Hog Calls

Freshman doesn't shy from moment

Arkansas defender Josh Liddell attempts to tackle Northern Illinois wide receiver Christian Blake during the second quarter of the game against Northern Illinois in Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Freshman understudy Josh Liddell didn't expect to play much in the second half of the Arkansas Razorbacks' 30-0 victory over Ole Miss.

Junior starting strong safety Rohan Gaines was back in the game after serving a half-game suspension, but Gaines dashed away any idle expectations Liddell might have had with his 100-yard interception return for a touchdown.

"He got tired running all the way up the field," Liddell said of Gaines. "so that got me back in pretty quick."

Now, Gaines has opened the door again for Liddell .

Coach Bret Bielema announced Dec. 13 that Gaines won't travel to Houston for the Razorbacks' Dec. 29 Texas Bowl game against the Texas Longhorns because of disciplinary reasons.

So this time it seems it's Liddell's game start to finish.

Any trepidation about starting the true freshman from Pine Bluff Dollarway has been washed away by Liddell preserving one shutout -- playing most of the second half of a 17-0 victory over LSU on Nov. 15 when Gaines was ejected after being called for targeting -- and starting another.

"Obviously, Josh played six quarters of unscored-upon defense in the SEC," Bielema said. "So I think he is more than ready."

Liddell was thrust into the fire against LSU when the Tigers had a first down at the Arkansas 24.

"It was a big moment for me," Liddell said. "They were in the red zone. I was just looking at my keys and staying calm and just be ready. Coach B always says prepare like you are a starter. The backup never knows when you are going to be called, and you have got to stay ready."

He had the entire week to mull starting against Ole Miss. Did he get nervous?

"No," Liddell said.

Not even knowing Ole Miss would throw more than LSU?

"No," Liddell said. "Watching film and more film and being more detailed in your work and just practice really helps a lot."

Starting Arkansas' first bowl game since the 2011 Razorbacks beat Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl doesn't seem to faze him, either.

" I have gotten more reps, but as far as the pressure and everything, naw, not really. " Liddell said "I'm just doing what I have been doing, preparing for the next game."

What Liddell does, defensive backfield coach Clay Jennings said, is listen well and communicate what he's learned.

"In the meetings you can ask him a question and he is going to regurgitate it back to you," Jennings said. "He really is in tune with football."

The team knows it and respects it, Jennings said, especially those linebackers and cornerbacks heeding his calls.

"Volume reflects confidence," Jennings said. "Josh is not afraid to communicate. So the corners and linebackers, they trust when he makes the checks. They trust him they are going to be put in the right position to make plays."

Sports on 12/22/2014