State of the Hogs: Razorbacks finish Rams this time

Arkansas defensive lineman McTelvin Agim runs off the field following the Razorbacks' 55-34 victory over Colorado State on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Fayetteville.

— Arkansas led 27-14 four minutes deep into the second quarter against Colorado State.

With the way the Razorbacks have blown leads the last four seasons, it’s not like anyone was confident Saturday in Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

The Rams had rallied with the game’s final 25 points to beat the Hogs 34-27 last season in Fort Collins, Colo.

Ah, but Arkansas senior McTelvin “Sosa” Agim said things are different now after the Hogs scored the game’s last 21 points to beat the Rams 55-34 on Saturday.

Agim, the bell cow defensive tackle, had the explanation for what has changed since the Hogs blew leads to Missouri and Virginia Tech three years ago and so many other times since then.

“What’s different now is that we can keep on scoring,” Agim said. “Nick Starkel can give you the ability to keep scoring. I know it’s just Colorado State, but it’s the way we can respond.”

Agim reminded of what happened in late collapses in 2016.

“When I was a freshman, we didn’t score on people,” Agim said. “That’s not hard to see.”

It’s not hard to see that Starkel is a difference maker, as Agim explained, and so many others did after the Hogs dominated the fourth quarter with three straight touchdowns.

Tight end Cheyenne O’Grady gave the Hogs a two-touchdown cushion with perhaps the best play of his up-and-down career. He hauled in a soft Starkel throw over an out-matched defensive back, then broke five tackles, finally slipping away from a bunch of Rams trying to rake the ball out of his strong grip.

Treylon Burks joined O’Grady to screen the last of the Rams at about the 20-yard line. O’Grady, too sick with strep throat to practice on Wednesday and Thursday, said he was completely out of breath when he reached the end zone.

O’Grady sat out the first quarter. Arkansas coach Chad Morris said if you don’t practice, you are unlikely to start. O’Grady said there was probably a time in his career when a little illness would stop him cold.

“The old me, when I’m sick, I’d be wah-wah, a baby,” said O’Grady, who noted a flu-stricken Michael Jordan once scored more than 40 points in the playoffs.

O’Grady said it was time to “suck it up” because it’s his “last rodeo.”

Perhaps everyone wants to play with Starkel, the junior transfer from Texas A&M who made his first start at quarterback for the Razorbacks. The 6-3, 214-pounder completed 20 of 35 for 305 yards. Starkel was never close to throwing an interception in a performance as smooth as his singing idol, Justin Bieber.

Starkel threw for three touchdowns, including a 24-yarder to true freshman Trey Knox on the first UA possession. That was the capper of a five-play, 72-yard march that answered CSU’s 75-yard touchdown run on the game’s second play.

It was clear that Starkel provided the missing ingredient in the UA offense on that first drive. He found Burks on a 38-yard strike to open the game and was 3-for-3 on the drive.

Knox and Burks, 6-5 and 6-3 respectively, took turns pinning the smaller CSU corners when Starkel fired 50-50 balls for the two true freshman wide receivers. Starkel missed them a few times.

There was an overthrow in the second quarter when Burks was 10 yards in the clear. A softer throw instead of Starkel’s laser might have worked. There was a question about it in the interview room.

“Thank you for bringing that one up,” Starkel said. “I missed a lot of throws. The defense wasn’t doing too much (different from play to play). So you could pick a play off the call sheet and be right. The coaches did a good job of keeping it simple.”

Morris said on his Wednesday radio show that Starkel would be given audible freedom on first and second down, but said there wasn’t too much of that against the Rams after a great week of preparation with quarterbacks coach Joe Craddock.

“Joe did a great job with Nick,” Morris said. “He didn’t change too many plays, but Nick did a great job on the sideline of telling us what he saw and what he didn’t like.”

Craddock has been criticized for his play calling, but he had plenty of options for Starkel despite only having the quarterback for six weeks. Here's guessing Craddock has some fun dialing up deep shots with Starkel the rest of the season.

