Quarterbacks
Junior transfer Joe Burrow (138-258-4, 1,728 yards, 6 TD) has thrown all but 1 pass this season, prompting questions this week about whether 6-5 sophomore Myles Brennan would see more action. Burrow, a solid runner with 243 yards, has not thrown a TD pass since a win over Ole Miss on Sept. 29, and a total of 3 in the 8 games aside from Ole Miss.
Ty Storey (104-178-7, 1,223 yards, 9 TD) has a higher completion percentage (.584) than Burrow (.535) but has been more turnover prone. Cole Kelley (35-66-5, 455 yards, 5 TD) has been effective in short yardage but not long stints. Connor Noland (14-23-2, 149 yards, 1 TD) can play in 2 of the last 3 games and retain his redshirt freshman status for 2019.
ADVANTAGE None
Running backs
Senior Nick Brossette (158-702, 10 TD, 4.4 ypc) ranks sixth in the SEC with 78.0 rushing yards per game. Clyde Edwards-Helaire (111-535, 5, 4.8) has 17 more carries than Arkansas' top rusher. QB Joe Burrow (79-243, 4) has more carries than all but one Razorback. Lanard Fournette (3-13) is no Leonard Fournette.
Rakeem Boyd (94-615, 2 TD, 6.5 ypc) is Arkansas' lead back, with Devwah Whaley (65-298, 2) maybe another week away. Boyd has three 100-yard games in the past four outings. Chase Hayden (55-252, 1) has equaled Whaley at 4.6 yards per carry and is coming off his best game. The Hogs' rushing TD leader remains backup QB Cole Kelley (28-73, 3).
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
Receivers/tight ends
Sophomore Justin Jefferson (36-552, 2 TD) has more than double the number of receptions of LSU's No. 2 receiver, 6-6 Dee Anderson (17-215), who doesn't have a TD catch. Stephen Sullivan (15-184, 1) is a 6-7, 232-pound junior. Derrick Dillon (11-149, 1), TE Foster Moreau (11-126), Ja'Marr Chase (11-125, 2) and Terrace Marshall Jr. (8-136) also contribute.
La'Michael Pettway (21-354, 4) and TE Cheyenne O'Grady (21-284, 4) are tied for the team lead in catches and touchdowns. The Razorbacks will need to include more WRs and more downfield passing in the future. Jordan Jones (14-191, 1), Mike Woods (14-177, 1), Deon Stewart (12-142), TE Austin Cantrell (8-119, 1) and Jared Cornelius (5-53) are key parts.
ADVANTAGE LSU
Line
The Tigers project to start three sophomores in LT Saahdiq Charles, C Lloyd Cushenberry III and RT Austin Deculus, along with senior LG Garrett Brumfield and junior RG Damien Lewis. The right side is the heavy half, with Lewis at 322 pounds and Deculus at 321. Charles (305) and Brumfield (304) are the "light" side.
The Razorbacks hope for a stabilized three-game run on their front, which has been banged up all season. The fivesome of LT Colton Jackson, LG Hjalte Froholdt, C Ty Clary, RG Johnny Gibson and RT Brian Wallace has started 5 of the past 6 games. Dalton Wagner, Austin Capps and Noah Gatlin have taken the most snaps otherwise.
ADVANTAGE None
Defense
Line
End Rashard Lawrence (40, 4.5 TFL, 1 sack, 2 PBU), a 317-pounder, is disruptive. NT Ed Alexander (20, 2, 1, 2 hurries), a 331-pounder, anchors the line by tying up blockers for the LBs. Breiden Fehoko (16, 3, 1.5, 2 hurries) is out (arm), meaning Glen Logan (33, 1 sack, 3 hurries) will see plenty of action with Neil Farrell (17, 1.5 sacks) coming off the bench.
