TEXAS BOWL: ARKANSAS VS. TEXAS

Hatcher’s improvement key part of success

Arkansas receiver Keon Hatcher (4) reaches to fend off Nicholls defensive back Josh Singleton during the second quarter Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville

FAYETTEVILLE -- Every day is a good day for Keon Hatcher when he's playing football.

Hatcher leads Arkansas in every receiving category this season with 39 catches for 517 yards and 5 touchdowns, and his improvement as a route runner, pass catcher, unit leader and blocker seemed to mirror the rise of the Razorbacks this season.

Hatcher game by game

Opponent;Rec-Yds-TDs;Rush-Yds-TDs

@Auburn;1-17-0;0-0-0

Nicholls;1-50-1;1-82-1

@T.Tech;2-22-0;2-16-0

N. Illinois;6-107-1;0-0-0

Texas A&M;3-35-0;0-0-0

Alabama;3-58-0;0-0-0

Georgia;5-36-1;0-0-0

UAB;4-35-0;0-0-0

@Miss. State;7-50-0;0-0-0

LSU;2-25-0;0-0-0

Ole Miss;2-58-1;1-12-0

@Missouri;3-24-1;0-0-0

Totals;39-517-5;4-110-1

KEON HATCHER GLANCE

POSITION Receiver

HEIGHT/WEIGHT 6-2, 210

CLASS Junior

HIGH SCHOOL Owasso (Okla.) High

AGE 20 (Birthday: Sept. 11, 1994)

NOTEWORTHY Led Razorbacks in receptions (39), yards (517) and touchdowns (5) in the regular season. Ranks fifth on team with 110 rushing yards on 4 carries, an average of 27.5 yards per carry. … Had an 82-yard touchdown run on Arkansas’ first snap against Nicholls State and caught a 50-yard touchdown pass later. … Also caught TD passes against Northern Illinois, Georgia, Ole Miss and Missouri. … Shared Coaches Appreciation award with tight end AJ Derby. … Put in an evaluation request with the NFL Draft advisory board and faces a Jan. 15 deadline to apply for the draft as an underclassman, but he said he is “100 percent” committed to the Razorbacks.

Arkansas increased its victory total by three games to finish 6-6 and earn a trip to the Texas Bowl, where it will face Texas on Dec. 29.

Hatcher, a 6-2, 210-pound junior, reduced his number of dropped passes -- an issue during his first two seasons -- after one big missed opportunity in the season opener at Auburn. He'll take a two-game touchdown-scoring streak into the Texas Bowl.

"I feel like I got better and we got better as a team as the season went along," Hatcher said.

"I think Keon has really bought into what we're trying to do and became a team player," receivers coach Michael Smith said.

Hatcher also received the Coaches Appreciation award at the team banquet, which Smith said is basically given to the team's most improved player. Smith said the award should help Hatcher build more confidence and better understand the type of leader the team needs him to be.

"I just think he's set himself in a position to have a great year," Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said. "He's kind of a microcosm of what our whole team is."

The postseason matchup with Texas also has fired up Hatcher, an Owasso, Okla., native who jumped right into the Hogs-Horns rivalry on the Sunday when bowl berths were released.

" I got super pumped up," Hatcher said. "We're going down to Houston, playing in the Houston Texans' stadium, reignite the old-school rivalry. It's pretty exciting."

Hatcher's passion has helped elevate him in the eyes of coaches and teammates.

"He loves the game of football, and he practices with a passion every day," Arkansas offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said. "I think Keon showed a lot of maturity as the season went on ... and I think it showed up with some production towards the end of the season."

Hatcher had the first 100-yard game of his career with a six-catch, 107-yard performance with a touchdown in Arkansas' 52-14 victory over Northern Illinois. He made perhaps the best catch of his career, a diving, 25-yard touchdown grab that capped Arkansas' opening drive in its 30-0 victory over Ole Miss.

He followed that with a 12-yard slant pass touchdown at Missouri in which he barged through a defensive back for the final couple of yards.

"That's one of his attributes there," Smith said. "He's a big, physical kid that plays hard, plays fast, and for him to progress the way he has has been fun to watch. I'm excited to see him grow."

Hatcher talked with Smith before submitting his name to the NFL Draft advisory board to assess his status. Hatcher said he's "100 percent" committed to the Razorbacks for his senior season and just wants some feedback.

"That's something he's got to sit down with his family and make a decision," Smith said. "He just wants to see where he is right now as far as how the NFL looks at him. He knows some of the things he has to work on to make his game better, and that's something that I'm here to try to help him to do to try to get to that next level."

Smith said working on speed and route-running are areas Hatcher can improve.

"With the room he has at the top, he can only improve himself," Smith said. "I don't think he'll ever hurt himself now, because he's put on tape that he can play at this level and do well at this level. A lot of the things we do with him, NFL teams like."

Sports on 12/19/2014