Corner to count on: Pulley matures for Hogs

FAYETTEVILLE -- Ryan Pulley's primary assignment last week at TCU would have been tough for any cornerback.

The task -- nearly game-long coverage of TCU's top wideout, 6-3 Taj Williams -- came in Pulley's first start against a Power Five opponent.

Williams had 11 catches for 158 yards and a touchdown in the Horned Frogs' opener against South Dakota State, and quarterback Kenny Hill showed a preference for throwing deep passes in his direction.

Williams did not catch a pass when defended by the 5-11 Pulley on Saturday in the Hogs' 41-38 victory in double overtime. Pulley's nullification of the taller Williams included a couple of deep passes, a couple of intermediate routes and a perfectly timed deflection on a slant for one of his three pass breakups.

"I thought he played really well," defensive backs coach Paul Rhoads said.

"I think I did pretty good," said Pulley, a sophomore. "I went up against one of their top guys. I just went out there determined. Basically, I felt like I had to prove myself to the coaches to get their trust and put me on the field more."

Pulley was in coverage on a couple of completed throws underneath to other TCU receivers, but nothing got over his head.

"I think he did great," senior cornerback Jared Collins said. "He had three PBUs, so you know he was productive. He knew what he was doing and he played fast."

Because Pulley negated Williams, the Horned Frogs had to attack other areas with their passing game.

"He was doing a great job all over the field," linebacker Brooks Ellis said. "Obviously that was the matchup we wanted. To have him against Taj do a great job, that was huge."

Hill had at least four downfield shots against Pulley, including one in the end zone for 6-4 Emanuel Porter, but none of them were completed. Pulley was in coverage on Porter's would-be 27-yard touchdown catch in the final minute, but the play was wiped out because Porter -- fighting to release from Pulley's jam at the line -- put part of his right foot on the sideline and was flagged for an illegal touch after making the catch.

Arkansas coaches touted Pulley as the team's best press-coverage corner during camp, and they've put him to work in that department.

"A lot of guys are really proud of the way Ryan Pulley competed," defensive coordinator Robb Smith said. "He found a way to compete and help us win a big football game against a ranked opponent on the road. And that says a lot to what Paul has done with him and the work that he's had in the offseason."

Williams' only catch -- a 13-yard touchdown on third and 12 in the first overtime -- came against Collins.

Pulley finished with four tackles and three breakups.

"I tell you what, Ryan, since he's got here, is a guy that I've said has extreme talents," Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said. "He's very, very competitive. He laid it all out on the field."

Pulley, a native of Fort Myers, Fla., was eager to play as a freshman, but he was behind Collins, DJ Dean and Henre Toliver at cornerback while needing time to mature. Arkansas receiver Keon Hatcher beat him on several occasions in practice last season and during the spring, and the fiery Pulley often did not react well.

"He's really matured since the day I arrived," Rhoads said. "I would state openly to him and to you that he was an immature football player when I arrived, and it's been a lot of fun to watch that growth take place. He was ready for Saturday's start, and he's ready for this one."

Rhoads said he's preached to Pulley about keeping his emotions in check to weather the highs and lows of playing corner.

"Once you get frustrated, you're not doing things positively after that, so we've worked hard to coach him out of that," Rhoads said.

"Yeah, you know, I've matured a lot from those situations," Pulley said. "I just go out and watch film and do overtime [extra film study] every chance I get and go out there and practice and just execute and do what I do best."

Rhoads said Pulley's improvements began with his focus off the field.

"He's intent in the meeting room and on the practice field," he said. "He plays with a higher effort on the practice field, where he used to play straight legged. Not disinterested, but not with the level of focus and effort that it takes to play at this level."

Pulley had pictured playing more as a true freshman.

"I sat out last year, but I was a freshman," he said. "I just looked at the guys in front of me and got better. I really envisioned this point."

Pulley might do well this week to follow advice gleaned by Rhoads from his father, Cecil, a high school coach who is enshrined in the Iowa High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame.

"I had an article written about me, and my dad came with that article and he folded it up into a small piece and he said, 'Here, put this in your sock and step on it every day, and quit reading what it has to say and move on to what's next.' " Rhoads said. "That made a huge impression on me as a very young boy. You can look back and you can look forward, and pay for both of those things."

Sports on 09/15/2016