Hogs buy into Dean for return
FAYETTEVILLE — D.J. Dean is hoping to put some punch into Arkansas’ punt returns this fall.
“I’ve got a couple moves,” Dean said with a smile. “I’m going to try to make the first guy miss and get vertical and try to go to the crib.”
The Razorbacks had nine punt returns for 67 yards last season, both SEC lows, when the focus was on having wide receiver Javontee Herndon fair catch punts.
Arkansas’ coaches are expecting more from Dean, a sophomore cornerback.
“We’ve got a guy back there now that I think is going to make a lot of plays for us,” said receivers coach Michael Smith, who works with the returners. “He’s just got a slippery attitude about him. He’s always cutting, juking, making guys miss.
“I don’t think he’s Joe Adams, but he’s going to suffice for us back there.”
Adams, a receiver with the Houston Texans, returned 36 punts for 570 yards — a 15.8-yard average — for the Razorbacks from 2008-2011. He returned five punts for touchdowns, including a 51-yarder against Kansas State in the 2012 Cotton Bowl.
Dean said he’s watched a lot of game tape on Adams.
“He was an electrifying player,” Dean said. “I’m pretty good, but I’m not Joe.”
Dean returned punts for Newton (Texas) High School.
“I took a few back,” he said. “If I didn’t take it back, I took it for good yardage.”
Smith said Dean looks natural catching the ball, a trait Dean attributes to playing quarterback in high school and often lining up to take Shotgun snaps.
“You know the quarterback has got the best hands,” he said. “I was catching the ball all the time.”
Smith said it will be huge for the Razorbacks to gain more “hidden yards” in the return game.
“When you put the offense on the field with 40 or 30 yards to score a touchdown, you’re going to be successful,” Smith said.
Dean said he hopes to average at least 10 yards per return.
“If I can do that, it’s just like getting a first down for the offense,” he said. “I’m going to try to get those guys rolling.”