Razorbacks football report

Top RBs on display in opener

Arkansas running back Alex Collins runs toward the end zone during a game against Northern Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014 at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE — Two of the nation’s 1,100-yard rushers from last season will suit up when No. 18 Arkansas plays Texas-El Paso on Saturday.

The Miners are led by junior Aaron Jones, who ranked 26th in the NCAA with 1,321 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.

“He’s pretty good,” Arkansas linebacker Josh Williams said. “They kind of like compared him to our running backs, but we’re going to shut him down.”

Arkansas’ lead tailback is junior Alex Collins, who ran for 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. The Razorbacks had the nation’s only returning tandem of 1,000-yard rushers until Jonathan Williams was sidelined during camp with a season-long foot injury.

Speed freak

Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos said junior college transfer Dominique Reed has gotten plenty of reps with quarterback Brandon Allen to work on execution and the timing of deep routes.

Earlier this summer, Allen said overthrowing Reed on a deep ball is virtually impossible.

Enos related his experience to Arkansas’ quarterbacks about throwing deep passes to Andre Rison, Mark Ingram Sr., and other fast receivers at Michigan State.

“I had a very below-average arm in college,” Enos said. “I tell them I used to take as quick [five-step drop] as I could and throw it as far as I could and usually that only under threw them by a couple of steps.

“They don’t have quite the same problem I did, but with Dominique it’s almost to that. If he’s out there and you’ve got a matchup … with him on a deep throw, you better get back quick and you better get it up and out.”

Numbers game

Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema will take a 34-2 record in nonconference games into the opener.

Coach Bret Bielema’s only nonconference loss with the Razorbacks was a 28-24 setback at Rutgers on Sept. 21, 2013.

Arkansas is opening its 122nd year of football with an all-time record of 694-475-40 (.591) and a season-opening mark of 94-23-4 (.793). The Razorbacks have won seven of their past eight openers, with the loss coming in a 45-21 setback at defending SEC champion and national runner-up Auburn last year.

The Razorbacks have won eight consecutive home openers, dating to a 50-14 loss to USC to open 2006.

Captain Ugoh

Former Arkansas All-American offensive tackle Tony Ugoh will serve as the A-Club honorary captain Saturday.

Ugoh, a Houston native and three-year starter, helped the Razorbacks win the 2006 SEC West championship while earning third-team All-America honors from The Associated Press and first-team All-SEC honors.

The Indianapolis Colts took Ugoh in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft (42nd overall) and he started 11 games and was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team. He played in two Super Bowls and won Super Bowl XLVI in 2012 as a member of the New York Giants.

Heat tested

The high temperature Saturday is expected to be about 90 degrees.

The Razorbacks practiced in higher temperatures during much of fall camp.

“I think the players will be fine,” offensive line coach Sam Pittman said. “That first week in August was a beast and they handled it well. I think we’re in shape and ready to go.”

First visit

UTEP Coach Sean Kugler said Saturday will be the first time he’s been to a game at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “I’ve heard nothing but great things about Arkansas. “I know it’s a beautiful setting up there. It’ll be exciting for our players to go and play what I feel is one of the top SEC teams in the country.

“It doesn’t get any better than that if you’re a competitive young man.”

Other side

An Arkansas alumnus will play for UTEP on Saturday.

Defensive back Kelvin Fisher Jr., who graduated after three years at Arkansas with a sports management degree, transferred to UTEP last year for his final two seasons.

Fisher, who represented the football team at the groundbreaking for the Fred Smith Football Center on Oct. 27, 2011, played in six games for the Hogs in 2013. He played in 10 games for the Miners last season and had six tackles and a fumble recovery. He’s listed on the UTEP depth chart as a second-team safety and plays on special teams.

“He’s a great kid,” Coach Sean Kugler said. “He’s fit in well with our program.”

Fisher is pursuing a master’s degree in leadership studies at UTEP.

Special season

Bret Bielema said safety Rohan Gaines has turned around his attitude after being suspended for the Texas Bowl last season for an off-the-field incident.

“Rohan Gaines, since our little come to Jesus meeting a year ago where we sat him out of the bowl game and told him how we wanted things done, has been a coach’s dream,” Bielema said. “Absolutely incredible athletically, academically and socially.

“He’s one of those guys that could write the script. I’ve always said that special seasons are created by special seniors. Rohan Gaines and DeMarcus Hodge [on defense] can be a really good tandem, one at nose and one at safety.”

Freakish Peters

When UTEP Coach Sean Kugler was the Buffalo Bills’ offensive line coach from 2007-09, one of his players was former Razorback tight end Jason Peters.

A seven-time Pro Bowl selection as a tackle, Peters has played in the NFL with the Bills (2004-08) and the Philadelphia Eagles.

“He’s one of the most talented players I’ve ever been around,” said Kugler, an NFL assistant for 11 seasons. “He’s a freakish athlete and has a skill set that totally translates into the left tackle position.”

Not a gambler

Arkansas is listed as a 33-point favorite over UTEP by odds makers.

“I don’t pay any attention to that stuff,” Miners Coach Sean Kugler said. “That’s for gamblers, and I don’t gamble.”