Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

News and notes from Tuesday’s Arkansas football media availability …

I. Bull Yards
Dennis Johnson’s final two runs last week against Ole Miss included him breaking tackles and bulling his way into the end zone for 21 and 20 yards. Those carries are memorable because they were long and because they helped set up a score.

But Johnson was picking up yards after contact throughout the day. Of his 161 yards on the ground, more than half were what the staff calls “bull yards.” Johnson’s 83 bull yards are “a lot,” offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said.

“He ran hard,” Petrino said. “He did a great job.”

Johnson has carried the performance over into practice. He’s responded well to getting a career-high number of carries and his body seemed to hold up to the pounding just fine.

Wide receiver Cobi Hamilton, who like Johnson hails from Texarkana, said the running back's performance was impressive.

“The mind frame he has is that one person can’t bring him down,” Hamilton said. “I’ve been around D.J. a long time, and ever since I’ve known him, one person has not been able to bring him down. That’s still the case, playing at a high level as we are now.”

II. Mitchell Update
Wide receiver Brandon Mitchell practiced Tuesday, but his status for the Tulsa game is pending.

Mitchell was withheld from last week’s game with Ole Miss for a violation of team rules. Paul Petrino said Mitchell took reps in practice Tuesday, but the team is preparing a game plan in case the receiver isn’t available.

III. Mixed Bag of Sacks
Tulsa enters Saturday’s game with Arkansas leading the country in sacks. So far the Hurricane is averaging 4.38 per game.

What’s the key to all those sacks? Petrino said it’s a mix of things, really.

Tulsa does a good job disguising where and how it is bringing pressure on the quarterback. That deception prevents the offense from checking in and out of plays and changing up the protection at the line of scrimmage.

Petrino said the Hurricane defense has done a good job of covering opponents’ receivers, leading to “coverage sacks.” And, he said, it helps that Tulsa has gotten out to big leads, forcing the opponent to throw more and abandon protection in favor of more receivers.

Speaking Out
“I just had the emotion come out when it happened. You can’t really help yourself. The emotion just comes out in you.”
—Tight end Alex Voelzke on his celebration after catching a touchdown pass against Ole Miss. Voelzke is a walk-on, redshirt freshman.