Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
STARKEL explains bad throw.
FAYETTEVILLE — University of Arkansas quarterback Nick Starkel explained the play on which he injured his left arm against Texas A&M and touted the work of Ben Hicks in that game in his first visit to the media room since the Razorbacks’ lost 31-27 to the No. 23 Aggies two weeks ago.
“That’s expected,” Starkel said of Hicks’ 15-of-27 passing for 188 yards and a touchdown against the Aggies. “He’s been in this offense a long time and that’s it. One guy goes down, another guy’s got to step right in.
“And it’s not, ‘Hey, get ready.’ It’s, ‘Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.’ That’s what we preached, and he did a great job, and I told him. I came up to him after the game and I said, ‘Hey, I’ve got a lot of respect for you and just what you did out there today.’ And so, you know, we’re good.”
Starkel was forced out of the game with a left arm contusion after completing 12 of 17 passes for 109 yards. He was injured after a called shovel pass to Rakeem Boyd from the Aggies’ 3 went awry and ended with a tipped pass and an interception by 300-pound Justin Madubuike in the end zone. Madubuike barreled through the 214-pound Starkel after an 18-yard return.
“The biggest takeaway from that play probably would be just don’t throw to the other team,” Starkel said. “We can talk about tackling all we want, but I shouldn’t have to be making a tackle. I shouldn’t be making that mistake. That’s on me. That’s me making a bad play worse, in my opinion.”
Starkel said the Texas A&M defense reacted well to the play call.
“You practice one way the whole week always getting it,” he said. “You’re always getting a look, always getting guys blocked where we have Rakeem running wide open. You have a little shovel pass, and we get in the game and the guy kinda plays in between us.
“So the shovel pass turns into a real throw with the guy on him. I’ve just got to know sometimes they get us. Sometimes they beat us on a play. I’ve got to throw the ball away. I’ve got to do a better job of throwing the ball away or hold onto it and just run out there.”
Starkel, who was practicing last week during the open date, said he’s gotten all his strength back in his left arm and has been feeling good at practice.