Razorbacks look to end losing streak against Aggies
FAYETTEVILLE - Texas A&M receiver/Arkansas killer Christian Kirk has graduated to the NFL and A&M coach Kevin Sumlin was fired and has moved on to Arizona.
Otherwise, it seems the same old Aggies that have beaten the Razorbacks for six consecutive SEC seasons since moving from the Big 12 into the SEC West in 2012.
That suffices for the Aggies (2-2, 0-1) but with the losses to nationally No. 1 Alabama and then No. 2 now No. 3 Clemson, to be rated a 20-point favorite over the Razorbacks (1-3, 0-1) in Saturday’s 11 a.m. ESPN televised game at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Given he has a national championship in his repertoire, A&M presumably upgraded hiring Jimbo Fisher away from Florida State replacing Sumlin. Sumlin opened spectacularly at 11-2 and 9-4 with Johnny Manziel as his quarterback, then annually plateaued to 8-5, 8-5, 8-5 and 7-5 after hot starts and was fired before A&M lost 55-52 to Wake Forest in last year’s Belk Bowl.
There’s no way they can upgrade losing Kirk, a second-round draft choice to the Arizona Cardinals.
In A&M’s 50-43 overtime victory over Arkansas last year, Kirk returned a 100--
yard kickoff return for a touchdown and caught five passes for 110 yards, including an 81-yard touchdown and the 10-yard TD that became the overtime game-winner.
Still the Aggies sport plenty of returning firepower.
Sophomore quarterback Kellen Mond returns from devastating Arkansas last year with both his legs (109 yards rushing) and arm (14-of-27 for 216 yards with two touchdowns overcoming one interception).
Running back Trayveon Williams, recovering from a foot injury, still hurt Arkansas last year by netting a touchdown and 72 yards on 17 carries after overwhelming the Hogs in 2016.
Williams netted 153 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries when A&M prevailed 45-24 in 2016 at AT&T Stadium.
Defensive back Armani Watts, the most heralded on last year’s A&M defense, now plays in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs.
However, defensive ends Landis Durham and Kingsley Keke and linebackers Tyrel Dodson, Otaro Alaka and Buddy Johnson and cornerback Debione Renfro, all return.
First-year Arkansas coach Chad Morris said defense is an underrated, but solid component of the Aggies’ outfit.
“They are just a really good football team,” Morris said. “Very sound. One of the best third-down defenses in the country. I know Kellen Mond has been outstanding for them.
“Continuing to get better and watching his career as he continues to grow. They have big, physical receivers. The running back (Williams) is elite. It will definitely be a good football game.”
Morris went into Thursday’s completely closed practice believing the Razorbacks in better shape to play a football game than they’ve been all season.
Though ultimately appearing drubbed 34-3 in last Saturday’s SEC opener at Auburn, the Razorbacks actually appeared more solidified on both sides of the ball than in their preceding 34-27 and 44-17 non-conference losses at Colorado State and in Fayetteville against North Texas.
Arkansas’ defense, battling overwhelming field position odds because of breakdowns on special teams, played its best game of the season after playing better than the score indicated against North Texas.
Offensively, Morris settled against Auburn on junior Ty Storey to be the starting quarterback and it carries over with him and the team.
“I think from watching them, there's a confidence level with everyone saying he's our guy,” Morris said Wednesday. “Let's rally and let's keep going.”
The return to health of fourth-year junior left tackle Colton Jackson, starting against Auburn after missing the first two games off July back surgery and testing his back off the bench against North Texas, and installing sophomore Ty Clary at center moving senior center Hjalte Froholdt back to the left guard position that he played in 2016 and 2017, has balanced the line’s left side with seniors Johnny Gibson and Brian Wallace continuing at right guard and right tackle.
Morris and offensive coordinator Joe Craddock both say they now start their best five on the offensive line.
The Razorbacks for this game are without running back Devwah Whaley (concussion at Auburn) and for the remainder of the season without senior receiver Jonathan Nance, last year’s leading receiver who announced earlier this week that he is transferring after logging just one catch in four games.
Junior Deon Stewart, who has caught five passes for 54 yards, takes Nance’s place.
With Whaley out, Rakeem Boyd, originally an Aggie before transferring to Independence (Kan.) Junior College and this semester to Arkansas, becomes the featured back.
He likely would have been featured anyway off his team-leading eight carries for 66 yards against Auburn, including a 45-yarder setting up Connor Limpert’s field goal.
“I think last week was an opportunity for him to continue to show steady improvements,” Morris said. “I expect that to continue this week.”