'Steamboat' here to stay

Arkansas quarterback Cole Kelley signals first down during a game against Texas A&M on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Arlington, Texas.

— Cole Kelley lowered his shoulder, extended his forearm and leveled a Florida A&M linebacker near the sideline.

Boom. Just like that, the redshirt freshman quarterback turned a garbage-time drive into one of the more memorable plays of Arkansas’ blowout win in the season opener.

The truck stick moment was also the genesis for a new nickname. The ‘Louisiana Steamboat’ moniker was coined, a reference to Kelley’s Lafayette, La., roots and his towering 6-foot-7, 268-pound frame.

Kelley didn’t love the nickname, so, naturally, Dan Enos named a new package package centered around Kelley playing quarterback ‘Steamboat.’

“Everybody calls him Steamboat now, I think,” Enos said. “I’m sure he’s real happy I’m talking about this now.”

Steamboat was effective and efficient in its debut in the 50-43 overtime loss to Texas A&M on Saturday.

Kelley ran four times and picked up four first downs in short-yardage situations, gaining 21 yards and extending his right arm to signal the chains moving after each plow ahead. He also tossed a play-action touchdown pass to David Williams, taking advantage of an A&M defense geared up to stop the quarterback run.

“When he started coming in the game, they started bringing in five defensive linemen because they thought of the run game,” Bielema said. “But the good news about Cole is he’s our second-string quarterback and knows our entire playbook.”

The idea for the package actually came from Kelley during the bye week with Arkansas searching for answers on offense after a lackluster showing in the 28-7 loss to TCU.

“He just said, ‘I’m willing to do whatever it takes to help the team, if you need to use me in another role or whatever,’” Enos said.

Kelley didn’t burn the Aggies with the throw game Saturday, even missing a wide-open Williams on a wheel route in the second half. But he has the strongest arm on the team, which, in tandem with his legs, could give Enos the ability to take advantage of defenses overcommitting to the run moving forward.

“One thing that’s an advantage for us is when we have him in there, we’re really, in my opinion, not tipping our hand what we’re doing,” Enos said. “Because we can throw screens, we can throw play action, we can hand the ball off, we can run him. It’s just your quarterback run game is very good. It creates advantages for your offense.”

Kelley’s ability to run and pass make the package tenable moving forward. Senior Austin Allen is the unquestioned starter and supported the Steamboat implementation, but that doesn’t mean Kelley was a one-time, change-of-pace wrinkle. Ditto for the Wild Hog with Chase Hayden and T.J. Hammonds.

“That’s another package that will continue to grow and we have other things involved with that package,” Enos said.

Both formations were instrumental in helping Arkansas rack up 457 yards and 43 points. Hayden emerged as a potential star in the opener against Florida A&M when he ran for 120 yards. Kelley had his big moment late, but Saturday was his coming-out party.

The redshirt freshman was nicknamed ‘The Franchise’ shortly after he first arrived on campus last summer. Now, it’s the Steamboat.

And the Steamboat is here to stay.

“I had to tell him to back up from me a couple times on the sideline, because I think he was wanting more,” Enos said.

Sounds like he’ll get his wish moving forward.