FAYETTEVILLE — For the second time in two SEC games, Kamren Curl was involved in a controversial penalty at a critical juncture in the game Saturday at South Carolina.
For the second time, defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads commended his freshman cornerback for doing what he was supposed to do on the play in question.
Curl was whistled for pass interference in the end zone with 10 seconds left in the first half, a penalty that set up Jake Bentley’s touchdown pass to put South Carolina up 17-10 at halftime in what wound up a 48-22 Gamecocks victory.
Curl was initially beaten by Bryan Edwards on the play, but recovered and knocked the ball away at the last second. Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said he sent the play to the SEC league office for review. Rhoads also weighed in.
“Great play by him in the end zone,” Rhoads said. “Wouldn’t instruct him to do it any other way. Made a great play on the ball.”
Junior safety Santos Ramirez was on the field and had a good view of the penalty.
“You can’t let that type of stuff faze you,” Ramirez said. “Kam had good coverage. I disagree with the pass interference call. Kam was there on the catch and the guy made a great catch.”
The flag set up Bentley’s go-ahead, 18-yard touchdown pass to Edwards, who made a highlight-reel catch over Curl’s tight coverage on the same route as the previous play.
“Don’t see anything that I would’ve coached differently on that play,” Rhoads said.
It wasn’t the first time Curl has been involved in a big call this year. He was also flagged for a holding penalty on a crucial overtime third down in the Texas A&M loss two weeks earlier. There appeared to be minimal contact, but the flag allowed the Aggies to extend the drive and score the eventual winning touchdown on the next play.
“If your guys are doing what they’re supposed to do and doing it well, you just let them know that that’s exactly what they’re doing them and encouraging them to keep doing it,” Rhoads said the Monday after the A&M game.
Teams have targeted Curl since he was thrust into a starting role after junior Ryan Pulley suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in the season opener against Florida A&M.
South Carolina targeted the Muskogee, Okla., native 11 times, including on the interference call, but he held up well overall. He showed his ball skills against the Gamecocks, playing tight coverage downfield and breaking up a career-high three passes.
“He’s an outstanding competitor,” Rhoads said. “Obvoiusly he’s got good skills and the size we see, but if you were to take him out there and test him, maybe do a pro agility or 40 and do that against some of the guys he’s covering, I imagine they’re going to probably test better than him. But he comes out and competes and continues to make plays.
“I think he welcomes the challenge of them going after him.”
Through five games, Curl has 19 tackles and four breakups. The 6-foot-1, 193-pounder has been in tight coverage and competed while also being solid against the run.
“Been a delight to our defense,” Rhoads said.