Warren wages kick-starter effort

FAYETTEVILLE — Fans attending the Arkansas Razorbacks’ game against Coastal Carolina today or watching on TV should not miss the opening kickoff.

Just in case De’Vion Warren does something exciting.

The Razorbacks’ freshman wide receiver has become a must-see kickoff returner and now leads the SEC in the category.

“Right now, that guy is a big play ready to happen,” defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads said. “You can just see on the sideline that our guys want to watch it, they want to see what’s going to happen.”

Senior safety Josh Liddell said the Razorbacks stop whatever they’re doing when Warren is back deep.

“He could take any kickoff to the house,” Liddell said. “He’s fun to watch.”

Warren has a kickoff return of 39 or more yards in four of five SEC games.

Before Warren’s arrival, the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville’s previous four kickoff returns of 39 or more yards in SEC play spanned 43 games.

“De’Vion’s pretty special,” receivers coach Michael Smith said. “I’ve been doing this a long time, and the schemes are awesome, but they become extraordinary when you’ve got a guy like him back there.

“He’s fearless, and that’s what I think you’ve got to be as a kick returner. He’s got a knack for it.”

Warren said he’s blessed to be returning kickoffs.

“As a freshman you just take the role that they give you and you embrace it,” he said. “It makes me feel I’m contributing to the team, making them better and making myself better.”

Two weeks ago Warren provided a bright spot in Auburn’s 52-20 victory over Arkansas when he returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.

“He’s really fast, there’s no doubt,” Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn said. “He did a good job playing off his blocks.”

It was the first kickoff return for a touchdown by a Razorback since Korliss Marshall’s 97-yarder against Northern Illinois in 2014 and the first against an SEC opponent since Dennis Johnson’s 98-yarder against South Carolina in 2011.

Warren returned five kickoffs for 141 yards in Arkansas’ 38-37 victory at Ole Miss last week — including a 45-yarder — to give the Razorbacks an average starting field position of their 34. He was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week.

“It’s real exciting watching De’Vion,” senior nose guard Bijhon Jackson said. “I think after that big return he had against Auburn, he’s got a lot more confidence.

“He comes out now and I think he’s looking towards the end zone every time. We all stand up and watch him, feed off of what he does. He gives us all a lot of confidence and positive energy on the sideline.”

Warren has 16 kickoff returns for 467 yards and leads the SEC with a 29.2-yard average. In five SEC games, he’s averaging 30.8 yards.

“De’Vion Warren, he’s a freak now,” guard Hjalte Froholdt said.

Warren is a providing a huge special teams boost for the Razorbacks after they averaged 16.8 yards on kickoff returns last season to finish last in the SEC and 111th nationally.

“De’Vion’s such a contagious player,” Coach Bret Bielema said. “He has some special skills that make the guys block a little bit longer, strain a little bit harder.”

Warren, 5-10 and 181 pounds, said he has a simple approach to returning kickoffs.

“Don’t drop the ball. Make sure you catch it,” he said. “Then just follow your blocks, look for the hole and run.”

Good vision, Warren said, is important, too.

“You never know when a hole is going to open up,” he said. “It could be the way it’s called or it could be backside. You’ve got to make sure you see all your surroundings.”

Bielema said the coaches have given Warren a look as a punt returner in practice, but they’ve decided he’s not quite ready for that role yet.

“It’s just not in his bag of tricks right now,” Bielema said. “He’s just not as consistent at catching the punt.

“I can’t tell you how many guys in my coaching career could be wonders in kickoff return, but just couldn’t quite grasp punt. It’s different. It comes off the foot different. The wind comes into play a lot more.”

Coaches said Warren is progressing as a receiver in practice and might get more snaps on offense.

“De’Vion certainly continues to improve as a receiver each and every week,” offensive coordinator Dan Enos said. “He’ll have a very good career here playing wide re- ceiver.”

Warren said the Auburn game was the first time he returned a kickoff for a touchdown.

Not at Monroe (La.) Ouachita Parish High School, he said, nor in junior high or PeeWee football.

Not even in the backyard? “Well, maybe there,” Warren said. “But I don’t think playing in your backyard really counts.”

Warren said he returned a couple of kickoffs as a sophomore at Ouachita Parrish, but the coaches took him off special teams because he was playing quarterback.

Arkansas’ coaches have the freshmen practice on special teams during preseason camp, Smith said, and Warren showed ability as a kickoff returner with his speed and ball skills.

“I watched him run the ball all over in high school, so I knew he was good with the ball in his hands,” Smith said. “He’s just a natural kickoff returner.”

Warren