Oh, there’s a lot to like of Starkel. The grad transfer with the “Sparkle” nickname knows how to use his weapons. He said there are plenty and youth will be served.

Starkel tossed 15 passes to Knox (6 catches, 90 yards) and Burks (4-92). Some were just lofted in their direction, clearly just “go get them” balls.

“I told those two before the season that in the SEC they don’t care how old you are,” Starkel said. “They go up and get the ball.”

About the long-armed Knox, Starkel said, “If he’s one-on-one with someone, he’s getting the ball.”

Starkel couldn’t see the scrum O’Grady broke clear from on his big play, but said, “I told him before the season I was going to get him the ball.”

Running back Rakeem Boyd rolled for a career high 122 yards. He took advantage of a huge hole created by center Ty Clary on a 59-yard touchdown run. Devwah Whaley provided a nice secondary punch, rolling for 81 yards on nine carries.

Boyd was quick to credit both Starkel, then his offensive line.

“Our offensive line played its best game,” Boyd said. “And, Nick’s passing opened up our run game.”

On Boyd’s long run, Clary first helped with the nose tackle to his left, then quickly popped back to the right to seal the other side, too. Boyd said there was a lot of daylight.

“Ty played a great game,” Boyd said. “That was a huge hole.”

Defensively, there were some problems and depth is going to be tested as starting linebacker Bumper Pool exited with a shoulder injury. Defensive coordinator John “Chief” Chavis rotated Grant Morgan and D’Vone McClure over the last three quarters next to De’Jon Harris.

Harris led the Hogs with 12 tackles, including six solos. Safety Kamren Curl added nine, playing through a foot injury.

The Hogs played a lot of freshmen on defense against CSU. There were as many as five on the field in certain situations. True freshman Mataio Soli, Zach Williams and Collin Clay all played at defensive end.

“All of them can play,” said Harris, the team’s senior leader. “I had a pep talk with them before the season and told them it’s time to grow up.”

There was discussion about response after the Rams gashed them to start the game. Harris said “response” was the theme all week after the loss at Ole Miss, with memories of what happened after the loss at CSU last year.

“The Ole Miss game was not going to define our season,” Harris said. “The first loss has defined us every season. It was a four quarter game last year (at Fort Collins) and we knew it would be this time, too.”

It was not a nail biter after Hayden Henry’s back side hit caused a fumble and LaDarrius Bishop’s scoop and rumble for a 25 yard-yard touchdown return with 3:31 left. Bishop played a lot in relief of the injured Montaric Brown. His much bragged about speed was evident on his return.

“I was looping to the outside and had contain,” Agim said. “Then, I saw Hayden come across my face. That play, if you rate it, was a 10 out of 10 on my scale. It’s a defensive touchdown.”

Morris liked special teams play and the way the defense closed. He cited Connor Limpert’s field goals of 54 and 22 yards that helped the Hogs go 4-for-4 in the red zone.

All of that is true, but almost everyone in the post-game touched on the difference Starkel made in everyone’s performance.

“We were balanced for the majority of the game,” Morris said. “That’s a credit to being able to throw the ball on early downs.”

Just as Agim said the obvious, so did Morris. Anyone can see it.

“The ball comes out of his hand extremely quick,” Morris said. “He sees the field well.”

And, Starkel knows to get the ball to his playmakers.

“Nick is confident in those guys,” Morris said, mentioning Mike Woods, Burks and Knox. “I’m really proud of all three of them. They have a great future.”

Yes, and it seems like Starkel does, too. Anyone can see it.

Just like Agim said, it’s only Colorado State, but at least there is hope with the passing game showing promise.

“The offense has picked up,” Morris said. “You saw some of that last week (against Ole Miss). I’m proud of the way all the guys responded to Nick. A lot of guys put their hand on his shoulder.”

They know they can climb on that right shoulder and go some place.