Power in the SEC – and, really, college football – has consolidated in the league’s West Division. On the heels of back-to-back national championships by Alabama and Auburn, the division is assured of its third consecutive crown when the Crimson Tide and LSU Tigers meet Monday night in New Orleans.
Arkansas showed in Friday night’s Cotton Bowl win that the Razorbacks could be in the mix to make it four straight next season.
The Hogs didn’t blow the Kansas State Wildcats’ doors off in a 29-16 victory. They did, however, have a chance to showcase some of the impressive weapons that will still be in their arsenal in the fall.
First and foremost, Tyler Wilson played the kind of upper-echelon quarterback the Mel Kipers of the world are expecting. Wilson threw for 216 yards and two touchdowns, completing 20 of 31 passes and hitting on an assortment of throws. Assuming he doesn’t try his hand at the NFL, Wilson will likely compete with USC’s Matt Barkley to be the top QB in college football next season.
Arkansas will lose dangerous receivers Joe Adams, Jarius Wright and Greg Childs and running back Broderick Green to graduation. Those four players accounted for 219 of the Hogs’ 245 yards of total offense. Adams’ TD on a punt return in the first half illustrated the kind of void he will be leaving on special teams.
On the plus side, receiver Cobi Hamilton and runners Dennis Johnson and Ronnie Wingo, Jr. will return. Three starters from a solid offensive line will be back. Plus, the Razorbacks are a leading contender for the February signature of Dorial Green-Beckham, arguably the best high school receiver prospect since Randy Moss.
The performance of new defensive coordinator Paul Haynes’ unit offered the biggest reason for hope in ’12, though. D has been Arkansas’ Achilles heel under Bobby Petrino. On Friday night, however, the Hogs played some inspired defense. Arkansas held the Wildcats to 17 points below their season average and nearly 80 yards below their average offensive output of 337 yards per game. KSU rushed for 185 yards per game this season; against Arkansas, the ‘Cats could only must up 87.
Haynes has only been in charge of the defense since Willy Robinson resigned at the end of the regular season. If he can coax similar efforts out of the defense next season, consider Arkansas an outside threat for the national championship.
