razorbacks
By Nate Allen
FAYETTEVILLE - Previously injured senior right tackle Dalton Wagner and previously injured graduate transfer senior defensive tackle Markell Utsey both will return for the Arkansas Razorbacks’ SEC game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs, Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman said Monday.
The Razorbacks, 5-3 overall/ 1-3 in the SEC West, host Mississippi State, 5-3, 3-2 in the SEC West, at 3 p.m. Saturday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium televised by the SEC Network.
Wagner has been idled by hand surgery which had an extra week to heal with last week’s open date week following Wagner missing the Oct. 16 SEC loss to Auburn and the Oct. 23 nonconference victory over UAPB (Arkansas-Pine Bluff).
Utsey also was withheld from the UAPB game and withheld from contact during the open date practices last week.
“Dalton practiced yesterday (Sunday),” Pittman said. “Did the walkthroughs last week. I expect him to be back."
Wagner is listed either-or to start with Ty Clary, the senior starting the last two games at right offensive tackle.
Utsey is listed either-or to start with sophomore Eric Gregory, the starter in Utsey’s place against UAPB.
DOMINIQUE RUNS FIRST
Like a video stuck on repeat, Pittman weekly asserts that sophomore running back Dominique Johnson should get more carries than he gets.
And then he doesn’t. Not put into the game until the second quarter of Arkansas’ 45-0 first-half romp of its 45-3 victory over UAPB, Johnson logged but six carries for his 91 yards, four carries in the second and two quick ones and out in the third quarter to stay healthy with the game out of hand.
Judging by Johnson logging Monday’s practice first carry with the first-team offense, look for Pittman dictating to the offensive staff that Johnson carries from the get-go against Mississippi State.
“ If that’s starting him to get more carries then that’s what we’re going to do,” Pittman said Monday. “He’s a guy that’s running over people, making people miss, and he needs to get more carries. I thought we had that figured out, but we didn’t. I’m positive we’ve got it figured out now.”
GETTING THEIR NICKELS’ WORTH
On defense Arkansas’ lists an interesting either-or at nickel back.
Since his freshman year, junior Greg Brooks has logged 26 starts at nickel but came off the bench against UAPB for true freshman Jayden Johnson’s starting opportunity.
Brooks and Johnson are listed either-or to start vs. Mississippi State.
“"Greg has been a man about it,” Pittman said of Jayden Johnson starting ahead of him. “Obviously when you get replaced you have two options. You can go either beat the guy back out or mope and pout and guarantee you're not going to beat him out. I think with Simeon Blair (the veteran safety supplanted against UAPB by Malik Chavis) and Greg both have had great attitudes. You can't beat somebody out pouting and neither one of them has done that. They've gone back trying to win their job back."
RAZORBACKS REGROUPED
Off last Friday and Saturday after open date workouts Tuesday through Thursday, the Razorbacks regrouped Sunday to start game-week practices vs. Mississippi State. Monday they held their fully padded, hardest practice of game week which they normally do on Tuesdays.
However this Tuesday the NCAA is giving all college teams an off day since its Election Day and allowing athletes ample opportunity to vote.
Pittman said he could have petitioned the SEC with a waiver request to practice Tuesday and keep Sunday an off day but declined with the Hogs already off last Friday and Saturday.
“We practiced yesterday (Sunday), and it was a very good practice. Very lively practice.”
BULLDOGS BREEZE
While the Hogs had their open date weekend, Coach Mike Leach Bulldogs last Saturday in Starkville, Miss. not just upset but dominated, 31-17 the then nationally No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats of the SEC East.
State’s defense stifled Kentucky’s respected running game to 66 yards rushing while offensively Bulldogs quarterback Will Rogers set a SEC 92 percent completion record completing 36 of 39 passes.
“Mississippi State, they're playing really well right now,” Pittman said. “Their quarterback, Will Rogers, was incredible on Saturday. They protect him really well. Nobody really got close to him. They have a lot of wideouts that are playing well. They have two really nice backs. So, on offense they're starting to hit on all strides, I think.”
STATE’S DEFENSE STELLAR, TOO
Obviously their defense broke Kentucky’s stride.
“They play so much multiple defense,” Pittman said. “They show many fronts and they move. I think the thing that's most concerning is they're big, but they have a lot of movement and a lot of blitzes. You have to stay out of third-and-long against them.”
HOGS AT NIGHT AT LSU
Arkansas’ Nov. 13 SEC West game against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. will kick off at 6:30 p.m. on the SEC Network, it was announced Monday.