This article originally appeared in the November 13, 2012 issue of The Arkansas Traveler.
Three UA records fell
Saturday, but the Razorbacks still came up short against South Carolina 38-20.
UA interim head coach John L. Smith believes mental mistakes cost Arkansas the
game.
“We shot ourselves in
the foot in the first half with penalties and hanging on to the ball,” Smith
said. “It should have been a tie game at halftime.”
Senior quarterback
Tyler Wilson set the UA career record for completions with 539 and senior wide
receiver Cobi Hamilton set the UA career record for receiving yards with 1,149
against the Gamecocks.
Junior kicker Zach
Hocker also broke a UA career record, passing former Razorback Steve Little with
285 points by a kicker.
“Honestly, I didn’t
even know I broke it until after the game,” Hocker said. “It’s cool. Steve is
one of the best all-time, so it’s an honor.”
Injuries and
disciplinary issues have forced younger players to play significantly more.
Senior linebacker Terrell Williams sat out as the first game of an indefinite
suspension and junior running back Knile Davis and senior tight end Chris Gragg
did not play because of injury.
Freshmen Otha Peters
and A.J. Turner at linebacker, Mekale McKay and Keon Hatcher at wide receiver,
Alex Voelzke at tight end, Nate Holmes at punt returner, and Rohan Gaines,
Davyon McKinney and Will Hines in the secondary have all received a lot of
playing time.
“There are going to
be some young mistakes that we’re going to have to live with,” Smith said. “We
have to minimize those.”
Williams, who is
serving an indefinite suspension after being arrested for DWI, is “still
working to earn his way back on to this team,” Smith said.
Gragg reinjured his
leg against Ole Miss after initially injuring it against Rutgers and is
doubtful to play this Saturday. Davis is still recovering from a hamstring
injury, but Smith hopes he can play.
“(Davis) feels better
and his leg is coming along,” Smith said. “He had a good weekend of treatment.
I am more optimistic with him than Gragg.”
Against South
Carolina, Holmes suffered an above the shoulders injury and Smith is “keeping
his fingers crossed that he’ll be ready for Saturday.”
If Holmes cannot
play, senior Kaelon Kelleybrew, freshman D’Arthur Cowan and Hatcher will be
looked to as replacements for kickoff and punt returner.
Arkansas travels to
Starkville, Miss., to face the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The Bulldogs come
into the weekend with a 7-3 overall record and 3-3 Southeastern Conference
record.
After starting the
season 7-0, they have lost three consecutive games to teams now ranked in the
BCS Top 10.
“You’d rather be
facing a team that has lost three in a row than one that’s won three in a row,”
Smith said. “Let’s go and make it four (consecutive losses).”
Defensively, Arkansas
will face junior quarterback Tyler Russell, who averages 224.9 passing yards
per game and has only thrown four interceptions to 17 touchdowns.
“I really like what I
see out of their quarterback,” Smith said. “He does a good job and they do a
good job of protecting him.”
On the offensive side
of the ball, the Razorbacks must worry about a defense that “approaches” the
physicality of Alabama and LSU, Smith said.
Even with all of the
records being broken, the players remain intent on winning.
“Our main focus is to win and perform when
our number is called,” Hocker said.
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