Razorbacks report

UA back in last 11 for award

Arkansas running back Alex Collins makes his way into the end zone on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015, during the second quarter at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
Arkansas running back Alex Collins makes his way into the end zone on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015, during the second quarter at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas tailback Alex Collins was named on Wednesday as one of 11 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award, which is given annually to the nation's top running back.

Collins, a junior from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., ranks third in the SEC and 13th nationally with a career-high 1,209 rushing yards. He joined Darren McFadden and Herschel Walker as the only backs in SEC history with three consecutive 1,000 yard rushing seasons to open their careers.

The other Doak Walker Award semifinalists are LSU's Leonard Fournette, Alabama's Derrick Henry, Utah's Devontae Booker, Florida State's Dalvin Cook, Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott, Oregon's Royce Freeman, Wyoming's Brian Hill, Baylor's Shock Linwood, Stanford's Christian McCaffrey and Notre Dame's C.J. Prosise.

Fournette, who ran for 91 yards in last week's 31-14 loss to Arkansas, is the FBS leader with 1,474 rushing yards, followed closely by Henry, who has 1,458 yards and an FBS-high 19 rushing touchdowns.

Collins has eight 100-yard rushing games this season to lead the SEC and rank second nationally.

"He's a steady horse for us," Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen said.

"My hat goes off to Alex," said Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema, who said Collins set the course for this season with how he handled his diet and body since last year.

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"He's a much more patient runner, which has allowed him to make a lot more yards than he did a year ago," Bielema said.

Dre's way

Linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves said freshman Dre Greenlaw, who took over the team-tackle lead last weekend, has seen his game grown immensely.

"Obviously playing in six, seven ball games, he's light years ahead of where he was when he started," Hargreaves said. "But with that being said, he's still got a million miles to go to be as good as I think he wants to be."

Greenlaw, who has started at weak-side linebacker since Week 3, has 84 tackles, four more than Brooks Ellis, who shifted to middle linebacker after starting the first two games at the tackle-heavy weak-side spot.

"I'm just thankful for the guys I have around me because without them I wouldn't be able to make the tackles that I'm making, and to my coaches just for trusting me enough to put me on the field to make those plays," Greenlaw said.

Crazy things

Arkansas is preparing for Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott by doing different conditioning work through the course of practice, courtesy of defensive coordinator Robb Smith.

"Once we get in there, Coach Smith and his staff, they come up with all kinds of crazy things to get us going in practice," defensive tackle DeMarcus Hodge said. "So it's constantly going.

"Whenever we've got a mobile quarterback coming in, it's always, 'Oh man, it's going to be a rough week. We've got a lot of conditioning to get done.'

"But I think we're good sports about it. We have to adjust to it the first day and then we get used to it. Really I think it helps our conditioning and it helps us focus in when we get really tired."

Head straight

Bret Bielema said Monday that he and his coaching staff might have to play the role of "humblers" this week to keep the Razorbacks grounded after back-to-back road victories over No. 18 Ole Miss and No. 9 LSU. He updated that stance on Wednesday's SEC teleconference.

"You know what, as I say that I'm not surprised that I haven't had to," Bielema said. "They practiced very, very intensely yesterday and I expect more of the same today. ... This group is a very hungry group. They've had a lot of ups and downs over the last couple of years, and a lot more downs than ups.

"They've had a couple of breaks go their way over the last month and feel a resurgence of what they believe in and what they do. We pointed out to them the other day those things don't happen by chance."

Hugging Haynes

Ole Miss Coach Hugh Freeze said he walked off the field with defensive end Marquis Haynes following the Rebels' 53-52 overtime loss to Arkansas two weeks ago. Haynes almost got a hand on Hunter Henry's lateral, which Alex Collins ran for 31 yards to convert on fourth and 25, then he facemasked quarterback Brandon Allen on a would-be sack to give Arkansas a shot at another two-point conversion, which turned out to be the game-winning points.

"He was devastated," Freeze said. "Struggling to walk to the locker room. I walked with him and just hugged him and told him I loved him. Sometimes the best teaching we have is through disappointment.

"We just loved on him. That was a freak play, where the quarterback really should be just throwing it up because a sack does them no good there. For some reason he ducks his head there and the face mask goes right into Marquis' hand, which was unfortunate."

Big Skip

Right tackle Dan Skipper said winning the SEC offensive lineman of the week award was "cool" and a great honor, but "at this point it's about turning the page and getting ready for Mississippi State."

Skipper was the third Arkansas lineman to take the honor in the last seven weeks.

"I thought it was his best pass protection game that he's had," offensive line coach Sam Pittman said of Skipper.

Enos shout-out

ESPN color analyst Todd Blackledge praised the work of first-year Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos late in the broadcast of the Hogs' 31-14 victory at LSU.

"I just like the way Dan Enos calls a game," Blackledge said. "I think he's got a great feel for play calling and that was a huge hire by Bret Bielema in the off-season."

3 for the road

Arkansas won three SEC road games in a season for the first time since the 2010 team went 3-1 in SEC road games.

The Razorbacks completed their SEC road slate with a 3-1 record, having taken down Tennessee (24-20), Ole Miss (53-52 in 4 overtimes) and LSU (31-14) and losing at Alabama (27-14).

Hogs players

The Arkansas coaching staff named receiver Dominique Reed and tackle Dan Skipper as their offensive players of the week. On defense, the honors went to end Deatrich Wise Jr., who had a career-best 2 1/2 sacks. Reed, who ran back the first kickoff return of his career for 40 yards to set up a field goal in the third quarter, was the special teams player of the week.

Take away 4

Alabama’s 31-6 victory over Mississippi State was marked by breakaway scores, just like the Razorbacks’ victory in Baton Rouge, La.

The Bulldogs outgained Alabama 393-379 despite the lopsided outcome on the scoreboard.

“We gave up 69, 60, 74 and 65-yard touchdowns,” Mississippi State Coach Dan Mullen said, referring to, in order, a Cyrus Jones punt return, a Calvin Ridley catch and run, and two Derrick Henry breakaways. “You’re not going to win doing that.”

Extra points

• Arkansas has a 15-9-1 edge over Mississippi State, though the Bulldogs have won the last three games in the series. The Bulldogs' 24-17 victory in overtime in Little Rock on Nov. 23, 2013, was their first triumph over the Razorbacks in the state of Arkansas. The Razorbacks lead the series 9-1-1 in games played in Arkansas.

• Junior receiver Cody Hollister played one snap in the victory at LSU, his first action since suffering a broken foot on Sept. 15.

Sports on 11/19/2015

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