FAYETTEVILLE — Only Cobi Hamilton has a 100-yard receiving game among the returning Arkansas Razorbacks.
That might change early in 2012 with sophomore Marquel Wade prepared to blossom among the large cast of wideout candidates in Arkansas’ potent offense.
Wade caught 7 passes for 153 yards and 3 touchdowns in last Friday’s scrimmage to lead the Hogs in all three categories. The stats are a bit misleading, since Wade worked with both the first and second teams, but the production is no fluke.
“We see his talent to catch and run after the catch,” Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said earlier this spring.
“He makes plays every day in practice,” said offensive coordinator Paul Petrino, who recruited Wade out of Jacksonville (Fla.) Andrew Jackson High School for the 2010 signing class. “We keep a catch chart, and going into the scrimmages, the practices leading up to that, he was way ahead of everybody else.
“That’s usually how it happens in the game. What happens in practice carries over into the game.”
Wade, so far best known for two plays - a kickoff return touchdown against New Mexico and an illegal wipe out of Vanderbilt punt returner Jonathan Krause that resulted in a personal foul penalty and an ejection - has a chance to erupt on the SEC and national scenes this fall.
“I’ve just got to go in and do what I have to do to step up and be the No. 1 person on the team,” Wade said.
“He’s going to be a great player,” tight end Chris Gragg said.
Wade caught a 17-yard play-action touchdown pass from Brandon Mitchell for his first score in last week’s scrimmage. He outran defenders on a 58-yard touchdown pass up the middle from Tyler Wilson, then added a 23-yard crossing route score from Wilson to pile up 98 yards in scoring plays alone.
“I was just feeling like I was in a groove,” Wade said. “I’m feeling like I’m doing something good to help the team.”
Wade said splitting time between two units - the better to fully grasp the offense, Bobby Petrino said - can get tiring, but Wade is improving his conditioning and hydrating enough to make it happen.
“He’s an explosive player, a guy you like to get the ball in the hands to,” Wilson said. “I expect a lot of great things from him, and he’ll continue to get better as well.”
Wade and fellow slot receiver Julian Horton should get plenty of opportunity in 2012, working the highly productive roles filled by Joe Adams and, on occasion, Jarius Wright last season.
Horton ranked eighth on the team with nine catches for 85 yards, while Wade was tied with Javontee Herndon for 10th with eight catches for 62 yards.
Paul Petrino said he thinks Wade has more than just the physical attributes - such as speed, agility and good hands - to put up numbers.
“He’s just mentally tough,” Petrino said. “He can run and run and run and not get tired.
“If you can do that, and you’ve got any talent, you can normally make a lot of plays.”
Sports, Pages 24 on 04/06/2012