FAYETTEVILLE — Despite all the recruiting research and tape watched, sometimes coaches need background reminders about the players they play.
Sometimes from the player.
When injuries siphoned Arkansas’ secondary depth, Coach Sam Pittman moved true freshman receiver Sam Mbake to the defensive backfield.
Tall and talented and highly recruited from Kennesaw, Ga., Mbake seemed a logical choice.
Except at Kennesaw’s North Cobb High School, Mbake strictly played receiver.
Another tall, talented true freshman receiver right from the Razorbacks’ backyard, Clarendon’s Quincey McAdoo, reminded Pittman that he played both ways for the 2021 state champion Lions. As a Clarendon cornerback, McAdoo made 58 tackles with an interception and 88-yard touchdown fumble return complementing his everywhere big-time offensive threat as receiver, running back, passer and kick returner.
“They didn’t ask me,” McAdoo said after his interception plus blocking a punt for a safety during the 21-19 loss to Liberty. “I asked after I saw our DB room that everybody was getting hurt. I knew I had played defense in high school and I felt like I could contribute. So I asked Coach Pitt his thoughts on me playing defense for the remainder of the year, and we’re here.”
Here means McAdoo cornering his side of the cornerback market heading into Saturday night’s SEC game with Ole Miss at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Following his off-the-bench interception, pass breakup, blocked punt and three tackles against Liberty, McAdoo started last Saturday’s 13-10 loss against SEC West champion LSU. He broke up two passes and made six tackles.
Pittman said it was Arkansas’ “by far” best team defensive game of the season. The Hogs chilled red-hot LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, who dazzled passing, running and beating Ole Miss and Alabama.
Highlighted by Daniels’ game-winning two-point conversion pass against Alabama, Daniels, without an interception, completed 43 of 60 passes for 430 yards and 4 touchdowns, and rushed 41 times for 216 yards and 4 touchdowns during those games.
Against Arkansas, Daniels only completed 8 of 15 for 86 yards with an interception and no touchdowns. Suffering seven sacks reduced Daniels to 10 rushing yards on 19 carries and no touchdowns.
McAdoo helped dim Daniels’ dazzle.
“I notice they didn’t really catch too many balls over there on him,” Pittman said. “I did see him make several physical tackles. I think he’s a really good player.”
A doubly good player, because though early season starting cornerback Hudson Clark found his true defensive home moved to middle safety, Pittman pre-McAdoo talked possibly moving Clark back to corner as injuries mounted.
With McAdoo established, purely safety Clark made 7 tackles against Liberty, and made 9 tackles and broke up 2 passes against LSU.
“I think he’s just taken advantage of the role he’s been into,” Clark said of McAdoo. He’s really stepping up in that role. I felt like we (the entire defense) fed off each other, and it was really fun to be part of.”