McTelvin Agim (33, 8 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 11 hurries) and Armon Watts (33, 6.5, 6, 3 FF) are the co-tackle leaders for the unit. Randy Ramsey (28, 6, 3, 5 hurries), Michael Taylor (13, 1.5 TFL), Jamario Bell (12, 1), Gabe Richardson (11, 1.5) and Dorian Gerald (7, 1) are ends; T.J. Smith (20, 2.5, 1.5), Briston Guidry (14, 2.5, 1.5) and Johnathan Marshall (9) are the tackles.
ADVANTAGE None
Linebackers
"Rover" Devin White (84, 7 TFL, 6 hurries) is 4th in SEC tackles. Jacob Phillips (61, 4 TFL, 1 INT, 4 hurries) plays the middle. Michael Divinity (36, 8 TFL, 4 sacks), the cousin of the Hogs' De'Jon Harris, plays "field" LB, and Andre Anthony (14, 2 hurries) is the "bench," and both OLBs are 238-pounders. Patrick Queen (22, 2 TFL), Ray Thornton (18, 2.5) and Micah Baskerville (18) factor in.
SEC tackles leader De'Jon Harris (93, 7 TFL, 2 sacks, 5 PBU) will play with extra motivation against the home-state Tigers. Dre Greenlaw (60, 6.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 INT) is expected to play after he was limited against Vanderbilt (ankle). The top backups are Bumper Pool (23, 2.5 TFL, 4 PBU), Grant Morgan (22, 2.5 TFL) and Hayden Henry (16).
ADVANTAGE LSU
Secondary
LSU has an SEC-high 15 INT, including 5 by SS Grant Delpit (57, 8.5 TFL, 4 sacks, 4 PBU), a semifinalist for the Bednarik and Thorpe awards. Sophomore 6-3 CB Greedy Williams (27, 2 INT, 5 PBU) is a future high draft pick. Arkansas recruited junior 6-0 CB Kristian Fulton (24, 1 INT, 8 PBU) heavily. FS John Battle (37, 3 INT) is doubtful (ankle), so Todd Harris (28, 1 INT) will get some run.
The Hogs need to be better tacklers than last game. FS Santos Ramirez (64, 1 FR) and SS Kamren Curl (44, 4 PBU, 1 FF) rank among top 4 tacklers. The CB rotation remains limited behind Ryan Pulley (30, 3 INT, 7 PBU) and Jarques McClellion (20, 6 PBU). NBs are D'Vone McClure (20, 1 sacks, 3 PBU), Kevin Richardson (11, 1 PBU) and Derrick Munson (13, 1 sack). Montaric Brown (4) assists.
ADVANTAGE LSU
Special teams
LSU's Cole Tracy (21 of 24 FG, 24 of 24 PAT) had his streak of 12 FG makes snapped last week when he missed a 38-yard try. The Tigers are No. 12 in net punting (41.1) behind Zach Von Rosenberg (46.3), who ranks fifth nationally. RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (21.8) is the top KOR, and Jonathan Giles averages a solid 12.4 yards on 7 punt returns.
Connor Limpert (16 of 20 FG, 27 of 27 PAT) made a career-long 55-yard FG vs. Vandy after missing from 60. Punting has improved behind Reid Bauer (38.6) as the year has progressed, but net punting is still poor at No. 126 (32.6). Arkansas junior Deon Stewart has been underrated as a punt returner (14.7), and KOR De'Vion Warren (25.9) has had only 11 chances.
ADVANTAGE LSU
Intangibles
It's an ever-present question for LSU the past five years: How will the Tigers respond after yet another deflating loss to powerful Alabama? Ed Orgeron's teams have bounced back swiftly against the Hogs the past two seasons. The Tigers are not used to playing in near-freezing weather, and it's expected to be 40 degrees or colder at kickoff tonight.
Arkansas has lost its ability to qualify for a bowl game, but have the Razorbacks lost their desire to compete? Coach Chad Morris has stressed that his team must be the most physical in the Battle for the Boot, an issue that cost the Razorbacks in the loss to Vanderbilt. The onus is on the Arkansas fans to show up for the first and only campus night game this year.
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
Sports on 11/10/2018