How Arkansas and Auburn compare at each position

Auburn defensive end Marlon Davidson (3) signals to teammates before a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Offense

Quarterbacks

Bo Nix (83-152-5, 1,125 yards, 8 TD), son of former Auburn standout Patrick Nix, won the starting job in camp ahead of Joey Gatewood (4-5-0, 37 yards, 1), who has 3 rushing TD and 144 rushing yards. Nix has 191 rushing yards and 2 TD. Nix’s 54.6% completions are 12th in the SEC and his 127.6 efficiency is 9th.

Looks like Ben Hicks (41-80-0, 510 yards, 1 TD) could be back at the comm after playing well in the second halves of the last two games in relief of Nick Starkel (88-150-7, 1,060, 7), whose 124.1 efficiency rating tops Hicks’ 108.9. The backup has been better since Week 2. After watching Lynn Bowden Jr. last week, some fans would like to see what freshman KJ Jefferson could offer.

ADVANTAGE Auburn

Running backs

With ace JaTarvious Whitlow out, the Tigers turn to their deep on-deck circle and call on Kam Martin (34-174, 2 TD, 5.1 ypc), Shaun Shivers (27-144, 0, 5.3) and company. Of course Auburn will have plenty of QB runs and jet sweeps with the likes of sprinters Anthony Schwartz (5-78, 2) and Eli Stove (6-56, 1) that spice and enhance the attack.

The Razorbacks more traditional run game has vaulted Rakeem Boyd (106-617, 5, 5.8) into the SEC rushing lead. Boyd is 17th nationally at 102.8 yards per game. Devwah Whaley (44-199, 3, 4.3) had a breakaway 21-yarder last week. T.J. Hammonds and A’Montae Spivey traveled last week and could draw spot duty. The Hogs will have to be creative in the run game vs. a rugged front four.

ADVANTAGE Even

Receivers/tight ends

Seth Willams (21 catches, 368 yards, 5 TD), a 6-3 sophomore, is Auburn’s top pass catcher, followed by 6-foot Eli Stove (20-191, 2), Little Rock native Will Hastings (10-162, 1), 6-5 matchup problem Sal Cannella (7-130), and TE Jay Jay Wilson (7-48). Anthony Schwartz (5-110) is a big-play threat at 22.0 ypc, with Cannella (18.6) and Williams (17.5) not far behind.

The Hogs have to get the ball to home run threats Mike Woods (24-319, 2), Trey Knox (23-323, 2), and particularly Treylon Burks (15-255), whose 17.0 ypc leads the team. TE Cheyenne O’Grady (22-287, 1) looms large in any successful game plan. Tyson Morris (10-129, 1), Koilan Jackson (3-38, 1), De’Vion Warren (3-20) and TEs Grayson Gunter (3-16) and Chase Harrell (2-28, 1) contribute.

ADVANTAGE Arkansas

Offensive line

Auburn has an extremely rare all-senior starting five, left to right, Prince Tega Wanogho, Marquel Harrell, Kaleb Kim, Mike Horton and Jack Driscoll. The 6-7, 305-pound Wanogho was a preseason All-SEC selection. The Tigers average 6-5, 307 pounds, not as big as Texas A&M’s giants, but close. Auburn has allowed just 8 sacks through 6 games.

The Razorbacks have been impacted by injuries (Noah Gatlin, Colton Jackson, Austin Capps) and up-and-down play. Guards Capps and Ricky Stromberg allowed quick pressure on back-to-back snaps in the red zone on the Hogs’ final drive at Kentucky. Jackson might be back this week to join starters C Ty Clary and RT Dalton Wagner. The Hogs have allowed just 10 sacks.

ADVANTAGE Auburn

DEFENSE

Line

Auburn’s front can make a claim as the nation’s best, led by 318-pound DT Derrick Brown (18, 5 TFL, 3 sacks, 2 FR, 3 PBU) and end Marlon Davidson (24, 3.5 sacks, 2 hurries, 1 FF). DT Tyrone Truesdell (15, 3 sacks, 1 FR) and end Big Kat Bryant (8, 1.5 sacks) start and DL/OLB Nick Coe (10, 2 TFL) got preseason All-SEC votes. They’re tough, hard to move and relentless in pursuit.

