FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coach Sam Pittman is of the belief that some of his Texas-born players or those with ties to the state are eager for Saturday’s game at Texas A&M.
And, perhaps, if those players were not offered a scholarship by the Aggies despite standing out at their respective high schools, there may be a bit of added motivation ahead of this weekend. It is doubtful that a Razorback fits that bill quite like Mike Woods.
The junior receiver starred and made a name for himself on the Texas high school football scene on a field that sits only one hour from Kyle Field. Woods capped his prep career with 155 catches for 2,988 yards and 41 touchdowns, and he grew to become a top-75 wide receiver in the nation, according to 247 Sports.
Several schools in his home state were among the 21 to extend the talented playmaker an offer, including Texas Tech, SMU and Houston. One from Texas A&M never came, nor Texas, Woods’ dream school growing up.
“I’ve pretty much made it clear how I feel about this game and Texas A&M in general,” Woods said in an interview during Arkansas’ bye week. “Being from Magnolia, Texas, which is right down the road, a lot of people go there.
“I feel strongly about this game, about this team.”
When Woods was in high school, a majority of the students were Aggies fans, he said. Less than a year after leaving Magnolia, they saw him catch his first touchdown pass in the Southwest Classic. The following season, he did it again, hauling in a 13-yard touchdown from Ben Hicks.
Touchdown catch No. 1 remains one of his favorite moments in his college career. He is aiming to add to that list of memories this weekend, and coaches and teammates are confident he can.
De’Vion Warren, who is experiencing a breakout season at receiver, is one of Woods’ biggest believers.
“Me and Mike are roommates. That’s my boy. He’s like my brother,” Warren said. “We actually challenge ourselves to be the best on the field. When the ball is in the air, we’ve got to make sure that it’s our ball no matter the circumstance, no matter what (happens).
“And when you hold yourself to that type of standard, it makes you more confident.”
Woods finished his sophomore season tied for the team lead in receptions with 33, and he caught a team-high four touchdown passes. This fall, he is second among Arkansas receivers with 14 catches for 185 yards and a touchdown, which came at Auburn.
One of Woods’ goals this preseason was zero drops. So far, so good.
"Mike has made some tough catches for us this year. He's made some big catches for us,” Pittman said Wednesday. “Certainly, we have to continue to work on catching the football and he's done a nice job and has made some tough catches.
“I like him. I like his attitude."
Woods has been a reliable target for quarterback Feleipe Franks through four games, even on passes with a middling catch probability. Their connection has been best this season on short to intermediate routes.
When targeting Woods 1-5 yards downfield, Franks is 4 of 5 passing for 33 yards and a touchdown, and at 6-10 yards, he is 5 of 7 for 70 yards with four receptions picking up at least 13 yards.
On passes 11-plus yards downfield, Woods has reeled in 5 of 11 targets for 75 yards.
According to SECStatCat, a website dedicated to SEC football analytics, Woods’ average depth of target is just shy of 11 yards, which is second on the team to Warren (15.6 yards).
Franks said Woods does a great job working on the little things day in and day out, and it shows on Saturdays. Aside from flashing steady hands, he has shown the ability to make defenders miss and gain valuable yards after the catch. He has run for five or more yards after half of his grabs.
“The consistency and all that, it’s important to practice those things, and then on game day he just goes out there and does what he does,” Franks said. “I think it’s just almost like routine now for him, the repetition and the consistency of making every catch that’s thrown your way (and showing) up on Saturdays.
“I don’t think it’s anything new. He works hard on that kind of stuff.”
In offensive coordinator Kendal Briles’ offense, receivers are asked to do much more than simply run routes and catch passes. Pittman complimented Woods’ “very adequate, aggressive” blocking in the running game and when fellow receivers have the ball in their hands.
“He's been very willing and he's done a nice job there,” Pittman added.
On Saturday, the Razorbacks are looking for their first win over a top-10 team since Florida in 2016. A win in College Station would also give Arkansas its first win over a top-10 Aggies team since 1986.
Woods said the Razorbacks welcome the challenge.
“Every week going into the game, people are going to doubt us, and people are going to say this and that, but we embrace playing these teams,” Woods added. “We embrace whoever is across from us. We respect them, but we also know if we execute and we do what we're supposed to do and play our game they can't guard us.
“Nobody, in my opinion, can guard us as long as we execute.”