Since spring practice, most of the talk surrounding Arkansas football has focused on junior quarterback Brandon Allen. After the Fayetteville native endured injuries and a subpar 2013 season, some Hogs fans didn’t expect him under center to start the 2014 season. Others were worried when Razorbacks coach Bret Bielema praised his signal caller all spring, and then Allen was just 5 of 11 for 21 yards with two interceptions in the Red/White game in April. Bielema shrugged off the performance, noting the Hogs used a vanilla playbook. There were probably other reasons, too. Maybe not all Allen’s fault.
So, as the opener for the University of Auburn approaches, all eyes are on Allen. Some think the Hogs’ success hinges on his improvement. However, here are five Razorbacks players whose development may be as important or more important than Allen’s this fall.
Demetrius Wilson, wide receiver
The athletic, 6-foot-3 senior was primed to make an impact last year before tearing his ACL in fall camp. Bielema says Wilson has looked as good as he has in two years, even after coming off the injury. Allen desperately needs a deep threat to go with tight ends Hunter Henry and Jeremy Sprinkle, and it’s imperative for the offense for a receiver to emerge. Currently, it looks like Wilson is the best candidate, but junior Keon Hatcher is a veteran who could blossom, as well as younger players Drew Morgan, Jared Cornelius or Jojo Robinson.
Martrell Spaight, linebacker
The junior college transfer from North Little Rock drew praise last summer for his physical play. However, he didn’t prove to be much of a factor, tallying just 22 total tackles in nine games in 2013. The linebacking corps returns Braylon Mitchell, who was solid with 77 tackles last season. But the group misses Jarrett Lake’s 77 stops, and Otha Peters, another veteran, is transferring. That leaves senior Spaight and talented sophomore Brooks Ellis to aid Mitchell. Spaight has the experience and athleticism to make a major impact. He will have to or the Hogs defense may be porous again.
Carroll Washington, cornerback
You could mention fellow corner Tevin Mitchel in the same breath here, but many of his troubles have come due to injury, including shoulder surgery after spring workouts. Washington, a senior, only had 18 total tackles and two pass breakups in 11 games last fall as a junior college transfer. If that happens again this year, the Hogs will continue to be near the bottom of the SEC in pass defense.
Mitch Smothers, center
Departed center Travis Swanson was one of the few bright spots for the Hogs last year. Swanson earned All-American honors and leaves a gaping hole in the line. Smothers, a Springdale High School alumnus, looks to fill the center spot after bouncing around the line. With talented players around him (some veterans and some younger), Smothers needs to stabilize the middle in Swanson’s absence and realize the potential that made him a coveted recruit.
John Henson, kicker
The Hogs go from having one of the more productive kickers in history, Zach Hocker, to Henson, who has only played in five games in three years. Last season he kicked one PAT and a 65-yard kickoff in the opener against the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. In 2012, he hit 2 of 2 field goals and his only PAT try of the year.
Hocker enjoyed a standout career, and last season the Russellville native was 28 for 28 on PATs and converted 13 of 15 field goals. Three of his field goals rank among the 15 longest in school history. A drop off here seems inevitable. Hopefully, for Hogs fans’ sakes, Bielema won’t have to depend on the kicking game as much this season.