Offense
Quarterback
LOUISIANA TECH Freshman J'mar Smith will open for the Bulldogs after projected starter Ryan Higgins' DWI arrest in early August. Smith, 6-1, 222, from Meridian, Miss., is athletic and provides a run-pass component. Higgins (15-25-1, 138 yards, 1 TD last year), who started 6 games in 2013 when he threw for 1,715 yards, is expected to play.
ARKANSAS Arkansas enters a new era with a different Allen as the starting quarterback. Junior Austin Allen, 6-1, 209, who is 9 of 19 in college, succeeds brother Brandon Allen, a three-year starter for the Razorbacks. Saturday will mark the 35th consecutive Arkansas start for a quarterback with the last name of Allen. Ty Storey and Cole Kelley are the backups.
ADVANTAGE None
Running back
LOUISIANA TECH Junior Jarred Craft (58-230, 1 TD), who missed the last three games of 2015 with a knee injury, is the starter. Boston Scott (34-275) is listed at 5-6, 199. Sophomore Jaqwis Dancy (Junction City), slowed by an ankle injury in camp, could factor in, as could freshman big back Bobby Holly (6-1, 234).
ARKANSAS Kody Walker (90-394, 6 TDs in 2015) will be limited with soreness in his broken foot, so look for Rawleigh Williams (56-254, 1) to see the most work today, followed by freshman Devwah Whaley, the blue-chip signee who had a strong camp. Damon Mitchell (4-29) and freshman T.J. Hammonds would be next. Hayden Johnson and Kendrick Jackson will split fullback reps.
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
Receivers
LOUISIANA TECH Trent Taylor (99-1,282, 9 TDs), a first-team All-C-USA selection last year, works almost exclusively from the slot. Carlos Henderson (36-774, 5) is the top outside threat. Freshman Rhashid Bonnette, Utah transfer Alfred Smith and Oklahoma transfer Adrian Hardy add intrigue. Marcus Gaines (17-315, 2), 6-2 Kam McKnight (22-268-0) and 6-3 Conner Smith (4-45) have experience.
ARKANSAS Arkansas is loaded at wideout, led by seniors Drew Morgan (63-843, 10 TDs), Keon Hatcher (13-198, 2, in 2 games), Dominique Reed (28-535, 6), and Cody Hollister (4-65 in 2 games), and junior Jared Cornelius (24-393, 3). Tight end Jeremy Sprinkle (27-389, 6) should be one of the nation's best. Deon Stewart, D'Vone McClure and Jordan Jones could also factor in.
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
Line
LOUISIANA TECH The Bulldogs are led by LT Darrell Brown, a second-team All C-USA choice last year. LG O'Shea Dugas (6-5, 329) suffered strained ligaments in training camp, but it was feared to be much worse. Starting center Joseph Brunson (6-4, 314) should be good. Kirby Wixson is the top RG. Shane Carpenter, Gewhite Stallworth and Texas Tech transfer Josh Outlaw -- are battling for playing time at RT.
ARKANSAS The musical chairs in camp stopped with LT Dan Skipper, a preseason All-SEC choice, LG Hjalte Froholdt, C Frank Ragnow, RG Jake Raulerson and RT Colton Jackson. None of them played the same position last year. Froholdt was a DT last year and Jackson is a redshirt freshman. Zach Rogers, Brian Wallace and Jalen Merrick are top backups. This group is under a microscope.
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
DEFENSE
Line
LOUISIANA TECH Tackle Aaron Brown (26, 4.5 TFL), end Deldrick Canty (19, 4, 1 sack) and C-USA All-Freshman pick Jaylon Ferguson (35, 15, 6) return for a defense ravaged by personnel losses. Jordan Bradford (6, 1 sack) will move in to former star Vernon Butler's spot, with Courtney Wallace suffering a broken foot in camp. Keonatye Garner, Cedric Johnson and Immanuel Turner are the top reserves.
