conference in the nation last season. If you double any wideout somebody will beat you deep all day long.

The tight end to replace D.J. Williams will be Chris Gragg who is not quite the athlete who runs great routes or has great hands, but he is a solid blocker who can run well down the field. 

Not Quite as Loaded but Still Solid

The backfield is nearly as impressive as the wide receivers, because the following Razorback was the hottest in America in the final month of the season.

Knile Davis ripped off long run after long run as he went bonkers for 12 touchdowns in the final six games. In those six games, he also ran for over 800 yards with a 6.5 yard per carry.

Knile Davis was not even starting or even the backup heading into spring one full year ago, but it just tells you what Bobby Petrino saw in this youngster who is only entering his junior season.

Davis was expected to get plenty of touches and possibly become an All-American, but will now miss the entire season with a fractured right ankle. “The injury to Davis’ left ankle requires surgery,” Petrino said.

Ronnie Wingo Jr. will be the new man in this talented backfield. Wingo Jr. has some bounce in his step and is also listed at a strong 6’3", 227 pounds.  

Broderick Green was supposed to be the primary backup but went down with a torn ACL during the spring game. Expect Dennis Johnson and De’Anthony Curtis to get some extended playing time when Wingo is sipping some water on the sidelines.

Next SEC Star?

Back to the most important position to an offense, which is the QB. Tyler Wilson has quite the arm which is saying something with Mallett now gone.

Mallett had arguably the strongest arm we have seen in the BCS era, or at least recently. Wilson may not have quite the arm strength, but he is not as careless with the ball.

Wilson will be hyped up to be the best QB not only in the SEC West, but possibly in the entire Southeastern Conference as he enters his fourth season in the program (redshirt junior).

I have him slightly rated ahead of Murray because of the weapons surrounding him. Outside of trips to Alabama and LSU, the schedule is not quite as daunting as it has been in past years so the Pig Sooie offense should be just fine. 

Jake and the Three Big Pigs

This defense struggled at times a season ago, but it was the speed of the secondary and a solid front four that kept this team in every ball game. All-American candidate defensive end Jake Bequette was Second Team All-SEC. He was, and still is, not the only stud producing in Fayetteville though.

The other three linemen expected to start will be Tenarius Wright, DeQuinta Jones and Robert Thomas/Alfred Davis. David and Thomas will both see a ton of time though Thomas is expected to open the season out as the starter.

Jones stuffed the run against a very good Buckeyes offensive line in the Sugar Bowl. Davis and Wright are two under-the-radar players who could start for nearly any SEC team. They are all big time run-stuffers who run like deer and apply relentless pressure in backfields.

I Forgot Pigs Can Fly

The linebacker corps must have the same type of play they had one season ago. Jerry Franklin is a solid run-stuffer who can drop back into coverage. Franklin also made Second Team All-SEC and is expected to carry the team as their team captain.

Jerico Nelson has legit talent where he can roam sideline to sideline by making bone jarring hits. Alonzo Highsmith is expected to become the other starter, but they have solid backups who will contribute.

The Pig Sooie front seven was exceptional against the best conference in college football last season and they should only improve in time for their tilt against the A&M Aggies. 

Tramain Thomas and Isaac Madison are primetime performers in the secondary who will be expected to stand strong in the SEC. Thomas was an All-SEC honorable mention despite being listed at 6’0”, 198 pounds. Darius Winston should start behind Madison and ahead of Greg Gatson, but nonetheless Winston is an underrated defender.

The Razorbacks secondary has been flying all over the place and you can contribute it to consistent pressure put on by the front four.

A season ago, the Pig Sooie defense ranked 71st against the run giving up 162 yards per game. They also improved against the pass, ranking 20th allowing just 185 yards per game. 

Drama's Forecast

Despite having his own offensive coordinator, Bobby Petrino has become one of the brightest minds in the game. He has done a marvelous job at Arkansas as he is now entering his fourth season at 23-15 including a BCS Bowl appearance last season.

Petrino is 12-2 in non-conference play and his tilt against the Aggies on October 1st should be quite the challenge.

Overall, most defenses have struggled against the pass because they are often forced to load the box up in order to stop the run.

This Razorbacks defense has really improved through the years and is not some average defense any more. Bequette has not struggled at getting after the quarterback and the rest of the defense can shut down a passing game because the group is quicker than ever before.

They rank among the better defenses in the SEC this season with seven starters returning. Throw in an athletic linebacker corp and a secondary filled with speed demons and this team has the makings of another BCS run.  

Returning Starters: six offense, seven defense

Projected Record: 11-2, 6-2

Projected Bowl: Capital One Bowl 

Predicted Order of Finish: Second in West, Third in SEC