Hatcher readying to play

LITTLE ROCK — Owasso (Okla.) Coach Bill Patterson said receiver Keon Hatcher is just getting started.

“In 35 years of coaching, Keon’s one of the best players I’ve ever had,” said Patterson, who coached former Arkansas standout quarterback Quinn Grovey at Duncan, Okla. “He’s the first player at wide receiver I’ve had who could take over and dominate a game. He is a very gifted receiver. He’s big and physical receiver who competes for the ball.”

Hatcher, 6-2, 197 pounds, led the state of Oklahoma in receptions (100), yards (1,610) and touchdowns (20) as a senior. Hatcher signed with the Razorbacks in February after turning down a late scholarship offer from Oklahoma State.

Patterson had high hopes for Hatcher as a sophomore, but he missed most of the season after sustaining a hippointer. Hatcher came back and caught 76 passes for 1,075 yards and 9 touchdowns as a junior and impressed Arkansas enough to receive a scholarship offer during a June camp.

Hatcher orally committed to the Razorbacks in August, then reaffirmed his commitment after taking a late recruiting visit to Oklahoma State.

“What got me was the offense and Tyler Wilson,” Hatcher said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he won the Heisman Trophy, he’s that good.”

Patterson said he was surprised Hatcher didn’t receive more offers from major colleges, blaming that on a poor 40-yard dash time Hatcher ran as a 13-year-old at a combine before his freshman year. When Hatcher ran 4.5 at the Arkansas camp, the Razorbacks extended an offer soon after.

Hatcher is one of four new additions at receiver for Arkansas, and he is looking forward to doing his best to step into a rotation that must replace three receivers drafted by the NFL.

“My expectation is to put in the work and show the coaches I want it,” Hatcher said. “I have that much confidence in myself. My expectation is I can go in and play right away.”

To prepare for that, Hatcher is putting in the work before fall practices start. Patterson has stressed to him repeatedly the importance of being in excellent physical shape, and Hatcher has pored over the playbook Razorbacks coaches gave him.

“If he’s in good shape he can concentrate on the mental aspect of playing football instead of just trying to survive physically,” Patterson said. “I told him at Arkansas he has an opportunity to set himself up for life. This is not something you expect instant gratification. You have to work for it. It’s very high-level football. He’ll have to put his nose to the grindstone.”

Hatcher said he is ready for that, too. He watches Internet videos of receiver workouts because, as a big receiver, he understands his strength and route running are more important than his speed.

“Most big receivers can run really crisp routes,” Hatcher said. “I’m not going to burn anybody down the field.”

Hatcher was understandably concerned when off-thefield turmoil resulted in Bobby Petrino being fired as the Razorbacks’ coach in April. He is confident, though, that the transition to a new head coach will go smoothly and not adversely affect Arkansas’ chances of success this season.

“I’m on the same page as the other guys,” Hatcher said. “We’re going to be disappointed not winning the national championship. That’s the goal, to win the national championship.”