FAYETTEVILLE — If tight ends can be in a pass-catching zone, Arkansas sophomore D. J. Williams was smack dab in the middle of a sweet one.

Williams caught six passes for 129 yards Saturday in the Razorbacks’ 30-23 victory against Tulsa at Reynolds Razorback Stadium. It came a week after he had 10 catches for 129 yards in his team’s loss to Ole Miss.

Williams showed the full array of his talents, as he did against the Rebels, catching passes in traffic, breaking tackles and running for big yards downfield. His longest catch-and-run covered 44 yards, although just a bit of luster was taken off when he fumbled out of bounds at the end of the run.

The back-to-back games for Williams came after he was held to no catches in the Razorbacks’ loss to Kentucky. Williams was bothered by a knee injury, but since he has returned to health he has returned to No. 1 on quarterback Casey Dick’s watch list.

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Williams was asked after the game if this was the best stretch of football he has had. Williams said he had better stretches in basketball, but not football.

“Footballwise it’s going pretty good,” Williams said. “I just have to keep it up.”

Williams had plenty of help against the Golden Hurricane. Freshman Jarius Wright had a breakthrough game with five catches for 112 yards, although it could be argued Williams helped Wright instead of the other way around.

As Williams dominates the middle of the field, the Razorbacks’ receivers are finding easier passes Saturday, giving him 16 in the past two games. going with smaller crowds out- or safety. side. “D. J. has been a real team

lead-“ It helps a lot because it re- er. He makes us want to step our ally makes them want to key on game up because he always steps him,” Wright said. “They try to his game up each game.” double-team him and they’re That’s no accident because missing someone on that corner Williams said the Razorbacks ’ coaching staff implored him to step up his game. Williams, thanks to his talent and character, is a natural team leader and it sets a tone when he plays well.

“I had a sitdown with my position coach two weeks ago before the game and he said some stuff that really stuck with me,” Williams said, referring to Razorbacks graduate assistant Chip Long. “He wanted me to come out and play hard, not just for me, but try to help get the team going.”

Few things get the Razorbacks ’ fans more stoked than watching Williams take a short throw from Dick, bounce off a defender or two and then rumble downfield as he has the past two weeks. He had two receptions in the first half that were 39 yards or longer.

“The one thing I was so impressed with him in spring ball was how hard he was to tackle, how many yards he made after the catch,” Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said. “In the last two weeks he’s really been running hard, getting his pads down, and again I think it comes down to him being healthier, being more at full speed and getting more opportunities.” Williams left the game briefly in the second quarter after a hard collision while making a catch in the middle of the field. Williams left the field gingerly but returned after three plays on the sideline and played the rest of the game showing no ill effects. He was all smiles after the game, knowing the soreness from all those bumps and bruises was a night’s sleep away. “I wish you could ask me [how I feel this morning ],” Williams said. “I can’t tell you that right now, I’m still pumped with adrenaline. Right now I feel great.”