Nate Allen on Arkansas vs Kentucky/Saturday Advance
FAYETTEVILLE – Like champagne, Nick Starkel strives finishing with a kick.
Quarterbacking Arkansas possessions finished by kicking a PAT is Plan A and a field goal Plan B.
But Plan C punting will do, Arkansas Razorbacks Coach Chad Morris emphasizes going into tonight’s SEC game at Kentucky.
Razorback junior quarterback Nick Starkel (#17) from Argyle, TX takes the snap to drop back and pass against San Jose State at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, AR.
The Razorbacks, 2-3 overall/0-2 in the SEC West, and the Kentucky Wildcats, 2-3/0-3 in the SEC East, clash at 6:30 CDT tonight on the SEC Network at Kentucky’s’ Kroger Field in Lexington.
Starkel, 81 for 131 and 1,019 yards, has concluded seven possessions throwing touchdown passes. He’s badly concluded seven possessions throwing seven interceptions. Starkel threw three touchdowns and five picks when the Hogs two games ago were upset, 31-24 by San Jose State.
“He’s got to protect the football better and he knows that,” Morris said. “Not every ball’s going to be a touchdown pass. We want every drive to end with a kick. And if it’s a punt there’s nothing wrong with that.”
Razorback junior quarterback Nick Starkel (#17) from Argyle, TX scrambles for a first down against San Jose State at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, AR.
With an open date week plus these game week practices since Arkansas last played Sept. 28 in the 31-27 closely contested SEC West loss to three-touchdown favorite Texas A&M, Starkel has had plenty of time for Morris’ message taking hold.
It was reinforced by A&M picking off Starkel’s shovel pass and injuring his elbow as he tried to make the tackle.
“I’ve got to do a better job of throwing the ball away or hold onto it and just run out there,” Starkel said. “Every possession has got to end with a kick. That’s something we’ve really stressed this week.”
Ironically a graduate transfer via Texas A&M, Starkel said his elbow injury, finishing him against A&M just before halftime, has healed. He practiced every practice last week and this week.
Meanwhile via SMU graduate transfer Ben Hicks a record-setting starting quarterback for Morris at SMU in 2016 and 2017 but ineffectual starting Arkansas’ first two games of 2019, played superbly relieving Starkel against the Aggies. Hicks completed 15 of 27 for 181 yards and touchdown without an interception.
“He did a great job,” Starkel said. “I came up to him after the game and I said ‘Hey, I’ve got a lot of respect for you and just what you did out there today.”So it seems Morris feels the best about his quarterbacks than any time this season.
Razorback junior quarterback Nick Starkel (#17) from Argyle, TX scrambles away from pressure against Texas A&M at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.
It contrasts with what Kentucky Coach Mark Stoops endures. Terry Wilson quarterbacked last year’s Wildcats to a stunning 10-3 capped by a Citrus Bowl victory over Penn State.
However a season-ending injury exited Wilson two games into 2019. His successor, Sawyer Smith, played Kentucky’s last game Sept. 28 injured in a 24-7 SEC loss at South Carolina.
Smith didn’t practice during Kentucky’s open date week last week. Despite Smith deeming himself healed, Stoops has said little about Smith’s health this week other than he’s “out there” along with so far unused sophomore squadman Walter Wood and the intriguing Lynn Bowden, Kentucky’s most explosive player as its leading receiver, punt returner and kick returner, and best rushing average, 7.6 on 13 carries for 99 yards, Bowden has taken direct snaps in the Wildcats’ Wildcat formation. He’s completed 3 of 4 passes, one for 32 yards, and as an ex-high school quarterback has quarterbacked in recent practices.
Morris said he expects Stoops quarterbacking both Smith and Bowden and warns not deeming Bowden a run-only QB.
“Obviously he’s just electric with his ability to run the football,” Morris said. ‘As a quarterback in high school you can’t go to sleep on his passing game.”
While conventional quarterbacking seems in Arkansas’ favor, Kentucky’s strong point is its mammoth defensive line freeing playmaking linebackers Kash Daniel and DeAndre Square.
Arkansas’ offensive line does not appear full strength. Senior left offensive tackle Colton Jackson of Conway, sorely missed against San Jose State when sidelined in concussion protocol, suffered a similar injury against Texas A&M and likely won’t play against Kentucky.Also starting center Ty Clary has only practiced on a limited basis since his concussion protocol post A&M.Somebody in Lexington is going to break an SEC 0-fer.
Oddsmakers pick the home team by a touchdown.
Razorback junior quarterback Nick Starkel (#17) from Argyle, TX throws a pass for a first down against Texas A&M at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.
