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Basically ... One starter, yes, one starter returns to the offense, but he's a good one. QB Matt Jones will need to have his best season yet to keep the offense moving, but things aren't all that bad. The running backs will be explosive if the young, but promising, offensive line comes together in a hurry (which it didn't this spring.) The tight ends will surprise and become weapons, now the wide receivers have to contribute as well.
Star of the offense: Senior QB Matt Jones
Player that has to step up and become a star: Senior WR Steven Harris
Unsung star on the rise: Sophomore TE Jared Hicks
Best pro prospect: Jones
Top three all-star candidates: 1) Jones, 2) RB DeCori Birmingham, 3) Hicks
Strength of the offense: Running backs, tight ends
Weakness of the offense: Experience
Quarterbacks
Projected Starter
- Matt Jones, Sr. - Jones has always been athletic and a tremendous runner, but he added a new element to his game last year ... passing. He went from being a liability when the Hogs needed to
throw the ball to an efficient passer finishing with a rating of 147.1 with 18 touchdown passes and only seven interceptions. He didn't lose a step of his mobility tearing off 707 yards and
eight scores averaging 7.4 yards per carry. He'll see a little bit of time at receiver (his future NFL position) as well.
Top Backups
- Robert Johnson, RFr. - Johnson is a tremendous prospect as both a runner and passer. He's a big, strong, fast athlete, but he has no experience whatsoever and needs all the practice time he
can get. Even though he has had problems with his accuracy this spring, he looks like the real deal and the star of the future.
- Landon Leach, RFr. - While not nearly the prospect that Robert Johnson is, Leach should be a capable backup in time with good all-around skills and a strong arm.
The Skinny: It's not just that Jones is a leader, it's that he comes through with huge, clutch plays like few other college quarterbacks can. He runs so much that he's always a threat to
get popped and knocked out of the game, and he's had problems with soreness in his throwing shoulder before. He'll be treated like a porcelain doll until game time with the lack of experience
behind him.
Player to keep an eye on: Robert Johnson ... Quarterback Rating: 7.5
Running Backs
Projected Starter
- DeCori Birmingham, Sr. - Birmingham was moved from running back to wide receiver, and then back to tailback where he came through with a strong junior year rushing for 549 yards and three
touchdowns averaging 6.2 yards per carry. He's a proven workhorse with a 40-carry game on his résumé in the classic seven-overtime win over Kentucky, but his game is more about
speed than power.
- Fullback Brandon Kennedy, Jr. - With Mark Pierce off to the NFL, it'll be up to Kennedy to take over and prove he can blast open the same holes. He's used more as a blocker than a
ball-carrier, but he'll be a used in some short-yardage situations.
Top Backups
- De'Arrius Howard, Jr. - Howard will push hard all year long for the starting job. DeCori Birmingham is fast, but Howard can flat out fly with better breakaway speed. He has all the skills and
talent looking like the prototype tailback, but he has to prove he can stay healthy.
- Dedrick Poole, Jr. - Poole is a solid all-around back with good enough hands to be used as a receiver if necessary. He'll get lost in the shuffle with all the other great Hog runners.
- Kyle Dickerson, Jr. - While not huge at 202 pounds, Dickerson can see time in the backfield as a fullback to go along with his talents as a ball-carrier.
- Fullback Justin Slaughter, Jr. - The 245-pound Slaughter is a big, physical blocker who spends most of his time on special teams. He won't carry the ball, but he'll be used a bit rotating
with Brandon Kennedy.
The Skinny: Gone is the tremendous production of Cedric Cobbs, but the Hogs will be more than fine with speed and talent to burn. Arkansas knows how to run the ball, and there's no
reason to think the team will slip out of the top 20 in rushing with QB Matt Jones and this stable of backs.
Player to keep an eye on: Brandon Kennedy ... Running Back Rating: 8
Receivers
Projected Starters
- Steven Harris, Sr. - Harris has had problems in his career from a knee injury to shoulder surgery that limited him this spring, but he's a veteran who knows the system and knows how to get
open. He made 19 catches last year proving to be a solid deep threat.
