Razorbacks Report

Marshall will add to duties

Arkansas running back Korliss Marshall carries the ball during a game against Texas Tech on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas.

Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said sophomore tailback Korliss Marshall, who returned this week from a three-game suspension for an unspecified violation of team rules, will get more involved in Arkansas' special teams, beginning with his lead role on kickoff returns.

"I'm going to get him involved in all four phases of the kicking game just because he's got that unique speed," Bielema said. "Hopefully we'll expand his role in not just the return game, but also on some coverage units because he can fly.

"He popped in there [Tuesday], and you can kind of just see that his legs are a little different freshness than the other guys. He's just got some bounce to him that was very, very clear from the first time he touched the ball."

Bielema said Marshall probably would not field punts but could still be on the punt return team.

Return of Toliver

Cornerback Henre Toliver's presence has been missed in the Arkansas secondary in the two full games he's missed and parts of two others.

Toliver is expected to return next week against LSU after suffering a bruised back in a collision against Georgia.

"I don't know who's more excited about him playing, him or me," defensive backs coach Clay Jennings said. "I definitely will be excited about having a chance to get him back out in the mix."

Foiled first

Mississippi State made the going tough for Arkansas' offense in the second half of Saturday's 17-10 loss by holding the Hogs to 16 total yards on 15 first-down snaps in the half.

The Razorbacks were 2 of 11 passing, with 1 interception, for 5 yards on first downs in the second half and had 4 carries for 11 yards.

Arkansas had just two plays of 10-plus yards on first downs: Jonathan Williams' 11-yard run on the game's first snap and a 12-yard pass from Brandon Allen to Keon Hatcher to open the second series.

The first half totals on first down were better. The Hogs had 13 carries for 39 yards, including Alex Collins' 1-yard touchdown run, and completed 3 of 3 passes for 20 yards for an average of 3.7 yards per play.

For the game, the Razorbacks managed 75 yards on 31 first-down plays, an average of 2.4 yards per play.

Making strides

Even though the Razorbacks are 0-5 in SEC games, Arkansas defensive backs coach Clay Jennings said there have been encouraging signs in Coach Bret Bielema's second season as the Razorbacks' coach.

Arkansas has held late leads in three of the losses and has had chances to break through and snap its 17-game SEC losing streak.

"Any time you get into a situation like Coach B took over, I'm not saying they were running on hard times, but there was so much disarray,"said Jennings, who is in his first season with the Razorbacks. "You come into a situation and you try to infuse your offensive, defensive and special teams system. And then you're also infusing different coaches and different personalities, it takes time for the kids to adjust.

"I think the kids have done a great job as far as buying in. The unique thing about it is you know you're one play away here, you're one play away there, and the kids aren't getting run out of Dodge.

"People know that they've been showing up, that the University of Arkansas has been in the arena. We've just got to make sure that when the clock strikes zero that we finish the correct way."

Sports on 11/07/2014