FAYETTEVILLE — A couple of weeks after his role in Arkansas’ offense became something of a mystery, Malik Hornsby is comfortable with where he stands entering the back half of the Razorbacks’ schedule.
With starting quarterback KJ Jefferson not available due to injury, the electric dual-threat quarterback was not called upon to lead Arkansas late in its loss to then-No. 2 Alabama on Oct. 1 or start the Razorbacks’ game at Mississippi State last Saturday. Arkansas’ offensive staff, in both games, initially elected to field South Florida transfer Cade Fortin.
But Hornsby reclaimed the backup job in Week 6, Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said Monday, with a 348-yard fill-in performance against the Bulldogs. He completed 8 of 17 passes for 234 yards and 1 touchdown and was intercepted twice, and rushed for a team-high 114 yards on 8 carries.
“I talked to Malik again, kind of had a Monday meeting with him last week and one (today),” Pittman said. “He certainly earned that spot on Saturday. I just gave him his choice of whether he wanted to stay where he was as the No. 2 quarterback now or whether he wanted to move to wideout, or if he was interested in moving to corner. Obviously, the team needs some defensive back help.
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“He'll have to explain more than I can with it, but there was a big weight lifted off his back, I think, with the way he performed. I think he validated what he thought about himself as a quarterback and what the team did.”
Hornsby, Pittman said, wants to remain at quarterback and prepare for when he is needed as the team’s backup.
Because of his elite speed and athleticism, Arkansas’ staff this year attempted to find ways to involve Hornsby out of the backfield and as a receiver. He carried the ball 3 times for 21 yards in the first 4 weeks, including rushes of 13 yards against Cincinnati and 8 yards against South Carolina.
Hornsby also caught a pass for nine yards vs. the Gamecocks, but his usage as a skill player plummeted after he was involved in a series of unsuccessful plays in the loss to Texas A&M in Arlington, Texas.
"No, I don't think so. It didn't work. It didn't work for him,” Pittman said Monday when asked if Hornsby would still be used in various offensive packages. “I think he wants to be a quarterback, and we were forcing a little bit into (the offense’s) needs. I think we felt like our needs were a little bit more at wide receiver than what they may be.
“He wants to be a quarterback, and that's where we're going to play him. I think because, even at practice, we took him away from that, I don't think it helped him at practice.”
Pittman believes that Hornsby, who was rated a 4-star prospect by 247 Sports and ESPN out of Missouri City, Texas, can realize his potential as a quarterback if the staff keeps him at the position.
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“I gave him that choice and that's what he chose,” Pittman said. “And, honestly, I was happy he did."
According to Pro Football Focus, Hornsby posted an overall offense grade of 64.7 against Mississippi State over 54 snaps. In the first four games of the season he saw the field for 26 snaps.
Arkansas right tackle Dalton Wagner said Saturday that Hornsby was calm and collected in huddles and handled himself well. Receiver Jadon Haselwood, who recorded the first 100-yard game of his career thanks to three receptions from Hornsby, added that the quarterback played his role.
“He kind of lived up to that,” Haselwood said. “Of course, we didn’t get the outcome that we wanted, but he did his thing. He came in and led us and he made plays on third down with his legs.
“He did his thing. He did what he was supposed to do.”