FAYETTEVILLE — Job No. 1 for Arkansas’ defense dovetails into Rutgers’ greatest offensive strength in Saturday’s nonconference game at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Arkansas defensive coordinator Paul Haynes has emphasized controlling the run game as his unit’s top mission since his arrival, and the Razorbacks defense will get a stern test from Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights are powered by tailback Jawan Jamison, whose average of 124.3 rushing yards per game ranks 12th in the nation.
“He is a tough, hard runner ... [who] breaks tackle after tackle, and the thing about him as you watch him, he gets better as the game goes on,” Haynes said.
“He’s not a tall back in stature, but he gets behind that big offensive line and he’s shifty, he runs hard, he runs physical,” said South Florida Coach Skip Holtz, whose team lost 23-13 to Rutgers at home last Thursday.
Jamison has rushed for 100 yards or more in four consecutive games, and his 41 carries last week in a 151-yard performance at South Florida set a school record.
Rutgers Coach Kyle Flood had advised Jamison he was in store for a 35-carry night with backup Savon Huggins sidelined by a lower-body injury. Huggins’ status for Saturday’s game is questionable, so Jamison would be a good bet for another heavyduty game.
Jamison, a high school teammate of Arkansas receiver Javontee Herndon at The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla., is listed at 5-8, 200 pounds.
“If I had to pick somebody that you can relate [Jamison] to, maybe a Dennis Johnson,” Arkansas Coach John L. Smith said. “He’s a thick kid that can break a tackle and he has enough speed to go by you as well. That’s probably the closest guy I can pick on our football team that would remind you of him.”
Rutgers’ offense, while not overly flashy and ranked 93th nationally with an average of 351 yards per game, plays well in tandem with its 12thranked defense. Sophomore quarterback Gary Nova has a big pack of receivers to pick from with 6-6 Brandon Coleman, 6-4 Tim Wright and 6-3 Mark Harrison — all large, physical receivers.
“Our passing game is predicated really on our ability to run the football, and that’s where our offense starts,” Flood said. “We go into every game, and if we can run the ball effectively we know it’s going to open up what we’re trying to do in the passing game, because we’ll be able to lure some of those safeties down into the box and create some 1-on-1 where hopefully that size can be an asset to us.”
Much like Arkansas’ tall receivers, — 6-6 Mekale McKay, 6-4 Brandon Mitchell and 6-3 Cobi Hamilton — the Scarlet Knights’ receivers create a spacious target area.
“Their receivers are just like Brandon Mitchell: big body, athletic, can go up and get the ball,” Arkansas safety Rohan Gaines said. “So practicing against him really helps.”
Nova has completed 49 of 89 passes (.551) for 565 yards and 4 touchdowns, thrown 2 interceptions and has a passer rating of 118.7, which ranks 88th nationally.
Wright leads the Rutgers receivers with 13 catches for 171 yards, while Coleman is averaging 19.7 yards per catch and has three of the team’s four touchdown receptions.
“They’re very good at receiver,” Haynes said. “To me, it’s probably one of the best receiving groups that we’ve seen thus far as a whole. ... They’re experienced, they’re big, they can run, they shield off DBs real good, and the running back is a big powerful guy. ... Up front, they’re a little inexperienced, but they’re tough. When you watch them on film, they’re tough and they get after it.
“So I think they’ll try to establish the run, of course, and then try to beat you with play-action.”
Sports, Pages 19 on 09/21/2012