Best and also Worst of Arkansas football in 2022 

January 14, 2023

FAYETTEVILLE– New trainers and also a significantly overhauled lineup will certainly be 2 of the much more remarkable modifications for the Arkansas Razorbacks when wintertime conditioning job starts quickly.

College of Arkansas football had among its greatest “what-if” periods in current memory in 2022, topping the 7-6 project with a thrilling 55-53 win in three-way overtime versus Kansas in the Freedom Dish to break a four-game losing touch in one-score video games.

The one-score video games are where the mass of the “what-ifs” live.

If quarterback KJ Jefferson had not jumped from the 3-yard line versus Texas A&M, resulting in an indecipherable Aggies goal. If Ricky Stromberg had not broke the round off his behind, resulting in a 9-yard loss, and also if Webcam Little had actually started with a 40-yard basket. Every one of those are simply from one video game, a 23-21 loss to Texas A&M.

In a 21-19 loss to Freedom, so Jefferson had actually been really feeling much better and also the Razorbacks had actually fixed the Blazes’ line stunts the end result might have been various.

Versus LSU, so Jefferson had actually been readily available and also if the Razorbacks might have racked up a goal from the 1-yard line to go on 10-0, the Hogs might have logged their greatest trouble of the year.

In the period ending, if Arkansas had actually simply racked up a goal from the 1 versus Missouri as opposed to a basket, maybe one more triumph remained in the production.

Win 2 of those video games and also Arkansas may be resting at 9-4, very same document as last period, and also still considered as a possible rising star in the SEC West.

As it stands, the Razorbacks are one more group in the pack chasing Alabama, LSU and also the top of the hardest department in university football.

The return of Jefferson and also 1,443-yard rush Raheim Sanders for offending planner Kendal Briles behind seasoned returnees on the offending line like Brady Latham and also Beaux Limmer is a strong beginning factor for 2023. However the Razorbacks will certainly have a brand-new protective plan under first-year planner Travis Williams and also lots of openings to fill up on that particular side of the round and also at pass receiver.

Arkansas’ offending expertise and also equilibrium last autumn, in spite of having a healthy and balanced Jefferson for 10 video games at best, was past remarkable and also right into the world of extraordinary.

The Razorbacks was among simply 3 FBS groups together with Ole Miss and also UCLA, to ordinary 230 lawns hurrying and also passing. It’s the very first time Arkansas has actually managed that accomplishment en path to putting together 6,128 lawns, the second-highest overall in institution background.

Beyond of the round, Williams will certainly be entrusted with searching for solutions for a group that completed dead last in passing protection, ranking 131st in the FBS in permitting a school-record 294.7 lawns per video game while likewise damaging Arkansas’ single-season document with 42 sacks.

What adheres to is the very best and also worst of Arkansas football 2022:

Ideal win

Plainly this comes from the 42-27 gain Ole Miss on Nov. 19 with dish qualification at risk. Arkansas competed to a 42-6 lead prior to touching the breaks on its hurry-up violation.

Regardless of permitting a jaw-dropping 703 lawns to the Rebels– 216 of them in the 4th quarter– the Razorbacks took care of 503 lawns overall violation, consisting of 335 on the ground.

A close secondly: A 52-35 thrashing of BYU in Provo, Utah, when the Razorbacks racked up on 8 successive properties and also were rejected from the 1-yard line in attempting to make it 9 straight.

Worst loss

Easy. The 23-21 obstacle versus Texas A&M stopped Arkansas from opening up 4-0 for the 2nd successive year and also suffocated the energy from a warm beginning that saw the Hogs get to No. 10 in The Associated Press Top 25. The loss included a failing inside the Texas A&M 3-yard line that would certainly develop into a bugaboo motif that haunted the Hogs. Sam Pittman might have conserved himself a number of timeouts in the closing mins in situation Little’s basket went awry, and also the muffed breeze indicated expensive shed yardage.

2nd area was a 21-19 loss to Freedom in the house. Arkansas might have won its 3rd straight video game after roadway wins at BYU and also Auburn, yet it might not get rid of a sluggish beginning. Train Sam Pittman’s touch of non-conference victories to open his period finished at 8, and also it would certainly currently go to 10 if the Razorbacks had only rallied for that win.

Many leading win

This is a close one, in between the 44-30 loss of South Carolina in Week 2 and also the 52-35 roadway win at BYU on Oct. 15.