ARKANSAS Arkansas returns a raft of talent from the nation's No. 12 rush defense, led by ends Deatrich Wise (31, 8 sacks, 5 hurries), Tevin Beanum (30, 7 TFL, 2 sacks), JaMichael Winston (21) and Karl Roesler (15, 3, 1). Jeremiah Ledbetter (55, 7.5, 2) is now a tackle, along with Taiwan Johnson (28, 5, 1.5) and Bijhon Jackson (7). Watch for sophomore Randy Ramsey and freshmen McTelvin Agim and Austin Capps. Can this group pressure QBs, which it did not do early in 2015?
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
Linebackers
LOUISIANA TECH Graduate transfers Dalton Santos (Texas), 6-2, 261, and Jordan Harris (Iowa State) 6-0, 225, are expected to start along with fifth-year senior Lloyd Grogan (29). Redshirt freshman James Jackson, cousin of Arkansas FB Kendrick Jackson, will get some run along with Russell Farris (24, 1.5 TFL) and Brandon Durman (10).
ARKANSAS Arkansas MLB Brooks Ellis (102, 8 TFL, 5 hurries, 1 INT), 6-2, 245, will make his 29th start. Dre Greenlaw (95, 3.5 TFL) should play quicker and better in pass coverage as a sophomore. Dwayne Eugene (14), Khalia Hackett (12), freshman De'Jon Harris and Josh Williams (16), who is coming off a broken leg, are the top reserves.
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
Defensive backs
LOUISIANA TECH Safety Xavier Woods (56, 7.5 TFL, 3 INT), a first-team all conference pick, is big on run support. The other starting safety is Secdrick Cooper. Prince Sam, a Houston Baptist transfer, should start at one CB, while Roland Dunn moved up at the other after Ephraim Kitchen injured a hip in camp. Arizona State transfer Ronald Lewis should factor in.
ARKANSAS Arkansas coaches and players have expressed confidence that this group will rebound after a poor season in coverage, led by corners Jared Collins (44, 9 PBU, 1 INT), Henre Toliver (55, 8, 1), DJ Dean (35, 3, 2), Kevin Richardson (44, 3, 1), and Ryan Pulley (10, 2, 1), and safeties Josh Liddell (52, 3, 2), Santos Ramirez (35, 3, 1) and De'Andre Coley (10).
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
Special teams
LOUISIANA TECH Kicker Jonathan Barnes made 22 of 26 field goals last year. Punter Gerald Shouse, who averaged 40.9 yards per punt, also is back. The Bulldogs ranked No. 105 in net punting (35.6). The Bulldogs were No. 113 in kickoff defense in 2015, allowing 24.7 yards per return and tying Clemson with an NCAA worst 3 TDs allowed. The Bulldogs were 2nd in the nation with 3 blocked punts. Carlos Henderson is the top return man.
ARKANSAS Punter Toby Baker had a big camp. He averaged 41.2 yards per punt last year, but the team's net of 36.5 yards was No. 87. Dominique Reed is back after averaging 22.2 yards per kickoff return, and Jared Cornelius (13.3) is back as the top punt returner. Cole Hedlund (9 of 15) is kicking from 8 yards back in an effort to cut down on four blocked FGs. Adam McFain should provide lots of touchbacks on kickoffs. Coverage units have been deemed solid by the coaches.
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
Intangibles
LOUISIANA TECH Skip Holtz said he can think of many better venues to break in a bunch of new talent on defense, as well as freshman quarterback J'mar Smith. Holtz will be coaching in front of his dad, Lou, the former Hog boss, who was inducted into the UA Hall of Honor on Friday. The Bulldogs know they can rattle the SEC with an upset and that's fine motivation.
ARKANSAS Arkansas, haunted by last year's 1-3 start, are determined to bolt from the gate better. Cutting down on the rash of holding penalties that marked early 2015 would be a start. The home crowd, plus a veteran defense that should provide a little slack for the transition on offense, should be enough to propel the Hogs.
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
Sports on 09/03/2016