FAYETTEVILLE — No one could have predicted Arkansas would have walk-on Hudson Clark and true freshman Khari Johnson manning the top cornerback spots in the second half of the third game, but that’s where the Razorbacks were at Auburn.
With junior Montaric Brown not on the trip due to an upper-body injury and senior Jerry Jacobs shaken up during the game, Clark and Johnson held up pretty well considering they were facing 6-3 Seth Williams, one of the most gifted wideouts in the nation, and 6-0 Anthony Schwartz, one of the fastest players in the country.
“It was great to see all that hard work have a result,” Clark said of getting the start at Auburn. “It’s great to be out there with my teammates. They really encouraged me and let me feel natural out there.
“I was a little nervous beforehand, but once you hit the field it’s just like any other game you played in. My teammates like Jalen Catalon, Greg Brooks, Joe [Foucha], they’re all behind me and had my back. So I felt comfortable out there.”
Pittman said Clark and Johnson had practiced well enough to earn playing time even without the injuries.
“They’ve come in and watched extra tape,” he said. “They’ve basically made their position coaches believe in them by the way they act, the way they play, the way they practice.
“Khari was nervous, you know. There early, he was playing corner at free safety depth. I felt for him, because he’s out there against some really great receivers. But he figured out the speed of the receiver, his moves, different things, and he played a really fine football game. I was really proud of him.”
Hudson played well in Arkansas’ zone schemes against Mississippi State the week before.
Schwartz finished with 10 catches for 100 yards and a touchdown, while Williams grabbed 3 passes for 70 yards.
Pittman said he hoped Brown and Jacobs would be back in action this week.