Arkansas racked up goals on its initial 3 properties versus the Gamecocks and also led 35-16 very early in the 4th quarter. The Razorbacks recuperated 1 of 2 onside kicks in the late going and also outgained their site visitors 457-417 in overall violation.

BYU held a goal lead on 3 celebrations in the initial fifty percent, yet Arkansas racked up 24 second-quarter indicate take control. The Razorbacks, that outgained the Cougars 644-471 in overall violation, racked up on 8 successive properties and also it would certainly’ve been 9 if they might have typed from the 1 late in the video game. The beatdown of BYU was Arkansas’ most leading win.

Least affordable loss

When you shed 4 video games by 3 factors or much less, the pickings are slim in this classification. The Razorbacks shed by 23 indicate 2 groups yet the loss at Mississippi State was plainly much more gnarly.

No. 2 Alabama retreated late after a horrible non-call on a 77-yard shuffle to win 49-26.

Arkansas merely was not in opinion throughout its 40-17 loss at No. 23 Mississippi State the adhering to week without KJ Jefferson, that had actually experienced a trauma late versus the Crimson Trend.

The Bulldogs masqueraded 406 lawns, appreciated a 568-483 side in overall violation and also fended off 2 Razorback drives inside their 10-yard line without any factors permitted.

Ideal pass

Exactly how around one for every quarterback? KJ Jefferson’s 19-yard goal strike in web traffic to Jadon Haselwood in the opener versus Cincinnati was a point of elegance.

Malik Hornsby supplied a long-distance treasure to Bryce Stephens, that made a solid jumping catch for a 54-yard rating at Mississippi State. Cade Fortin awaited versus an approaching blitzed and also supplied an ideal 40-yard goal pass to Matt Landers to draw the Hogs within 13-10 versus LSU early in the 4th quarter.

Ideal catch

2 terrific ones began the very same collection versus Ole Miss. Ketron Jackson, running right to left on a going across path, quit and also took 12-yard toss from KJ Jefferson, equally as protective back Isheem Youthful knocked his top torso back the various other means after a wonderful all-hands catch.

2 plays later on, Matt Landers generated a basket catch for a 23-yard goal, evaluating his best shoulder, a la Willie Mays’ well-known 1954 Globe Collection capture, with Rebels’ cornerback Miles Fight virtually glued to him.

Ideal run

A lot of to choose from, consisting of KJ Jefferson’s terrific leaves versus BYU, Kansas and also others, and also his 13-yard tackle-breaking shuffle up the center for a goal and also a 14-3 lead at Auburn, yet we’ll opt for among Raheim Sanders’ breakaways right here.

On the 2nd breeze of the 2nd fifty percent, Sanders took a run-pass choice handoff at best guard, avoided linebacker Khari Coleman in the red while obtaining seal blocks from Beaux Limmer and also Dalton Wagner. Cornerback Deantre Royal prince overtook him at regarding the Ole Miss 30, yet Sanders drifted best and also won the sprint for a 68-yard goal and also a 42-6 Arkansas lead.

Ideal follow catch

Raheim Sanders captured KJ Jefferson’s shovel pass at the 23-yard line simply a number of action in front of the quarterback and also he understood simply what to do with the Hogs tracking Missouri State 27-17 very early in the 4th quarter. Sanders launched, with great blocks throughout him, consisting of Ricky Stromberg’s down area. Safety and security Kyriq McDonald took a negative angle and also paid the cost, ordering simply the rear of Sanders’ underwear as he competed past at the 50. Sanders took the pass 73 lawns for a goal to sustain a late rally in a 38-27 win.

Ideal hits

There were a couple of. Fresher linebacker Chris Paul obtained a squashing shot know Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart on a caretaker over the best side early in the Hogs’ 42-27 win.

The greatest impact of the year nevertheless, can be found in Memphis. Fresher cornerback Quincey McAdoo entered a ferocious lawful appeal Kansas’ Quentin , dropping his shoulder right into the wideout’s mid-section to shake his globe. hung on for a 4-yard catch in the 2nd quarter, yet he was harming and also needed to appear of the video game.

Ideal sack

The Razorbacks scratched a school-record 42 of them, so there are heaps to choose from. Drew Sanders had among his 9.5 sacks and also placed Missouri State’s distressed hopes away with a 6-yarder on 3rd and also 15 late in the video game.

