Confident Parker eased loss of Morgan in opener

Arkansas linebacker Andrew Parker prepares for a play during the Razorbacks' season opener against Rice on Sept. 4, 2021, in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas linebacker and team captain Grant Morgan played only six snaps Saturday against Rice before his day came to an end.

Losing Morgan, an All-SEC and All-America performer in 2020, to a targeting call in the first quarter was less than ideal. But redshirt junior Andrew Parker rose to the occasion and softened the blow.

He filled in well for the Razorbacks in the 38-17 victory, finishing with four tackles and a pair of quarterback hurries in his 42 defensive snaps, the second most among linebackers behind Bumper Pool.

“I think he's playing more confident,” Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said Monday. “He's reading guards, reading his triangle through, playing physical. If you saw him play last year, to me, it was like he was almost questioning everything, almost like a freshman where (he was saying), ‘I don't know if this is what I'm supposed to do, and I'm a half step behind.'

“He didn't play that way the other day.”

Parker recorded both hurries in the first half, forcing incompletions by both Rice starter Wiley Green and backup quarterback Luke McCaffrey, including one on third-and-5. He also made two tackles in the second quarter that resulted in 1-yard gains, bringing down Green and tailback Ari Broussard.

Parker’s four tackles tied a career high set in the Razorbacks’ season finale against Alabama last December.

Pittman said the New Orleans native is a good case in perseverance. In his first year with the program, Pittman thought Parker was frustrated at times with the number of snaps he was getting.

According to Pro Football Focus, he averaged 14.3 defensive reps per game last year.

“He just stayed in there and got better and better,” Pittman said. “He's a 2 (second-team linebacker) right now, but we needed him as a 1 (against Rice). He came in and did a fine job. He was ready.

“You have to give him credit for being mature, working hard and making some nice open-field tackles. He did a nice job. I was proud of him.”

Safety Jalen Catalon, who finished with 11 tackles and two interceptions in the season opener, thought Parker played well and minimized the impact of Morgan’s absence.

Parker, according to Pro Football Focus, posted an overall defensive grade of 58.1 against the Owls. In the 2019 and 2020 seasons, he graded at 39.8 and 52.5, respectively.

“I’ve always told him that your number is coming. When it comes, make sure you’re ready,” Catalon said. “You never know what is going to happen. It's tough to lose someone like Grant Morgan that early in the game, but I have trust in Andrew. He didn't flinch one bit.

“He just showed you we have depth back there. He can come and fill in if something happens to Grant. I was just proud of him and how he played."