5 thoughts following Arkansas' 45-3 win over UAPB

Arkansas running back Dominique Johnson (20) carries the ball during a game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Little Rock.

LITTLE ROCK — A handful of thoughts and observations from Arkansas' 45-3 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff:

Dominique Johnson may very well be Arkansas’ top back

Through the first eight games of the Razorbacks’ schedule, there is no player on the roster who has maximized his playing time like Johnson.

The bulky but agile back leads Arkansas with a yards-per-carry average of 7.9 and continued his push for more playing time Saturday. Many may say that a player cannot make a case for additional carries and touches in a game like this one.

You can if you run as purposefully and angrily as Johnson.

Against the Golden Lions, the sophomore rushed for 91 yards on six carries to spearhead the Razorbacks’ rushing attack. Arkansas came up nine yards shy of hitting the 300-yard mark for the third time this season and second time in three weeks.

What I think he does as well or better than anyone else in the team’s backfield is get upfield. Others have a tendency to dance with the football at times, which can result in leaving yards on the field.

Johnson does not do that. His first four carries went for 34, 22, 11 and 13 yards. His shortest run was a 4-yard carry on his final touch.

According to SECStatCat, a website dedicated to SEC football analytics, Johnson had 47 yards after contact and 33 before contact on his four first-half carries.

“He has turned into, in my opinion, if not our (No.) 1 back, at least our (No.) 2 back," Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said. "He certainly, when we hand the football to him, makes yards. We've got to get him the ball more.”

Solid development opportunity for a lot of young guys

Last Monday, Pittman mentioned that Arkansas’ secondary would likely feature plenty of young talent against UAPB. It came to play and contributed nicely to the near-shutout.

Defensive backs Myles Slusher, who had three career starts prior to this weekend, and Malik Chavis each tallied interceptions. For Chavis, he was inches away from a dynamic return after his pick and made a case for additional playing time.

Slusher did as well, finishing with 4 tackles – 2 solo – and 1 tackle for loss on top of his takeaway.

Many of the top performers defensively were second- and third-team players such as Zach Williams (5 tackles, 1 sack), Mataio Soli (4 tackles), Andrew Parker (1 sack) and Deon Edwards (4 tackles).

On the other side of the ball, freshman receiver Ketron Jackson scored the fist touchdown of his career from Jefferson, a 29-yarder, and AJ Green tallied a 29-yard run in the second half.

A number of offensive linemen listed beneath starters saw valuable playing time, too, including Ty’kieast Crawford, who certainly looked the part physically at right tackle.

Treylon Burks is unfair

Without question Arkansas wanted to put the game away quickly. The Razorbacks had just the player to help them do that in Burks, the SEC’s leading receiver entering the weekend.

He was a proper representation of the mismatch between the teams. Burks scored on half of his six first-half touches and ran by Golden Lions defenders as if they were in slow motion.

His 49-yard touchdown run on the first play of Arkansas’ second series was an eye-popping show of graceful speed.

"Did you watch it?” Pittman asked, playfully responding to a question about Burks’ performance. “He was the best guy out there.”

Quarterback KJ Jefferson did a nice job finding Burks early, putting throws on the money and allowing him to work.

A standout for the Warren Lumberjacks in high school, Burks is all too familiar with War Memorial Stadium. He said his jet sweep for a touchdown — his first rushing score at Arkansas — reminded him of a run he made against Arkadelphia in a state title game.

He finished with 56 rushing yards on 2 carries Saturday, and 89 yards on 4 receptions. He also surpassed the 2,000-yard mark in career receiving yards.

“Really, it was good to come home and put on a show for the home team,” Burks said.

The Razorbacks’ defense did what it was supposed to do

In several of his more recent media availabilities, Pittman has discussed how his defense has been in position to make plays in both the A and B gaps, and on the edge in previous games, but it was unable to make plays at key junctures.

The Razorbacks, as they should have, largely got back to putting their foot down as a unit.

Outside of a few big plays — 42- and 32-yard passes, and a 28-yard rush — Arkansas handled its business seamlessly against UAPB. The Razorbacks allowed 3.8 yards per play and 223 total yards to the Golden Lions.

In addition to coming up with a couple of interceptions, most ideal was Arkansas’ ability to get off the field on third down. UAPB moved the chains on 1 of its 13 third-down plays. The Golden Lions also failed on a fourth-down try.

Inside of or near the red zone, the Razorbacks tightened defensively. The Golden Lions added only a field goal on their three trips inside the 20, and one of their turnovers occurred on a poor throw in the end zone.

Bumper Pool led the group with eight tackles and a tackle for loss while playing only the first half. He and the first team did not give UAPB much in the way of a glimmer of hope early and set the tone.

“I think me, Grant (Morgan) and Hayden (Henry) were trying to get as many tackles as we could in the first half, because we’re just competitors,” Pool said. “Getting this win with all the hard work we put in after the tough three-week stretch, we’re excited moving forward with the season.”

I like where Arkansas is entering the bye week

The Razorbacks are one win away from qualifying for a bowl in Year 2 under Pittman.

That is a terrific place to be, and Arkansas has four chances to reach the postseason. Three of the four games are considered winnable based on upcoming opponents’ play to this point in the season.

Eight wins is not out of reach.

Defensively, Arkansas got a bit of its mojo back while also resting key players. On the other side, Jefferson — outside of a couple of throws — was sharp and did his job well, putting points on the board in a hurry.

The Razorbacks got out of Saturday’s game largely healthy. They are expected to return right tackle Dalton Wagner and defensive lineman Markell Utsey prior to the Nov. 6 Mississippi State game.

Pool said Pittman wanted the team to treat the UAPB game as if it was the beginning of November. It did, and it now sets up what looks to be a fun finish to the regular season with plenty of possibility.