OFFENSE
Quarterback
Ben Hicks (14-29-0, 143 yards) is slated for his second start. His receivers had some drops and he missed a few open targets in the opener. Nick Starkel (4-5-1, 48 yards) had a higher efficiency rating (120.64) than Hicks (89.7) due to a higher completion % and more yards per pass. Hogs only had one QB run vs. Portland State.
Matt Corral (9-19-1, 93 yards) took all the offensive snaps in his collegiate debut last week. The 6-1, 206-pound redshirt freshman has a completion rate of 47.4%, with only Auburn’s Bo Nix worse (.419) among SEC starters, and an SEC-low efficiency rating (77.96). Corral ran for a net of 17 yards on 9 attempts, with 3 sacks included, last week.
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
Running backs
Rakeem Boyd (18-114, 1 TD), coming off a career-best outing last week, had a 109-yard game, including a 69-yard score, in one half against the Rebels last year. Devwah Whaley (9-21, 1) pitched in 67 yards in last year’s game, while Chase Hayden (9-28) added 30. The Hogs threw five passes to backs last week.
Scottie Phillips (19-62, 1) returns after racking up 927 yards and 12 rush TDs and averaging over 6.0 yards per carry. Phillips rushed for 86 yards and a TD on 18 carries vs. the Hogs last year. Five-star signee Jerrion Ealy, a 5-9, 180-pound speedster, had 4 carries for 2 yards last week, but is expected to do more.
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
Receivers/tight ends
Injuries have impacted the Hogs, so freshmen like Treylon Burks (3-52) and Trey Knox (1-38) have joined Mike Woods (5-30), Tyson Morris (1-15), De’Vion Warren and Koilan Jackson among the front wave. TE C.J. O’Grady (30-400, 6 TD in ’18) is expected back this week to join Grayson Gunter (3-16) and Chase Harrell (1-14), who dropped a few last week.
Ole Miss lost a passel of veterans, leaving 5-9 Elijah Moore (4-60) and 6-foot Braylon Sanders (16-271, 1 in 2018) the most experienced returners. Sanders (hamstring) is questionable. Miles Battle (1-6), a 6-4 target, caught a short ball last week. Tight ends Octavius Cooley (2-7) and Jason Pellerin (1-15) got involved a little vs. Memphis.
ADVANTAGE Ole Miss
Offensive line
A largely revamped line played OK last week, led by veteran C Ty Clary and LT Colton Jackson, and joined by first-time front-liners RT Dalton Wagner, RG Myron Cunningham and LG Austin Capps, who is questionable (ankle). Ricky Stromberg was first reserve at LG. The Hogs allowed one sack vs. FCS opponent Portland State a week ago.
The Rebels’ starting five took a lot of heat for lack of push versus Memphis in a 15-10 loss. Veteran RT Alex Givens, coming off a back issue, made his 25th career start, while sophomore Ben Brown made his 13th. LT Michael Howard, LG Royce Newman and C Eli Johnson all made their first career starts. The group averages 6-4, 305 pounds.
ADVANTAGE Even
DEFENSE
Defensive line
DT McTelvin Agim (6 tackles, 2 sacks) had an All-SEC caliber debut. T.J. Smith (1), Jonathan Marshall (1, 1 hurry) and Isaiah Nichols rotated. The loss of Dorian Gerald (1, 1 PBU) and a knee issue for Jamario Bell (1, 1 hurry) impacts depth at DE. Gabe Richardson (3, 1 TFL) and Mataio Soli (1), who has a club on his right hand, are slated to start, backed by Zach Williams and Collin Clay.
Benito Jones (3, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 1 hurry), a 6-1, 329-pounder who has 27 starts, runs the point at NT in the base 3-4 look. The starting DEs are 6-6 Ryder Anderson (6, 1 hurry) and 6-4, 325-pound Josiah Coatney (7, 1 sack), a preseason All-SEC pick by Athlon. Tariquois Tisdale (3, 1 TFL) also saw action at the rush end position.
ADVANTAGE Even
LInebackers
De’Jon Harris (3, 0.5 TFL, 1 hurry) had a relatively quiet opener with the Hogs sticking to basics. Bumper Pool (6, 1 PBU) tied for the tackle lead, but lost contain on the edge once. Grant Morgan (4, 1 TFL), D’Vone McClure (3, 1 PBU, 1 hurry) and Hayden Henry (1, 1 sack) notched playing time in reserve roles.
Lakia Henry (7), a JC transfer who nearly came to Arkansas, is a team tri-leader in tackles. Henry plays on the inside along with MoMo Sanogo (4), a veteran and leader. The OLBs are Sam Williams (2, 1 FF) and Qaadir Sheppard (1, 1 hurry), who was a defensive end last year. Luke Knox (3, 2 TFL) and Willie Hibbler (2, 1 PBU) get backup reps.
ADVANTAGE Even
Secondary
Both starting safeties, Kam Curl (5, 2 sacks, 1 INT) and Joe Foucha (1, 2 PBU, 1 INT), had picks and spent time blitzing. CB Jarques McClellion (1) added a third INT, while fellow starter Montaric Brown (2) had a big hit while run forcing on the edge. NB Greg Brooks (1 hurry) did not notch a tackle in his first start. Myles Mason (5) and Micahh Smith (1, 1 PBU) provided backup reps.
Senior CB Myles Hartsfield (2, 1 PBU) has a team-high 31 career starts. Keidron Smith (7) also starts at corner, with Jaylon Jones (4) backing up. The top safeties are SS Jon Haynes (6) and FS Jalen Julius (5). Armani Linton (3, 1 PBU) gets backup duty. The Rebels gave up 172 passing yards and 6 of 17 third-down conversions against Memphis.
ADVANTAGE Even
Special teams
The Razorbacks got plenty of pooch punt opportunities. Punter Sam Loy put 3 punts down around the 5, but only one was fielded, by De’Vion Warren. Kicker Connor Limpert (2 of 2 FGs) hit a game winner here two years ago. DS Jordan Silver and H Jack Lindsey are solid. Kickoff returns were limited last week for Warren (1-16). Treylon Burks (2-16) should be dangerous on punt returns.
Ole Miss punter Mac Brown is 15th nationally with a 46.8-yard average on five punts. Returning kicker Luke Logan made a 35-yarder and missed a 50-yard try at Memphis. Kickoff man Casey Griffith is 70th nationally with a 62-yard average. Blue chip signee Jerrion Ealy (25.0) is the top kick returner, while Elijah Moore handles punts.
ADVANTAGE Ole Miss
Intangibles
The Razorbacks have much to clean up, particularly on offense, so a significant leap in execution is reasonable. Arkansas lost its four true road games last year by an average of 30.5 points per game and hasn’t won on the road since a 38-37 victory in Oxford, Miss., on Oct. 28, 2017. Both teams will unveil new concepts so in-game adjustments are critical.
Are Ole Miss fans believing in Matt Luke’s rebuilding blueprint and will they show up en masse for the home opener? These teams have engaged in wildness here the last few meetings, so why should we expect any different for this game between hungry SEC West teams picked to finish at the bottom of the division?
ADVANTAGE Ole Miss