Jordan Domineck transformed his initial sack as a Razorback right into a game-changer when he removed Cincinnati’s Ben Bryant at midfield and also recuperated himself in the 4th quarter to maintain the Hogs’ 24-17 lead in what ended up being a 31-24 triumph.

Ideal play layout

Absolutely there were lots of them that created large plays and also goals, yet right here’s 2 that stick out.

Rashod Dubinion’s wheel path around down the left sideline late in the initial fifty percent created a 15-yard goal catch and also a 31-21 Arkansas lead with 40 secs prior to halftime at BYU.

Offending planner Kendal Briles took a San Francisco 49ers play and also adjusted it for the Freedom Dish. KJ Jefferson fabricated entrusted to Bryce Stephens, that had actually moved right into the backfield, fabricated right to the tailback Dubinion, after that struck fresher limited end Ty Washington for a 17-yard goal on his only catch of the period for a 17-7 lead over the Jayhawks.

Worst device play

The Razorbacks have actually not had the very best success with trick plays in recent times and also this was an archetype. Limited end Trey Knox entered activity on 2nd and also objective from the Missouri 2-yard line with Arkansas tracking 29-24 very early in the 4th quarter and also he ended up under facility.

Ricky Stromberg broke it, Knox bobbled it, and also when he safeguarded property there was no space to manipulate, no place to run. Knox was picked up no gain and also one incompletion later on, Webcam Little began for a 20-yard basket as Arkansas could not make the most of initial and also objective from the 2.

Ideal sack evasion

That there are greater than a pair to review commends KJ Jefferson’s escapability. Jefferson averted what appeared like a certain sack from a minimum of 3 BYU protectors on a third-and-11 play to locate Trey Knox for a 36-yard gain, establishing Rashod Dubinion’s 15-yard goal catch.

Jefferson likewise powered far from Lonnie Phelps’ grip to escape for a 32-yard shuffle on Arkansas’ last property of the initial fifty percent in the Freedom Dish. That terrific play did not bring about a rating, as the Jayhawks obstructed Jefferson ultimately area, so the selection is the initial choice, when Jefferson clambered like a champ versus the Cougars.

Ideal choice

2 stick out over the others.

Transfer cornerback Dwight McGlothern made undercut an out path on Cincinnati’s opening property, made the interception and also returned it 51 lawns to the 29 to establish a Jefferson goal run. That play was a significant consider the Hogs’ gain the 23rd-ranked Bearcats.

Fresher Quincey McAdoo in his initial activity at cornerback, dogged a going across path by Freedom’s Noah Frith, after that seized the round far from the receiver as both rolled to the yard.

Ideal strip

Cornerback Dwight McGlothern had a number of takeaways throughout the year, consisting of a rip-away recuperated by colleague Hudson Clark to secure a 52-35 win at BYU early in the 4th quarter.

However he outshined himself early in the 2nd fifty percent versus Ole Miss. Quinshon Judkins had actually damaged totally free for a 16-yard run yet rather than getting energy from the play, the Rebels transformed it over as McGlothern assisted stand him up, after that tore the round away and also recuperated at the Ole Miss 46.

Ideal unique interplay

Bryce Stephens scratched the only Arkansas unique groups rating of the year in Week 3 and also it was a game-changer. With Arkansas tracking Missouri State 27-24 in the 4th quarter, the redshirt fresher pulled back to his very own 18 to capture a flourishing 57-yard punting. Stephens began left, grabbed some blocks, consisting of a crucial one from Hudson Clark, competed to his right, struck the sideline and also out-ran all protectors for an 82-yard punting return rating to offer Arkansas the lead.

Likewise a competitor was a smart onside kick, implemented and also recuperated by first guy Jake Bates after the Hogs drew within 28-14 versus Alabama. Linebackers Chris Paul and also Jordan Criminal integrated to erase 2 Alabama gamers near the healing factor, following the round had actually gone 10 lawns, leaving Bates all alone to cradle the kick. Webcam Little started a 22-yard basket mins later on to make the wager settle.

Worst unique interplay

There were a couple of, yet the standout was Little’s missed out on 40-yard basket versus Texas A&M, which could have created a remarkable 24-23 win, and also the whiff on an onside kick healing in the closing minutes of law versus Kansas in the Freedom Dish.

The Hogs stopped working to have a male make an effort to recoup Kansas’ on-side begin the winding down minutes of law, resulting in a Jayhawk goal and also two-point conversion to connect the video game at 38-38.

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