Sunday, January 30, 2011

A Tribute to DJ Williams

DJ Williams is heading to the NFL. To remind you of how much we will miss him next year, I'm sharing a video of his Senior season. Thank you DJ!

Two New Commitments

As the final weekend before signing day came to an end, Coach Petrino was able to pull in two more commitments for the 2011 class. One is from Alabama and the other is from Canada. Trey Flowers of Huntsville, Al is a 6'3" 250 defensive end. Flowers is a long and athletic player with good speed and strength. Petrino was able to flip him from his commitment to Georgia Tech.
The second player to commit was Brett Weir of London, Ontario Canada. Weir is a very athletic player who could play many different positions in college. He is 6'4" 220 and runs a 4.4 40. Weir, a football star in Canada, received little recruiting attention outside of the Big 10 region, but he definitely has the athletic skill set to find plenty of playing time at the college level. While he currently is not rated in the Rivals system, his film shows his athletic abilities. He likes to hit too...

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Playmaker Picks Pigs

Bobby Petrino gained a solid commitment from athlete Kane Whitehurst of Alpharetta, Georgia. Kane is 6'1" 175 and runs a 4.4 40. He will likely see some early starting time for the Razorbacks on special teams, and he could play some at wide receiver or safety while in Fayetteville.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

More Good News for Petrino

Arkansas Offensive Tackle Anthony Oden has re-enrolled at the University of Arkansas after being forced to withdraw from classes in the fall semester due to a battle with mononucleosis. Oden, a 6'8" 330 pound tackle, is expected to participate in spring drills and compete for a starting position on the line. He will be a junior this fall.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Five New Razorbacks Enroll in Spring Semester









FAYETTEVILLE - University of Arkansas football head coach Bobby Petrino has announced the following student-athletes have enrolled for the spring semester and have joined the Razorback football team:

Brey Cook | OL | 6-7 | 310 | Springdale, Ark. (Har-Ber HS) |
The Springdale, Ark., native was ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the state of Arkansas, the sixth-best offensive tackle in the nation and 59th overall recruit, according to Rivals.com. He also was named the No. 6 offensive tackle in the country by Scouts.com. His Har-Ber squad won the 2009 Class 7A Arkansas State Championship in his junior season. Har-Ber High School advanced to the state semifinals in 2008 and 2010. Cook was honored as an Under Armour All-American, playing in the Under Armour All-American Game in Tampa,Fla. earlier this month, and was named to MaxPreps.com's 2010 U.S. Air Force All-America team. Cook was also named to the ESPNU Top 150 class of 2011 list. He was recognized on the AHSAA's Class 7A West All-State team as a senior. Cook was selected to ArkansasVarsity.com's All-State team, receiving first-team accolades. He was coached by Chris Wood. Cook had numerous offers from around the nation and selected the Razorbacks over Oklahoma, Auburn, Alabama and USC.

Quinta Funderburk | WR | 6-3 | 200 | Chesapeake, Va. (Oscar Frommel Smith HS) |
Coming off of two straight 60-catch, 1,000-yard receiving seasons, Funderburk joins the highly-touted Arkansas wide receiver corps. Rated as the No. 36 wide receiver prospect in the nation by Scouts.com and 39th by Rivals.com, Funderburk played for head coach Richard Morgan's successful program where he made 65 catches for 1,464 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2010. He finished his final prep season with a 12-2 record and made an appearance in the Division 6 regional final. Oscar Smith High School won the 2008 Virginia Class Six state championship and made a state semifinal appearance in 2009. Funderburk made 62 catches for 1,150 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2009. At the conclusion of his high school career, he was picked to the VirginiaPreps.com's All-State first team. He was ranked as the No. 9 recruit in the state by Rivals.com. Funderburk chose Arkansas over Michigan, Florida and West Virginia.

Tyler Gilbert | LB | 6-3 | 245 | Sorrento, La. (John Curtis Christian HS/North Carolina Tech Prep) |
In 2010 at North Carolina Tech Prep, Gilbert notched 62 tackles and five sacks, helping the squad to a 9-1 record. In 2009 at John Curtis Christian, Gilbert made 36 tackles and was a force in the backfield, notching seven tackles for loss. He helped the team to a 13-1 record and a state championship game appearance. Gilbert decided on the Razorbacks while also receiving interest from Auburn, Memphis and Louisiana-Lafayette. He was a high school teammate of current Razorback offensive lineman Luke Charpentier.

Robert Thomas | DT | 6-3 | 325| Muskogee, Okla. (Muskogee HS/Coffeyville [Kan.] CC) |
Thomas joins the Razorbacks after a successful season at Coffeyville Community College in 2010. Thomas made 48 tackles, including 15 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two pass deflections for junior college coach Darian Dulin. During his senior year at Muskogee High School, Thomas had 89 tackles (68 solo), 15 tackles for loss, five sacks, four quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles and two blocked field goals. On offense, he carried the ball six times for 16 yards and a touchdown. He was listed as the No. 71 defensive tackle in the nation and the No. 19 prospect in Oklahoma by Rivals.com. He was named the Muskogee Phoenix District (6A-3) Defensive Lineman of the Year. His high school coach was Matt Hennesy. He was also recruited by Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas and Kansas State.

