Razorbacks report

FAYETTEVILLE — Johnson’s big game honored

• Arkansas tailback Dennis Johnson earned SEC offensive player of the week honors on Monday after rushing for 160 yards and a touchdown in the Razorbacks’ 29-24 victory at Ole Miss.

Johnson, a 5-9, 213-pound junior from Texarkana, more than doubled his season total with his career-best effort. Johnson entered the game with 27 carries for 113 yards this season.

“I thought it was the most decisive he’s been all year on his cuts,” Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said.

Johnson has one 100-yard rushing performance in each of his three full seasons, and he has gone for 100-plus yards each time he has carried the ball more than 12 times in a game in his career. He had 18 carries for 127 yards and a touchdown in the Hogs’ 31-30 victory over LSU in 2008, and 14 carries for 107 yards at Florida in 2009.

TV talk

Arkansas’ homecoming game against South Carolina on Nov. 5 has been selected by ESPN for a 6:15 p.m.

kickoff.

All four of Arkansas’ previous home games this season have also been played at night. The BCS No. 10 Razorbacks complete a two-game road swing with their second consecutive 11:21 a.m. kickoff on Saturday at Vanderbilt.

Wilson makes cut

Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson was namedon Monday as one of 16 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien Award, which is given to the nation’s top quarterback.

The junior from Greenwood has the nation’s top single-game passing performance this season with his 510-yard effort in a 42-38 come-from-behind victory over Texas A&M on Oct. 1.

Wilson ranks 12th in the NCAA with 2,011 passing yards and his 287.3 passing yards per game lead the SEC and rank 13th in the country. He is fourth in the SEC and 20th in the country with a 148.5 efficiency rating.

Tip denial

Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino didn’t think too much of TV analyst Andre Ware’s comments in Saturday’s broadcast. Ware, the former Heisman Trophy winner from Houston, suggested Arkansas running backs were tipping the direction of plays with their foot placement after a 4-yard Ronnie Wingo run, and just before Broderick Green was stopped on a third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 at the Ole Miss 49.

Petrino said he didn’t believe the alignment critique was legitimate, and when a reporter said Ware pointed it out, Petrino replied, “Good for him, but I don’t believe it.” Bent mask

Arkansas fullback Kiero Small said he thinks he’s had to use eight different face masks this season after bending them in collisions.

“I don’t know the exact number, but every time I go and turn my helmet in, our equipment guy, Chuck [Hall says], ‘Here’s another one.’ I think he’s got a tally sheet back there.”

Asked if his eight masks makes him the team leader, Small said, “I think I’m the only guy with a tally sheet, so I think I lead.” Turnover talk

Arkansas’ opponent on Saturday, Vanderbilt, is tiedfor the lead nationally with 15 interceptions and tied for sixth with 20 turnovers gained.

The Commodores rank No. 38 nationally and sixth in the SEC with a plus 0.43 turnover margin per game.

Arkansas, which tied Ole Miss 1-1 in turnovers last week, ranks No. 77 at minus 0.29 per game.

Arkansas, with four interceptions thrown, is 1 of 33 teams in the country with four or fewer.

“I think the turnover battle is going to be really important,” Vanderbilt Coach James Franklin said.

“Right now, I think that’s something we have a little bit of an advantage in.” Sack time

Arkansas posted a season-best three sacks in its victory at Ole Miss after entering the game with six in its first six games.

“It’s about time,” defensive end Jake Bequette said. “We haven’t been able to get after the quarterback as well as we have last year and in years past. The thing about sacks is it’s not always about getting sacks, it’s about getting consistent pressure.” Hogs on TV

Arkansas’ appearance on the ESPN one-hour special called Depth Chart will air on Wednesday at 6 p.m.