Arkansas Football: Five Players Who Can Shock the Tide

The Razorbacks have a monster matchup on the road with the Alabama Crimson Tide this weekend. They will need a healthy group of receivers among many other players to pull off the upset.

The biggest question is whether or not they can rise to the occasion and play ball against arguably the best defense in the nation.

There are five critical studs who must play like All-Americans come Saturday in Tuscaloosa. 

Greg Childs

Will the real Greg Childs please stand up?

Coming off an All-American caliber season makes you wonder if he is going to go crazy this season with Tyler Wilson has quarterback.

After a sub-par opening weekend against Missouri State where he only caught two passes for 29 yards, he followed it up with zero catches (one target) against New Mexico.

The Razorbacks blew these teams out by a combined score of 103-10, but it would have been nice to see more action out of Childs. Note that he did not play in the teams 38-28 victory over Troy due to the passing of his grandmother.

Going up against Dre Kirkpatrick, Dee Milliner, Will Lowery, DeQuan Menzie and Phelon Jones will be no easy task since both safeties, Robert Lester and Mark Barron, are All-Americans.

Tyler Wilson may have Joe Adams, Cobi Hamilton, Jarius Wright (knee) and tight end Chris Gragg, but it is the home run ability of Greg Childs that makes this Razorback receiving corp the best in America.

Jake Bequette

Jake Bequette came into the 2011 season with All-American potential, but as we know coaches and teams often lose their jobs over potential.

Bequette is a legit pass rusher and is arguably the Razorbacks best defensive player. Going against DJ Fluker and Barrett Jones will be no easy task, especially since his hamstring is still an issue at the moment. 

Coach Bobby Petrino had the following to say about his stud lineman, "Jake Bequette has made tremendous improvement. Not sure what his availability is for practice tomorrow yet."

A ferocious lineman that can go after and harass AJ McCarron is a big factor in Saturday's ball game. Arkansas is not going to be able to get into a shootout since its offense should not be able to thread the needle and win without a tremendous defensive effort.

Stopping the run (87 YPG) is critical since the defense is ranked 27th in the nation at the moment. Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy have gone bonkers in the non-conference slate leading the ground to an average of 242 yards per game (15th). 

If Bequette is cleared to play and can put together a solid performance it might just be the difference in winning and losing this Saturday.

Zach Hocker

No way!  A kicker as an x-factor?

In a game that may come down to the wire you better bet you bottom dollar that the kicking game is vital.

The kicker has a strong leg and has converted on three of four kicks while connecting on all 18 extra point attempts.

Still, one missed field goal for Zach Hocker could be the difference in upsetting the top team in the country this weekend. With points and more so drives coming at a minimum, it is imperative for Hocker to come through for this squad.

Arkansas will be able to move the ball through the air, but when room tightens up in the red zone a few third downs might not be successful. Therefore the most underrated player of the game this weekend could be the Razorback kicker.

Mitch Smothers

Talk about a huge exam for a the true freshman. Alabama has already come out and said they will key on the freshman tackle and we know Nick Saban loves to come after opposing signal callers with a bevy of looks from different places.

Arkansas must protect Tyler Wilson if they expect to have any chance pf pulling off the upset. Despite the majority of the world picking Alabama, this Razorback offense has the weapons to hang point against a stellar defense.

However, Wilson has already taken a few shots against Troy, New Mexico and Missouri State so ultimately it will be their protection that makes the biggest difference in the game.

Joe Adams

Did you seriously think I was going to leave out the flash in the pan himself?

The most electrifying returner in the nation this season has been Joe Adams. Two touchdowns in one month is tough to accomplish let alone in a season.

Adams average punt return is 19.56 which would give the offense a huge advantage over perhaps the best defense in the nation.

Being the top pass catcher and an extra runner in the backfield plays a huge role against an extremely fast Alabama defense. He is Wilson's security blanket and will be counted on to get the job done on crucial third downs.

Third downs is going to be the story of the game for Arkansas since Alabama is allowing only 31 percent of conversions on third down and the Arkansas offense is converting nearly 50 percent of the time.

If Adams can make an acrobatic catch, house a punt or just give the offense some room to breath it would give this team a chance to shock the landscape of college football.