Marquel Wade | WR | 5-11 | 180 | Jacksonville, Fla. (Andrew Jackson HS/Milford [N.J.] Academy) |
Wade joins the Razorbacks after a successful stint at Milford Academy in New Berlin, N.J. The wide receiver known for his speed was a big-play threat for Milford in 2010, catching 26 passes for 565 yards and six touchdowns. Wade also took an 85-yard kickoff back for a touchdown. As a senior at Andrew Jackson High School, Wade recorded 53 receptions for 769 yards and nine touchdowns and returned five punts for scores in 2009. In 2008, Wade caught 58 passes for 738 yards and 14 touchdowns and returned 10 punts for nearly 500 yards and three touchdowns. Wade was ranked as the No. 4 prep athlete in the nation by Rivals.com. Coming out of high school, he was rated the No. 48 athlete in the nation by Rivals.com and also rated the No. 73 recruit in Florida. He was listed by Scout.com as the No. 91 wide receiver nationally. He excelled on the basketball court, averaging 15.6 points a game as a junior while playing shooting guard. He was coached at Andrew Jackson by Kevin Sullivan. He was recruited out of high school by South Carolina, Purdue, Ole Miss, Illinois, Miami, South Florida and about 15 other schools.

2011 Schedule Announced

Today, the University of Arkansas announced their football schedule for 2011. Most notable is the LSU game, which was moved back to Friday. That game and the Alabama game are both road games and appear to be the two toughest games on the schedule. The three non-conference games that open the season will allow the winner of the Spring QB Battle (Tyler Wilson/Brandon Mitchell/Jacoby Walker) the opportunity to get some warm up games under their belt before hitting the road to take on the Crimson Tide. Also of note is the addition of the Tennessee Volunteers to the schedule.










2011 University of Arkansas Football Schedule
Sept. 3 Missouri State
Sept. 10 New Mexico (Little Rock)
Sept. 17 Troy
Sept. 24 at Alabama
Oct. 1 Texas A&M (Arlington, Texas)
Oct. 8 Auburn
Oct. 15 Open
Oct. 22 at Ole Miss
Oct. 29 at Vanderbilt
Nov. 5 South Carolina
Nov. 12 Tennessee
Nov. 19 Mississippi State (Little Rock)
Nov. 25 at LSU (CBS), 1:30 p.m. CT

Monday, January 17, 2011

Arkadie Chooses Arkansas

Petrino landed another big time defensive lineman over the weekend with the commitment of Horace Arkadie of Irving, Texas. Arkadie is defensive end with great quickness and athletic ability. He is 6'4" 250 lbs and runs a 4.7 40. He selected Arkansas over Purdue and Virginia.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Petrino Lands Gosha

Petrino nabbed another big-time player from Florida today with the commitment of defensive lineman Lonnie Gosha. Gosha is a Rivals 4 Star player with a 6'3" 270 pound frame. He will likely play defensive end or defensive tackle for the Razorbacks. He chose Arkansas over Miami, Florida State, Florida and Alabama. Gosha is from Lake Butler, Florida and he played for Union County High School. Rivals rates him as the 15th best defensive tackle nationally.

As Petrino seeks to close out this outstanding recruiting class, he will go after a few more big time recruits in the coming weeks. Look for this class to be pretty well wrapped up a week before national signing day, which is February 2. Go Hogs!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Ryan Mallett Makes Announcement

and...

he's going pro.













The following statement is from Ryan Mallett:

"After careful consideration, I have decided to declare for the 2011 NFL Draft. Ever since I was a kid, my dream has always been to play for the Razorbacks and I am thankful I had the opportunity to do so. A year ago, when I returned to school I said I wanted to help lead this team to a place among the nation's elite and for the Razorback community to have a mindset to expect greatness. There is no doubt we got there together and this program will continue to play games on the biggest stages and when it does we'll come out swinging. Playing in the NFL is a goal of mine and I am grateful to the people that have prepared me to take the next step. Coach (Bobby) Petrino is a winner, a man of character and the hardest worker I have ever seen. I'd also like to thank Coach (Garrick) McGee for everything he has done for me and in particular helping develop my mental approach to the game. The leadership of Chancellor David Gearhart and Director of Athletics Jeff Long is a model for me and I am extremely appreciative of the tireless work they do for all University of Arkansas students every day. The Razorback fans are the greatest in the country and their support for me and the team throughout my career has been humbling. Arkansas is where my heart is and I'm proud to say that I will always be a Razorback."

Statement from University of Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino:

"I am very proud of Ryan Mallett and I can't say enough about what he has done for this program. Leaders do their job extremely well and lift everyone around them to compete better and Ryan does those things. One of the greatest parts about coaching is watching individuals become adults while they are in college and Ryan has certainly developed not just as a player, but as a person. I know Ryan will be successful in life and I wish him the best in the NFL."

