FAYETTEVILLE — Four questions for our panel of writers breaking down Arkansas' wide receivers and tight ends prior to the start of preseason practices.
Who is Arkansas’ go-to receiver? Trey Knox, Treylon Burks or Mike Woods?
Tom Murphy: Doesn’t that really boil down to who clicks the best with Feleipe Franks and maybe KJ Jefferson? Jefferson’s big pass on his opening drive went to Burks, a 32-yarder on which the freshman wideout made a spectacular play. I’m tempted to say Burks could lead the team in receptions, but I figure each one of this trio will have big moments throughout the year. Woods is the most veteran and displays strong leadership skills. Knox showed great promise as a rookie in 2019.
If they are all dangerous, the opportunity to create single coverage for themselves, the tight ends and the backs grows all the greater.
Clay Henry: I think it will be Treylon Burks, but it's really a tough question. I wouldn't discount the chance that either Trey Knox or Mike Woods steps into that role.
I think Burks has a chance to be a difference maker as a slot receiver, and this offense can take advantage of his ability if he's matched up on a smaller corner or a slower safety.
Knox was quiet over the last half of last season and probably wasn't healthy. He's a quality talent with a big body. Woods is one of the most competitive players on the team. He didn't have a quarterback with a consistent arm to take advantage of an outside threat last year. He does with Franks.
Bob Holt: Those three guys are all very talented. I’m going to go with Woods just based on him being a little older.
Scottie Bordelon: Mike Woods led Razorbacks receivers in targets last season, according to SECStatCat, but I wouldn’t have labeled him as the go-to in 2019. Going into this fall, I think it’s Treylon Burks, with Trey Knox close behind. Burks has some of the most sure hands we’ve seen in some time, and that enables him to create catches on passes that are poorly thrown. I think Burks breaks out with a proven quarterback targeting him regularly.
Seth Campbell: My definition of a go-to receiver is a guy that if you get the ball in his vicinity, he’ll catch it. Along with that, if you need a big play, give it to this guy. To me, that's Treylon Burks. Despite not scoring a touchdown last year I think he is the most dangerous with the ball in his hands.
Matt Jones: I think it's too early to tell. Based on last season I would say Treylon Burks, but this is a different offense with a different quarterback.
It has been well documented Burks did not reach the end zone as a freshman. So, over or under 3.5 touchdown catches for Treylon Burks this season.
Tom Murphy: I’ve got to go with the over. Burks should be able to create and maintain “box-out” position for out routes or in cuts down close, which should lead to 5 or more touchdown receptions.
Clay Henry: I think it will be over, and that's including a possible touchdown on a kick return to help that stat grow. I think the offense will be more consistent in the passing game with Franks. He's accurate when he's got protection. I think that is going to improve this season.
Bob Holt: I’m going to go under. I’m thinking he might have 3 touchdown catches. Also, defenses might be focusing on him.
Scottie Bordelon: I’ll go over. I think he catches 4-5. He was close to tallying a few as a freshman. Not only is Burks fast and strong, he can adjust to and go get 50-50 balls with the best of them. And he is elusive enough to turn a short completion into a big gain.
Seth Campbell: Give me the over. As I said earlier, Burks should be the go-to receiver for the Hogs this year and that means he should get more opportunities to reach the end zone. Knox was the primary target in the red zone last year, which helped him score three touchdowns. But I think Burks has big things in store for him this year.
Matt Jones: His play last year suggests touchdowns are difficult to predict and are not a good indicator of playmaking ability. He had a 26-yard touchdown nullified because of a penalty during the Western Kentucky game, and he also had several catches that set up touchdowns. Those catches included a 27-yarder to the Colorado State 4 that set up a touchdown run, a couple of big plays that set up Rakeem Boyd's second touchdown at Kentucky, and a great catch against Mississippi State's top cornerback to set up KJ Jefferson's touchdown run.
For you, who is the most intriguing pass catcher (WR/TE) outside of Knox, Burks and Woods?
Tom Murphy: The coaches really like Darin Turner’s speed, and you combine that with his height at 6-3 and the Razorbacks have a strong development option. However, I’ve got to go with Hudson Henry, who got off to a slow start last year and didn’t really become a contributor while redshirting. The door is wide open for him to earn a starting job and become a reliable target.
Clay Henry: I think it's Trelon Smith. I think what he's going to bring to the offense is going to be just as important in the passing game as the run game.
Bob Holt: I’m going with Kolian Jackson. He’s been plagued by injuries, but hopefully he can stay healthy and have a breakthrough year. I think he definitely has the talent and maybe this will be the season he gets to show that on the field.
Scottie Bordelon: Koilan Jackson or Shamar Nash. I’ve been waiting on Jackson to have a breakout performance, but we haven’t seen it yet. He caught a touchdown pass at Ole Miss early last season yet didn’t really build on it. He can make some wow-type catches in practice. I just want to see it translate to the field.
Nash is now 6-3, 215 – up 20 pounds since last season. That is encouraging. He’s a player from the 2019 class a lot of people want to see get in on the action after not being a factor last season.
Seth Campbell: Shamar Nash is a guy that I’m interested to see this year. After not playing a snap last year, the four-star receiver out of Memphis should see the field some in 2020. The only problem for him is that the majority of the players in the receiver room are back this year. That means the guys he’s competing against all have some kind of game experience.
Matt Jones: For me, it's Hudson Henry because of his accolades coming out of high school. He didn't make it into a game until late last season but looked good in his few opportunities. He's bigger this year and should be able to stay on the field more because of improved blocking technique. That should lead to a lot more opportunities to contribute to the passing game.
Is Hudson Henry the Razorbacks’ No. 1 tight end from the get-go? How do you view the tight ends room as a whole right now?
Tom Murphy: I’d have to think Henry could win the job, but there’s no question Blake Kern had a big showing in winter conditioning to the point Sam Pittman singled him out. The lack of depth at this spot compared to recent years is notable, but then again we probably won’t see near the two-tight sets the Hogs used between 2013-19.
Clay Henry: I don't know if there is a way to quantify what is going to happen at tight end. Henry has immense talent. He added much-needed strength to hold his own against SEC defensive ends – no easy chore. That's how he'll earn his playing time, being able to block. If he can't block, then it's a dead give away that it's a pass when he trots onto the field.
My view of the tight end room is pretty much a mystery. Without getting a spring practice to sort things out, Jon Cooper, the new position coach there, has his hands full. I wouldn't be surprised to see Collin Sutherland on the field some. He seems to have the right mixture of size, hands and length.
Bob Holt: Arkansas needs Henry to take over at tight end and have a big season, because it’s a position that obviously lacks experience and depth. It’s a position that has a lot of question marks going into the season.
Scottie Bordelon: I think so. There really isn’t a proven producer in that room, but I believe Henry can step in after a redshirt season - a learning year - and be a viable option for Feleipe Franks. He’s up to 6-5, 250. That’s a good frame. Blake Kern is a redshirt senior but he doesn’t have a catch to his name. I think freshman Collin Sutherland can make some strides and get on the field early, too.
Seth Campbell: The tight ends room is the most inexperienced room on the team. The career statistics for the entire room: 3 catches, 14 yards. All of that is from Hudson Henry in three games last year. I’d say the tight end position is Henry’s for the taking. Redshirt-senior Blake Kern is the only other tight end on the team with experience, but he hasn’t caught a pass in a game.
Offensive coordinator Kendal Briles likes to play tight ends off the line of scrimmage, and I think that fits in with what Henry does best.
Matt Jones: That is probably Arkansas' weakest position, at least from a depth perspective. Henry is unproven and those behind him are inexperienced.