McTelvin Agim (20, 5.5 TFL, 4 sacks, 3 hurries), T.J. Smith (9, 3, 2, 3), Gabe Richardson (24, 5.5, 2.5, 1 PBU, 1 FF) and Jamario Bell (7, 4.5, 3.5, 1 hurry, 1 FF) are the veterans, with DTs Isaiah Nichols (11) and Jonathan Marshall (7, 2 TFL, 3 hurries, 1 FF) and frosh DEs Mataio Soli (12, 1.5 TFL, 2 hurries), Zach Williams (8) and Collin Clay (5) growing up in a hurry.

ADVANTAGE Auburn

Linebackers

The Tigers have a deep rotation on the second tier. K.J. Britt (32, 6, 1.5, 1 hurry) and Chandler Wooten (14, 3 TFL, 1 FR) are listed as co-starters, as are Owen Pappoe (17, 1 PBU, 3 hurries) and Zakoby McClain (26, 2.5 TFL 1 FF) at the other spot. OLB Nick Coe (10) can stand up or go down on an edge. The Tigers’ calling card is speed.

De’Jon Harris (44, 3 TFL, 2 PBU, 2 FR) and Bumper Pool (40, 3, 3 PBU, 1 hurry) are still logging large snap counts for the Hogs. Juniors Grant Morgan (19, 3 TFL, 1 sack) and Hayden Henry (18, 2.5, 1, 2 PBU, 1 FF) also log playing time. Arkansas’ rotation thinned with the loss of D’Vone McClure (11, 1 PBU, 1 hurry), putting Deon Edwards (1) and Andrew Parker on alert.

ADVANTAGE Even

Secondary

S Jeremiah Dinson (43, 3.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FR) leads the team in tackles and has the lone INT. Daniel Thomas (28, 1.5 TFL, 1 FR) is the other starting safety. Noah Igbinoghene (23, 4 PBU) and Javaris Davis (21, 1, 4) are the top corners, with solid relief from Roger McCreary (15, 1, 6). Christian Tutt (14, 1 sack) plays ’Star,’ Jamien Sherwood (13) and Smoke Monday (9) are backups.

The quartet of safeties Kam Curl (44, 3 TFL, 2 PBU, 2 FR) and Joe Foucha (35, 1 INT, 3 PBU, 1 FR, 1 hurry) and CBs Jarques McClellion (18, 1 INT, 3 PBU) and Montaric Brown (19, 1 INT, 2 PBU, 1 FR) played virtually the whole game last week, and NB Greg Brooks Jr. (13, 2 PBU, 1 hurry) played a lot. Top subs are Myles Mason (10), LaDarrius Bishop (9, 1 FR) and Micahh Smith (5, 1 PBU).

ADVANTAGE Auburn

Special teams

Christian Tutt’s 15.4 punt return average is No. 6 but he’s had some muffs. The Tigers allow 22.4 yards per punt return, 126th in the nation. Anders Carlson (7 of 8 FGs, 24 of 24 PATs) has 29 touchbacks on 35 kickoffs and one FG miss from 42 yards. Punter Arryn Siposs is 43rd nationally with a 43.1-yard average. Noah Igbinoghene’s 23.5 yard KOR average would rank 36th if he qualified.

Treylon Burks value as a punt returner continues to grow, as his 11.3-yard average is 22nd nationally. PK Connor Limpert (10 of 12 FGs, 19-19 PATs) is stacking a great senior year on a big career. KOR De’Vion Warren (22.8) is 43rd nationally. Sam Loy’s punting (39.5) has been on the upswing. Kickoffs and the coverage units have been solid all year.

ADVANTAGE Arkansas

Intangibles

Auburn is coming off an open date and that’s a distinct advantage. Also, Gus Malzahn and some of his assistants are playing in front of many in-state friends and family. The Tigers will be eager to flush a road loss at Florida out of their system and will very likely have plenty of wrinkles on both sides of the ball and special teams to contend with.

The Razorbacks feel “backed into a corner” to use Coach Chad Morris’ words. Three winnable games slipped from their grasp in the first half of the season, making a potential gonzo 5-1 start a sad reality at 2-4. Too many key errors on both sides of the ball have cropped up at game-winning time. What will the crowd look like for a team facing a crisis, and will it be a substantial advantage?

ADVANTAGE Even