Receivers showing progress

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas wideouts accounted for nine receptions against Auburn, the most the unit has posted in a game this season, and its highest total since the group combined for eight receptions at Rutgers.

“I think it was much improved,” offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said. “I thought we protected a little bit better, I thought the quarterback threw the ball a little bit better, and I thought the receivers caught the ball a little bit better.

“There is not a simple flea to step on and squish and everything works in the passing game. It doesn’t work like that. It takes a lot.”

Javontee Herndon had the unit’s only three catches, for 62 yards, in Arkansas’ previous two games against South Carolina and Alabama.

Herndon and Keon Hatcher had four catches each against Auburn and D’Arthur Cowan added the ninth.

Tight ends caught a pair of passes against Auburn, and Kiero Small had a reception.

“I think if you watched the A&M game and then [Saturday], I think you see probably what our identity would ideally look like,” tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. said. “Those are two games that we were in the game from the start and we are able to get in the flow of the offense. I thought Jim called a really good game, an aggressive game, and I think what you saw we all felt like, ‘Yeah, this is us.’

“What you saw as far as throwing the ball down the field, the play-action, the different looks, the misdirection runs, that’s who we are.”