SEC honors UA’s Kelley, kick returner
FAYETTEVILLE — After beating Southeastern Conference rival Ole Miss 38-37 Saturday, Arkansas turns its attention to a weak Sun Belt Conference team, Coastal Carolina, on Saturday in Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Kickoff is 3 p.m. on the SEC Network between the Razorbacks, 3-5 overall, and Coastal Carolina’s Chanticleers, 1-7, who lost 51-17 to Arkansas State Oct. 14 and 27-7 to Texas State on homecoming Saturday in Conway, S.C.
For their efforts against Ole Miss, Arkansas quarterback Cole Kelley was named freshman of the week and kick returner De’Vion Warren special teams player of the week by the SEC on Monday.
Kelley passed for 189 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for one. Warren had five kickoff returns for 141 yards including a long gain of 45.
“Special recognition to Cole … very well deserved,” coach Bielema said. “Obviously a game that he knows he did very, very well and some things we’ve got to improve upon. And then De’Vion Warren, so excited about his growth. Again, just a very exciting player and a lot of guys doing some good things around him.”
Bielema also touched on injured players including quarterback Austin Allen, center Frank Ragnow, running back Chase Hayden, safety De’Andre Coley and cornerback Britto Tutt.
“Austin Allen continues to progress,” Bielema said. “I’m sure you guys all saw him on Saturday throw it around. He’s still on kind of a limited number of reps. They want to see him throw the ball and how he recovers. He’ll definitely practice on Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday. What he does on Tuesday will affect what he does on Wednesday and vice versa. We’ll see how the week unfolds as we go that forward.
“Dre Coley was probably right on the cusp. I think he actually missed two games ago, got back out there on the practice field Wednesday and was moving around good, and then reaggravated it a little bit during practice. Wasn’t able to go. Tried to go, couldn’t go. … Britto Tutt, who didn’t make the trip with us, just basically reaggravated an old knee injury. Should be back with us tomorrow full go. His swelling is down and shouldn’t be an issue.”
Hayden and Ragnow were already determined to be out for the season from injuries they suffered in the Auburn game. Hayden has a chance in postseason play “if that opportunity arises,” said Bielema, adding that Ragnow undergoes surgery Wednesday.
In addition, fullback Kendrick Jackson has returned after going home because of his mother’s death. Offensive coordinator Dan Enos went home to be with his family after the death of his father.
Bielema named sophomore running back T.J. Hammonds the team’s offensive player of the game while outside linebacker Randy Ramsey nabbed the defensive honor. Bielema said five players won special-teams honors with kicker Connor Limpert and Warren joined by La’Michael Pettway, Grant Morgan and Ryder Lucas, who were on kickoff coverage.
Hammonds led the team in rushing with 89 yards on 11 attempts. Ramsey had nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. Limpert kicked the 34-yard field goal with four seconds remaining that gave the Hogs the win.
Paul Rhoads, Arkansas’ defensive coordinator, watched Ole Miss lead 31-7 in the second quarter but score only six more points in the last 40 minutes of the game.
“I think it was a constant message about just continuing to play, continue to execute what their assignments were and do their jobs as we like to say,” Rhoads said. “On the sideline because of that they never wavered. I really marvel over how the kids responded. There was no friction, no getting after each other, no arguments —which is something you would expect in the middle of a losing streak like we were and get down that fast. They were coachable, they were positive, they were encouraging each other. That was a huge factor in us being together and coming back playing some awfully good defense after the 10:51 mark of the second quarter.”