FAYETTEVILLE -- One of the reasons Alex Collins was recognized by Arkansas coaches after the Razorbacks' 17-0 victory over LSU was for his work on the game's longest play.
Collins picked up a charging defender on Brandon Allen's 29-yard pass to Hunter Henry that converted a third-and-5 play in the third quarter.
"Alex Collins is offset to the right and he's got a protection scan where he actually comes across [Allen's face], he sees a guy come free that wasn't really his first read, and that guy is going to tattoo B.A.," Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said. "He's going to kill B.A. He comes flying across the formation and delivers a guy who is probably 50 pounds heavier than him and rocks him into next week."
"My job is to check protection before I get out on my route, and I was actually leaving because I thought nobody was coming," Collins said. "On my way out I saw a guy coming full speed at the quarterback and I knew he couldn't avoid the guy, so I just turned around and ran into him and got in his way before he hit B.A."
Bielema and running backs coach Joel Thomas said Collins delivered his most complete game.
"I kind of had a feeling watching it as the game went along that he did some really nice things, pass protection-wise," Thomas said. "He's building toward becoming a complete player."
Landsharks
Ole Miss has nicknamed its defense the Landsharks for their aggressive, swarming play that has produced an SEC-best 19 interceptions (second in the country) and 27 takeaways (tied for seventh in the country).
"The Landshark thing they live by," Arkansas running backs coach Joel Thomas said. "They practice it and they preach it, and it shows up on tape. There's a reason why they're one of the top teams in the SEC in turnover margin."
Trey's his name
Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace was complimentary of Arkansas senior Trey Flowers, even if he didn't mention him by name.
"They're really good at the D-line spot," Wallace said. "I can remember playing that D-end the past two years and he has created a lot of havoc, so the line has to be ready and I have to know where my checkdowns are, where I can get the ball out of my hands quickly."
Nice run
Ole Miss defensive end Fadol Brown said the Rebels have to be wary of Arkansas' running game, which averages 232.9 yards per game.
"I think it's the best run game we've seen all year long," Brown said. "Every single game they come with it. They try to power you out the hole and try to pound it constantly."
Just a guy
Arkansas tackle Dan Skipper, the reigning SEC lineman of the week, will have his second set of battles with Ole Miss defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche, who moves up and down the Rebels' front.
Skipper and Nkemdiche, two of the top freshmen in the SEC last year, got crossways following a play in last year's game, with Skipper coming up and bumping Nkemdiche after the Rebels player made contact with quarterback Brandon Allen following a fourth-quarter touchdown pass.
Nkemdiche shoved back aggressively and was flagged for a personal foul and ejected.
"It was a while ago," Skipper said. "He's just another player. As far as I know, he's No. 5. Just another guy."
Greene glance
David Greene, the former Georgia quarterback who hosts SEC Film Room on the SEC Network, studied highlights of Arkansas' 17-0 victory over LSU with Coach Bret Bielema and linebacker Martrell Spaight at the Fred Smith Center on Monday for his next segment.
The show will first air at approximately 11 p.m. Central today, following the Wake Forest at Arkansas men's basketball game. It will replay Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Central leading into SEC Nation and snippets of the segment will be shown during SEC Nation.
Rebels injuries
Ole Miss has lost two key players, receiver Laquon Treadwell (ankle, fibula) and linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche (ankle), for the year, but several standouts are expected back against Arkansas.
Top offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil (partially torn biceps) has not played since a 10-7 loss at LSU on Oct. 25, but he should play. Linebacker Keith Lewis, running back I'Tavius Mathers and safety Trae Elston are expected back from recent concussions.
No weenies
Ignoring the 33-degree temperature, guard Sebastian Tretola came out for pregame warm-ups last Saturday wearing shorts, a T-shirt and sandals.
"I have to do it," Tretola said. "I feel like it's a mental thing."
Tretola, from San Bernardino, Calif., said he hates cold weather but prefers to play in the cold rather than the heat.
"That probably doesn't make sense, but I feel like a better football player comes out in the cold," he said. "A tougher, more ready-to-go football player."
Tretola said he played in some games at Iowa Western last year with negative wind chills, so the weather for the LSU game was no big deal.
"I'm telling the guys, 'Stop being weenies, man,' " he said.
Worth noting
• Ole Miss will mark the sixth top-10 opponent for Arkansas this season and the sixth ranked opponent for the Razorbacks in their past seven games.
• Nov. 22 will match the date of the latest regular-season meeting between Arkansas and Ole Miss, tying the game in 1941.
• Arkansas scored on its first possession against LSU, on Adam McFain's 32-yard field goal, for the sixth time in 10 games.
• Defensive coordinator Robb Smith said the last shutout he was involved with came in Rutgers' 26-0 victory over Howard on Sept. 8, 2012.
• Senior linebacker Braylon Mitchell made his starting assignment pay off with nine tackles, including a tackle for a 1-yard loss.
Sports on 11/19/2014