- Carlos Ousley, Jr. - Ousley is a great all-around athlete, but he hasn't shown it much yet only making two grabs for 20 yards last year. He has a nose for the end zone with two of his five
career catches going for touchdowns..
- Tight end Jared Hicks, Soph. - Hicks was used in two tight end sets along with Jason Peters, who left early for the NFL. Hicks is a huge, 271-pound tackle-type tight end, but he'll be used as
a receiver. Peters was third on the team in receiving last year with 21 catches, and Hicks will be utilized in the same way. Hicks is a good receiver and a devastating blocker.
Top Backups
- Chris Baker, Soph. - Baker could be the best overall receiver in the corps with good size and excellent hands. Now he has to become a factor pushing Steven Harris for time at split end
coming off a four-catch, 57-yard, one touchdown season.
- Cedric Washington, Soph. - There's fast on Arkansas, and then there's Washington who takes it to another level. He has speed to burn and decent size, but he has to start making an impact
after making one catch for 17 yards. If this spring was any indication, he's ready to step into a starting role right now.
- Tight end Mason Templeton, RFr. - Templeton his the weights and gained almost 50 pounds over the last year. He has tremendous hands and will join Jared Hicks in two tight end sets.
The Skinny: George Wilson and Richard Smith never got their national due last year because of all the attention paid to the running game. Now they're gone and the starters lack a proven
playmaker, but there's more depth in the corps than there was last year. The starters and reserves might flip-flop on the depth chart before the start of the season as Chris Baker and Cedric
Washington has looked strong. Along with all the good, young prospects, David Thompson comes off a knee injury to add another key reserve. The tight ends will be great.
Player to keep an eye on: Jared Hicks ... Receiver Rating: 5
Offensive Line
Projected Starters
- Tackle Tony Ugoh, Soph. - Ugoh moves from guard to tackle showing great promise getting time as a reserve last year playing in eight games. He's a stronger pass blocker than run
blocker, but he has room to get bigger and better. He'll be fine at left tackle.
- Guard Stephen Parker, Soph. - It's time for the huge sophomore to shine as he'll compete for the left guard job after Projected Starter
James Johnson went down for the year with a knee injury.
- Center Kyle Roper, Jr. - Roper is a good sized, 300-pound center seeing significant action as a backup last year. He's big and has solid potential, but he'll have to battle Skye Peterson for
playing time.
- Guard Gene Perry, Sr. - The former JUCO transfer saw time on the defensive side and hasn't been able to stay healthy, but he finally found a home at right guard. He's smart, has a little bit
of experience, and is finally healthy.
- Tackle Zac Tubbs, Jr. - Tubbs might not theoretically be able to fill Shawn Andrews' shoes, but he could almost literally do it at 358 pounds. He has a little bit of experience playing in the
Independence Bowl and carries the burden of being the most experienced player on the line.
Top Backups
- T Matt Gilbow, RFr. - A big bigger than Tony Ugoh, Gilbow will battle for the starting left tackle job after being hampered by a bum shoulder last year.
- C Skye Peterson, Soph. - The former JUCO transfer started getting more and more involved in practices at the end of last year and will push Kyle Roper hard for the starting job.
- G James Johnson, Jr. - The former defensive lineman was going to get the first crack at the left guard job before tearing his ACL costing him the season. He was one of the fastest linemen on
the team and with more time to learn the position, could be the team's best all-around lineman next year.
The Skinny: All five starters are gone from one of the nation's most devastating run blocking units, and it'll take a while for offensive line coach Mike Markuson to make all the pieces
fit. The depth chart and starting five could change in a real hurry as different combinations are tested. It won't be a total disaster with several big players with good raw skills to keep the
running game going, but there's no way this group will match what last year's line was able to do.
Player to keep an eye on: Tony Ugoh ... Offensive Line Rating: 5.5
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