Receivers emerging for Kelley
FAYETTEVILLE — New receiving weapons are emerging for the Arkansas Razorbacks just in time to help quarterback Cole Kelley adjust to his starting role.
Brandon Martin, a 6-4, 219-pound sophomore who had been battling back and hamstring injuries throughout the first half of the season, broke out with four catches for 34 yards in Arkansas’ 41-9 loss at No. 1 Alabama.
“It’s definitely a confidence boost, because that’s Alabama, the No. 1 team,” Martin said. “I just showed my coaches and my teammates that they could trust me out on the field to make plays for them.”
Jordan Jones caught his first touchdown a week ago at South Carolina, then added four catches for a team-high 72 yards and another score against the Crimson Tide. Jones’ 3-yard touchdown catch on a high-velocity slant from Kelley came among three defenders, with linebacker Mack Wilson delivering a heavy blow.
“When a guy goes in traffic like that, it’s always good to see,” receivers coach Michael Smith said. “We want our guys to be fearless, and I don’t know if he could’ve dropped it as hard as Cole threw it to him.
“I was excited for him. To score a touchdown against Alabama, I don’t care what time of the game it is, it’s something he’ll have as a memory for the rest of his life.”
Deon Stewart had a teamhigh six catches for 65 yards.
Offensive coordinator Dan Enos said Alabama did a good job covering leading receiver Jonathan Nance, who entered the game with a team-high 23 catches for 374 yards and 5 touchdowns but wound up with one catch against the Tide.
“He didn’t get a lot of room,” Enos said. “He let one ball go through his hands early in the game that he was targeted for a catch. But other than that, we weren’t trying to not get him the ball, if you will. He just didn’t create a lot of separation for himself at certain times and the other guys did.”