Quarterback
Austin Allen (203-331-10, 2804 yards, 22 TDs) had a bounce back game last week. Allen needs 196 passing yards to reach 3000. Allen Is No. 24 in pass efficiency. He has been sacked 24 times but had none vs. Mississippi State. Arkansas is No. 44 in passing (255.3 ypg) and 29 in passing efficiency
Drew Lock (221-408-10, 3131 yards, 22 TDs) ranks No. 16 in the NCAA with 284.6 passing yards per game and No. 61 in efficiency. After throwing 14 TD passes the first four games, he has 8 in the last seven games. Missouri is No. 18 in passing yards (297.9 ypg) and 56 in passing efficiency.
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
Running Back
Rawleigh Williams (208-1209, 11 TDs) is coming off a career-high 205-yard game. Williams is No. 17 with 109.9 rushing yards per game. Devwah Whaley (97-547, 2) has 336 all-purpose yards in the last 3 games. T.J. Hammonds had a 30-yard run last week. Arkansas is No. 67 in rushing (176.7 ypg).
Ish Witter (157-738, 6) has made nine starts, but he’s fully in the lead role now after the suspension of Little Rock native Damarea Crockett (153-1062, 10). Nate Strong (15-85) will likely be the top backup, with Alex Ross (24-71) also in the mix. Missouri is No. 34 in rushing (211.8 ypg).
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
Receivers/Tight Ends
Seniors Drew Morgan (55-610 yards, 3 TDs) and Keon Hatcher (35-532, 7) continue to lead the corps. Jared Cornelius (29-492, 4) averages 17 yards per catch. Jeremy Sprinkle (29-332, 4) has gone five games without a score. Austin Cantrell (11-108, 1) caught his first TD last week. Dominique Reed (10-196, 2) and Cody Hollister (10-140) pitch in.
J’Mon Moore (56-877, 8) is 2nd in the SEC with 79.7 receiving yards per game. Dimetrios Mason (42-525, 3) is the top freshman in the SEC and 14th overall with 52.5 yards per game. Tight end Sean Culkin (23-282) is a matchup problem at 6-6, his backup Kendall Blanton (15-160) has 3 TDs. Johnathan Johnson (22-365, 1) and Emanuel Hall (19-307, 2) add depth.
ADVANTAGE Even
Offensive Line
Arkansas’ offensive front had a dominating showing last week, with LT Dan Skipper earning SEC co-lineman of the week. C Frank Ragnow is having a big year. The recent play of RG Johnny Gibson and RT Brian Wallace has helped jell the unit. Arkansas is No. 50 in total offense (432.0 ypg) and No. 81 in sacks allowed (2.27).
Eleven-game starters LT Tyler Howell, LG Kevin Pendleton and RT Paul Adams are the anchors. Howell, a 6-8, 320-pound junior, is the only non-redshirt. Frosh Jonah Dubinski or sophomore Samson Bailey will start at center. Adam Ploudre and Alec Abein have split duties at RG. The Tigers lead the SEC in total offense (509.7) and fewest sacks allowed (1.09).
ADVANTAGE Missouri
Defensive Line
Jeremiah Ledbetter (43 tackles, 4 sacks) and JaMichael Winston (17, 0.5 sacks) have started at end the last 3 games. Taiwan Johnson (21, 3.5 TFL, 2 hurries) was dinged up last week. McTelvin Agim (24, 1.5 sacks) has started 3 in a row. Deatrich Wise (42, 5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 7 hurries) has been battling a shoulder problem. Arkansas is No. 102 in rush defense (216.5 ypg).
End Charles Harris (58, 8 sacks) has 18 career sacks. Marcell Frazier (29, 4.5 sacks) is the other end. Rickey Hatley (27, 1 TFL) and A.J. Logan (13) start on the inside. Josh Augusta (22, 4 TFL), Spencer Williams (15, 4 hurries), and Jordan Harold (10, 1.5 sacks) are top reserves. The Tigers are No. 118 in rush defense (239.9 ypg).
ADVANTAGE Even
Linebackers
Brooks Ellis (75, 6 TFL, 4 PBU) leads the team by 19 tackles. Freshman De’Jon Harris (33, 1 sack) had 10 tackles as a backup to Dwayne Eugene (35, 1 INT) last week. Randy Ramsey (19, 2.5 sacks, 4 hurries) has played Sam in recent games. Arkansas is No. 85 in total defense (431.4 ypg).
Donavin Newsom (71, 2 sacks) is super active. Eric Beisel (36, 5 TFL), who started the last 4 since Michael Scherer (ACL) went out, spiced up the bulletin board this week. Joey Burkett (38, 2 INT), and Brandon Lee (36, 2 sacks) assist. The Tigers are No. 116 in total defense (477.5 ypg).
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
Secondary
Josh Liddell (56, 2 INT, 4 PBU) picked off Drew Lock last year. Liddell, Santos Ramirez (38, 2 PBU) and De’Andre Coley (32, 2 FF) split time at safety. Jared Collins (24, 7 PBU), who gave up a deep TD last week, Ryan Pulley (36, 1 INT, 10 PBU), Henre Toliver (38, 2 INT, 6 PBU) and DJ Dean (23, 1 PBU) will draw tough cover jobs. Arkansas is No. 50 in passing yards allowed (214.9 ypg) and 53 in pass efficiency.
Senior corner Aarion Penton (37, 4, 10) is a strong corner who picked off Brandon Allen last year. John Gibson (22, 3, 5) plays the other side. Safeties Anthony Sherrils (49, 1 INT, 1 PBU), Cam Hilton (45, 1, 6) and Thomas Wilson (52, 1.5 TFL) rank among the top 5 healthy tacklers for the Tigers. Missouri is No. 77 in passing yards allowed (237.6 ypg) and No. 46 in pass efficiency.
ADVANTAGE Even
Special Teams
Arkansas punter Toby Baker, No. 17 (44.5) in the FBS, has 18 punts of 50-plus yards, and Arkansas is No. 12 in net punting (41.4). Adam McFain is 7 of 8 on field goals after missing a 40-yarder last week. Jared Cornelius had a season-best 21-yard punt return last week. Ryder Lucas posted four tackles in kick coverage a week ago. The Razorbacks are No. 122 in kickoff returns.
Punter Corey Fatony, No. 22 (44.2) in the FBS, has 17 punts of 50-plus yards and the Tigers are No. 16 in net punting (40.7). Tucker McCann is 6 of 12 on FGs, including 1 of his last 6, and 35 of 39 on PATs. Johnathan Johnson averages 15.2 yards on punt returns, including a 63-yard TD. The Tigers are No. 106 in kickoff returns (18.5) and No. 122 in kickoff defense (25.1).
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
Intangibles
Arkansas’s incentives include the opportunity to improve its regular season record for the third year in a row, to even its SEC record and to even the all-time series against Missouri. Oh, and there’s the motivation to show Mizzou LB Eric Beisel that they’re up to the challenge of showing up in Columbia, Mo. The Hogs can also win back-to-back games for the first time since starting 3-0.
With no bowl game possibilities, the Tigers are motivated to reward their 16 seniors and to put on a good show for the home folks. Who knows LB Eric Beisel’s motives, but he injected a spark into the series by using the mispronunciation of “Ar-Kansas” and other provocations. Missouri can put a little enthusiasm into its offseason by winning the Battle Line Trophy in its finale.
ADVANTAGE Even