Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

ARKANSAS 49, JACKSONVILLE STATE 24

OFFENSE – B
HIGHLIGHTS: Tyler Wilson set a Razorback season-opening game record with 367 yards passing, and he averaged an impressive 19.7 yards per completion (19-for-27, no INTs). The running game was decent in the first half, piling up 102 yards behind Knile Davis’ 80 yards on 14 carries. When Cobi Hamilton was injured (possible concussion on a helmet-to-helmet hit) and left the game in the first quarter, tight end Chris Gragg and former quarterback turned receiver Brandon Mitchell stepped up big with 11 catches between them for 232 yards. Gragg had TD catches of 30 and 4 yards. Nine different players had receptions in the passing game, and Javontee Herndon stepped up to look like Jarius Wright on a 63-yard bomb from Wilson that broke the game open in the third quarter.

LOWLIGHTS: The promising running game fell off in the third quarter when the offensive line had trouble with JSU’s run stunts.  Davis’ yardage total went backward to a finishing 70 yards on 18 carries. No running back broke a run of longer than 13 yards for the game. Arkansas gave away three fumbles due to careless ball-handling by Wilson, Gragg and Wingo.

DEFENSE – D+
HIGHLIGHTS: Ross Rasner lived up to his coordinator Paul Haynes’ hype as being perhaps the best player on defense by leading the Hogs with 11 tackles, playing both safety and outside linebacker throughout the game. Rohan Gaines also had good moments at safety, forcing a fumble in the third quarter that was recovered by linebacker Alonzo Highsmith. The ends were standouts, with sacks from freshman Deatrich Wise and junior Chris Smith. Backup tackle Jared Green also recorded a sack, and starting tackle Byran Jones blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt on JSU’s first series following a UA turnover.

LOWLIGHTS: Considering Jacksonville State’s reputation as a running team, the Arkansas pass defense was deplorable in the first half when JSU often passed at will and gained 145 yards. The Gamecocks even easily covered 75 yards in the final two minutes of the half, mostly through the air. The pass defense clamped down better in the second half, but the run defense began to leak. Questions about the back seven defenders, outside of Rasner, will persist this week.

SPECIAL TEAMS — B
HIGHLIGHTS: Junior Zach Hocker was never needed for field goals, but he did everything that was expected on kickoffs, either taking advantage of the new rule change putting kickoffs at the 35 and booming them through the uprights, or deftly placing them inside the 5, where Arkansas’ coverage could make a big play. Dennis Johnson and the kick return game started slowly, but Johnson brought one out of the end zone in the second quarter for 42 yards to ignite the Hogs after JSU had taken a 14-7 lead.

LOWLIGHTS: Dylan Breeding didn’t have much chance to punt Saturday, but he got off a rocket of 56 yards that drew oohs and ahhs from the crowd of 71,062 fans. Problem was, Arkansas was flagged for illegal procedure and Breeding had to kick again. And this time he shanked it 17 yards, setting JSU up on the Hog end of the field in the third quarter and leading to a field goal that cut Arkansas’ lead to 35-24

OVERALL — C
WHAT WE LEARNED: While Sept. 15 opponent Alabama was destroying No. 8 Michigan on national TV at the same time, Arkansas was fighting into the second half to put away an FCS opponent. Arkansas had to rely on its big-play passing game to do that. And, while the defense had stretches of good play, it was inconsistent. Lots of work awaits before Alabama comes to town.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME
OFFENSE: Brandon Mitchell, the former quarterback, had already earned a starting job at receiver, but he was needed even more when Cobi Hamilton went out in the first quarter. Mitchell made some of the most acrobatic catches seen at Reynolds Razorback Stadium on the way to 4 receptions for 122 yards.

DEFENSE: Ross Rasner, who lined up at safety or outside linebacker depending on the package, was the steady hand for the Hogs defense with 11 tackles, include 1.5 tackles for lost yardage, a pass broken up, and a batted JSU lateral that went out of bounds.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Zach Hocker enjoyed the NCAA’s new kickoff rules, treating the fans in the south end zone to some good “fields goals” on kickoffs from the 35.

Email: jharris@abpg.com. Also follow Jim on Twitter @jimharris360