This article originally appeared in the September 18, 2013 issue of The Arkansas Traveler.
With sophomore quarterback Brandon Allen’s status still
uncertain for Saturday’s game against Rutgers, Arkansas will have to rely on
their backup quarterbacks.
The second-string quarterback listed on the depth chart is
junior AJ Derby, but there are three other quarterbacks on the roster, as well.
Allen left the Southern Miss game in the first quarter after
running for a five-yard touchdown and falling on his right shoulder.
There is no structural damage, so “it’s just a matter of how
fast his body can heal,” head coach Bret Bielema said.
If Allen cannot play, Derby will be the starter, with Brandon’s
younger brother, true freshman Austin Allen, and junior walk-on wide receiver
Brian Buehner receiving snaps in practice, Bielema said at his Monday press
conference.
Despite Derby passing for only 36 yards against Southern Miss,
Bielema said he was pleased with his performance.
“I’m excited for AJ. I’ve known him for a long time and he’s a
tremendous competitor,” Bielema said. “For him to come in and play the way he
did, especially after watching it on film, (was great).”
Last season, Derby was the starting quarterback at Coffeyville
Community College in Kansas, where he completed 46.4 percent of his passes for
1,936 yards. He led Coffeyville to a 6-4 record while throwing 22 touchdowns
and 14 interceptions.
“He was a starting quarterback and was involved in game
decisions,” Bielema said. “I know it’s junior college versus the SEC, but it’s
still football and that gets you excited.”
Before going to Coffeyville, he spent two seasons at Iowa. He
redshirted in 2010, then completed three passes for 30 yards in 2011. Near the
end of the season, the Iowa coaching staff moved him to linebacker.
The coaches wanted to redshirt Austin Allen this season, but
after his brother was injured, they are exploring all options.
“I wouldn’t have any reservations playing Austin. This early in
the season, we don’t have to hold anything back,” Bielema said.
Austin was highly recruited out of Fayetteville High, where he
completed 64 percent of his passes for 7,743 yards and 75 touchdowns in two
seasons as the starting quarterback. He also ran for 500 yards and 16
touchdowns while leading his team to back-to-back state titles.
During the spring, Austin was named the third-string
quarterback, so the coaches decided to move Buehner to wide receiver.
Buehner has been at Arkansas for three years, serving as the
holder for field goals and extra points the last two seasons. His only
collegiate game action at quarterback has come in six drives during the last
three Red-White games.
He has completed 8-of-14 passes for 95 yards and one
interception, as well as gaining 28 yards on six carries. In 2011, he led his
team on two touchdown drives.
In high school, he won a state championship in Kentucky, going
14-1.
True freshman Damon Mitchell has played mostly on the scout
team, but for the first couple weeks of practice, he worked in a special
package. However, it didn’t work out well enough for the coaches to remove his
redshirt, Bielema said.
Coming out of Cedar Creek High, which is about 85 miles south of
Rutgers’ campus, Mitchell was a 3-star recruit and the No. 15 dual-threat
quarterback in the country, according to Scout.com.
“I would love to take (Mitchell) back to New Jersey. He’s done
everything we’ve asked him to do,” Bielema said.
He was the starting quarterback for two seasons, throwing for
2,884 yards and 31 touchdowns and running for another 1,964 yards and 33
touchdowns.
If one of the backups does play in place of Allen, they will
need to be able to pass more than Derby did against Southern Miss.
Rutgers has the fifth-best run defense in the country, allowing
only 59.3 rushing yards per game. The Scarlet Knights’ opponents are averaging
50 percent less rushing yards against them than against their other opponents.
Passing the ball Saturday will force the Scarlet Knights to not
pack the box and give running backs Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams room to
run.
Playing a true freshman is not the ideal situation, but if Derby
struggles or gets injured, it may force the Razorbacks to do just that. The
most recent example of a true freshman starting quarterback at Arkansas was in
2006, when Mitch Mustain started eight games.
Mustain performed well enough to win all eight games, including
victories on the road at Vanderbilt and No. 2 Auburn. In those two games, he
had 311 yards, four touchdowns and one interception on 20-for-30 passing.
Regardless of who plays quarterback Saturday, Bielema said he is
confident going into his first road game at Arkansas.
“For us, it’s a chance to go on the road in a hostile
environment. It’s another chance for the next man in,” Bielema said. “Whether
(Allen) plays or not, AJ and other quarterbacks will step into that role.”
The
game is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. and will be televised nationally on
ESPN.
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