No. 12 Arkansas vs. No. 5 LSU: Earning their keep

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coaches felt they could survive the season at cornerback with veterans Ramon Broadway and Isaac Madison backed up by an inexperienced but talented crew led by Darius Winston.

With the season winding down to its final two games, starting Saturday against No. 5 LSU in Little Rock, that strategy is being put to the test by a string of injuries.

Broadway, a vocal leader and physical force in the secondary, was lost for the rest of the year with a dislocated ankle Nov. 6 at South Carolina. Madison, a 19-game starter, has been knocked out of the past two games with undisclosed injuries.

That has thrown Winston, a five-star recruit who is just now starting to emerge as a playmaker, junior Greg Gatson and true freshman Eric Bennett in the fray.

“The kids have done a tremendous job, and I think it’s through hard work,” defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said. “You look at Eric Bennett 12 weeks ago, and he wasn’t even a factor quite yet. He was trying to earn his way on the special teams. Now all of a sudden he’s playing for us, and he did a great job.

“Greg Gatson, the same thing two weeks ago. Then the flexibility of having Darius being able toplay right and left corner for us. They’re doing a tremendous job, those kids, and I’m very proud of them.”

Winston was one of three Razorbacks to play 103 snaps in last Saturday’s 38-31 double-overtime victory at Mississippi State, joining linebacker Jerry Franklin and safety Tramain Thomas.

Winston and Bennett, who both played virtually the entire second half, each recovered fumbles at Mississippi State, and Winston had previously logged his first career interception against Vanderbilt as well as another fumble recovery.

Against Mississippi State, Bennett posted four tackles and had a key pass breakup, while Winston logged two tackles.

“I thought they grew up tonight and kept battling,” Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said Saturday. “Both of them just stuck together, worked hard and battled.”

None of the healthy Arkansas cornerbacks was made available for interview requests Tuesday.

The Bulldogs seemed to target Bennett and completed passes against him, but he tackled receivers and won his share of the battles, too.

“After the game, I went up to them and told them they did a great job, especially when Isaac went out of the game,” linebacker Jerico Nelson said.

“They were there when it counted the most, like in overtime and the last drive of the game,” linebacker Jerry Franklin said. “I think they did a pretty good job.”

Madison took first-team reps Tuesday along with Winston as the Razorbacks prepared for LSU, putting Bennett and Gatson with the second team. Chances are they’ll all be needed the last two games.

“It’s how we practice,” Robinson said. “All of our kids get reps on defense. We have four- or five-play rotations and they all get the same reps.

“We expect the same effort and the same caliber of technique and focus, and I think that pays off in dividends. That’s something that we do from day one when we get rolling here.”