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Hogs Lose Sugar in Nail Biter

Coach Petrino and the Razorbacks lost to Ohio State in heartbreaking fashion in a game where failure to capitalize on open opportunities significantly changed the momentum and score of the game. From dropped passes, to missed fumble recoveries, to poor passes, to penalties, the Razorbacks could not seem to make the big plays when needed. It started with Joe Adams dropping a pass on the opening play that would have been a touchdown if he caught it, and it ended with Ryan Mallett's decision to force a pass on the Razorback's final drive as they were in a position (Redzone) to win the game with a touchdown.

It was a disappointing loss, but hog fans can take comfort in the fact that it was a winnable game and that most of the key players on this team will be back next year and new tools will come from this year's recruiting class and redshirts. What remains unknown is whether Mallett will return for his Senior season to improve his draft stock and finish on a better note than throwing a pick on his last pass of the season and losing the Sugar Bowl.

By the way, Ohio State will have a really bad reputation if Terrelle Pryor and other players suspended for the first 5 games of next year decide to enter the NFL draft. Each of these players played a critical role in the game for Ohio State. If they do not return, the University should be punished in another manner.


Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda...


Ugh!!!








Stats:

Passing
Ohio State Buckeyes Comp Att Yds Pct Y/A Sack YdsL TD Int Rating
Terrelle Pryor 14 25 221 56.0 8.8 0 0 2 0 156.7
Arkansas Razorbacks Comp Att Yds Pct Y/A Sack YdsL TD Int Rating
Ryan Mallett 24 47 277 51.1 5.9 4 28 2 1 110.4
Rushing
Ohio State Buckeyes Rush Yds Avg Lng TD FumL
Terrelle Pryor 15 114 7.6 34 0 0
Daniel Herron 24 81 3.4 17 1 0
Brandon Saine 4 25 6.3 15 0 0
Arkansas Razorbacks Rush Yds Avg Lng TD FumL
Knile Davis 26 131 5.0 25 0 0
Ronnie Wingo 1 14 14.0 14 0 0
Ryan Mallett 4 -56 -14.0 0 0 0
Receiving
Ohio State Buckeyes Rec Yds Avg Lng TD FumL
DeVier Posey 3 70 23.3 43 1 0
Dane Sanzenbacher 3 59 19.7 31 1 0
Reid Fragel 1 42 42.0 42 0 0
Jake Stoneburner 3 39 13.0 16 0 0
Corey Brown 1 13 13.0 13 0 0
Daniel Herron 1 0 0.0 0 0 0
Brandon Saine 1 0 0.0 0 0 0
Zach Boren 1 0 0.0 0 0 0
Arkansas Razorbacks Rec Yds Avg Lng TD FumL
Joe Adams 9 120 13.3 21 1 0
Jarius Wright 4 70 17.5 24 1 0
D.J. Williams 5 38 7.6 18 0 0
Cobi Hamilton 1 21 21.0 21 0 0
Chris Gragg 1 16 16.0 16 0 0
Knile Davis 3 8 2.7 4 0 0
Van Stumon 1 4 4.0 4 0 0
Kicking
Ohio State Buckeyes XPM XPA FGM FGA Lng Pct Pts
Devin Barclay 4 4 1 2 46 50.0 7
Arkansas Razorbacks XPM XPA FGM FGA Lng Pct Pts
Zach Hocker 1 1 3 3 47 100.0 10
Punting
Ohio State Buckeyes Punt Avg Long Blk In20 TB
Ben Buchanan 4 39.0 48 0 2 0
Arkansas Razorbacks Punt Avg Long Blk In20 TB
Dylan Breeding 7 43.7 54 0 4 0
Kick/Punt Returns
Ohio State Buckeyes KR Yds Avg Lng TD PR Yds Avg Lng TD
Jordan Hall 5 113 22.6 33 0 1 5 5.0 5 0
Arkansas Razorbacks KR Yds Avg Lng TD PR Yds Avg Lng TD
Lance Ray 1 24 24.0 24 0 0 0 0.0 0 0
Colton Miles-Nash 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 20 20.0 0 0
Broderick Green 2 33 16.5 19 0 0 0 0.0 0 0
Ronnie Wingo 1 10 10.0 10 0 0 0 0.0 0 0
Joe Adams 0 0 0.0 0 0 2 -2 -1.0 0 0

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Gameday - Ohio State (Sugar Bowl)












WHEN 7:30 p.m. Central
WHERE Superdome (72,968) New Orleans
RECORDS Ohio State 11-1; Arkansas 10-2
RANKINGS Ohio State is No. 6 BCS, Arkansas is No. 8
COACHES Jim Tressel (105-22 in 10th year at Ohio State and 240-79-2 in 25th year overall); Bobby Petrino (23-14 in third year at Arkansas, 64-23 in seventh year overall)
SERIES First meeting
TELEVISION ESPN
RADIO Razorbacks Sports Network, including KABZ-FM,103.7, in Little Rock; and KQSM-FM, 92.1, KEZA-FM, 107.9, KUOA-AM, 1290 and KUOA-FM, 105.3, in Fayetteville, ESPN Radio.