Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

FAYETTEVILLE — Would Knile Davis, back from a year on the sideline, make it more than a few plays before his ankle gave way again? Could Brandon Mitchell make the conversion from backup quarterback to dependable starting receiver?

Those were two of the pressing questions for Arkansas entering the season opener with Jacksonville State, a Football Championship Subdivision program.

The answers to those two Saturday night were “yes” and emphatically “yes,” as the Razorbacks rolled to a 49-24 victory over the Gamecocks before 71,062 fans at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

But careless ball handling, missed tackles, shoddy pass defense, inconsistent offensive line play and more left concern on the Arkansas sideline.

“Our guys walked off the field pleased it was a win but not pleased because they know they could do a lot better,” said Arkansas’ John L. Smith, who recorded his first head coaching victory since leading Michigan State six years ago. “We’ve got to coach harder and demand they play better.”

Davis had an impressive first half with 80 yards rushing on 14 carries and a touchdown. Mitchell, the 6-foot-4 junior whose most impressive plays for the Hogs have come as a fill-in on the basketball team, had four athletic catches totaling 122 yards, with three receptions directly setting up touchdowns.

“Mitchell, I think everybody can see he’s a legit guy,” Smith said. “He stepped up big tonight.”

He had to when the Hogs lost senior Cobi Hamilton to an injury only described as “above the shoulder.” Hamilton is expected back this week, though, Smith indicated.

With Hamilton down, Tyler Wilson’s go-to guy became tight end Chris Gragg, who had seven catches for 110 yards. Gragg made up for a first-quarter extra-effort fumble that led to a Gamecocks touchdown with two scores of his own of 30 and 4 yards.

With the exception of his own fumble on the Hogs’ first series, when he dropped to ball while scrambling, Wilson had the type of start befitting someone coveting a seat at the Heisman Trophy ceremony in December. Wilson completed his first six passes, eight of the first nine, and 15 of 18 in the first half for 247 yards. He retired after three quarters with a 19-for-27 night, 367 yards and 3 touchdowns. His big bomb was a 63-yarder to a streaking Javontee Herndon for a doubt-ending touchdown after JSU had closed to 35-24 in the third quarter.

Some of Saturday’s other answers left plenty for worry for Hog Nation.

Inconsistency was the bottom line for an Arkansas defense that gave up 95 yards rushing and 227 yards passing — typical for an opening game against a team it was supposed to smother. On the plus side, placed under the gun early when Wilson’s fumble was returned to the UA 24-yard line, the Arkansas defense stiffened at the 20, and tackle Byran Jones blocked a field goal attempt.