Returners struggling for Hogs

FAYETTEVILLE — Yes, returning punts is harder than it looks.

No, Peyton Hillis isn’t using that as an excuse for the position Arkansas currently holds as the worst punt return team in college football.

The Razorbacks rank 119 th with an average of 0. 2 yards per return. That’s 7. 2 inches per return, a number Arkansas hopes to improve during Saturday’s game against North Texas.

“We’ve got to get better,” Hillis said. “It’s going to come. I expect a lot of returns this weekend.”

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Any return would be an improvement. Hillis, Michael Smith and Reggie Fish have combined to return five punts for a total of 1 yard.

Hillis’ one attempt at returning yielded zero yards and one fumble, which Arkansas recovered. Smith had a pair of fumbles in the season opener and averaged minus-2. 5 yards in two return attempts. Fish is averaging 3. 0 yards on two attempts.

Arkansas initially used Smith and Fish to return, hoping their speed would be advantageous. Poor fielding led coaches to return Hillis to the position in hopes of cutting down on turnovers because of his sure hands and ability to judge the ball’s trajectory.

It’s a disturbing trend for running backs coach Tim Horton, who also works with the team’s punt returners.

“It’s probably the most difficult position to play on the field,” said Horton, a former punt return specialist for the Razorbacks. “You know there are 10 mean, ugly guys coming to knock the snot out of you.

“ We have not done nearly as well as we need to. If we don’t improve, it’s going to continue to hurt us.”

Opponents are getting to the punt returners too fast, Horton said. Blocking also has been poor on the rare occasions the Razorbacks have attempted a return.

“It’s like anything else,” Horton said. “There’s usually a combination of reasons.” McFadden back

All-America running back Darren McFadden returned to practice Wednesday after taking Tuesday off. He underwent a magnetic resonance imaging Tuesday, but it didn’t reveal anything for the Razorbacks to be alarmed about.

McFadden collided with a game official in the fourth quarter of the Razorbacks’ 42-29 loss to Kentucky on Saturday. McFadden piled up 208 all-purpose yards in that game despite dealing with what team officials called a “stomach virus” and “heat exhaustion.” He sustained a concussion a week earlier against Alabama.

McFadden was feeling fine Wednesday.

“I’m 100 percent today,” Mc-Fadden said.

McFadden said he hoped the day off was his last one for a while.

“It ain’t something I will try to make a habit of,” McFadden said. “I like to be out there and support my team and try to keep things going.” Maybe next week

Kentucky proved Arkansas has room for improvement when it comes to stopping the run. That work will have to come at another time with the Razorbacks preparing to face North Texas.

After consecutive weeks of physical, SEC challenges, the Razorbacks face another Spread team. Instead of focusing this week on improving the run defense and practicing in its base defense, Arkansas is having to prepare for a team that will put four and five wide receivers on the field at one time.

Troy presented a similar challenge to open the season, but the Trojans aren’t nearly as pass-happy as their Sun Belt Conference brethren. North Texas threw 61 times last week.

“I don’t know if that’s an NCAA record or what,” Arkansas defensive coordinator Reggie Herring said. “But at the end of the day, it’s one of those offenses that’s going to spread the field and throw the ball around and try and run the quarterback-read run. There’s no secret to what they do, and once again we’ll be challenged out in space with our skill guys against their skill guys.

“ Here we go again.” Wilson sitting out

Woody Wilson, a former Fayetteville High School quarterback and Arkansas signee in 2004, played at North Texas last season but no longer is with the Mean Green.

Wilson said he isn’t academically eligible this season after taking an incomplete in one of his summer school courses, but he is working to regain his eligibility and might try to play at Central Arkansas next season. He would be a fifth-year senior in 2008.

After signing with Arkansas three years ago, Wilson wasn’t academically eligible to play for the Razorbacks and enrolled at Coffeyville (Kan. ) Community College. After two seasons with the Ravens, he signed with North Texas and started four games last season for the Mean Green, passing for 528 yards and two touchdowns. Wilson said he’ll be in Fayetteville this weekend but doesn’t plan to attend Saturday night’s game.

“It would be tough to watch my old team and not be able to play,” Wilson said.