FAYETTEVILLE — Cobi Hamilton’s record-breaking performance on Saturday earned the Arkansas senior the SEC’s co-offensive player of the week honors despite the Razorbacks’ 35-26 loss to Rutgers.
Hamilton caught 10 passes for an SEC record 303 yards, the 14th-highest single-game performance in Football Bowl Subdivision history.
Hamilton also broke the SEC record with a single game average of 30.3 yards per catch and tied the school record with three touchdown receptions.
Hamilton shared the award with South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw, who completed 20 of 21 passes for 249 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Gamecocks’ 31-10 victory over Missouri.
Shaw completed his last 20 passes in the game and will pursue Tee Martin’s SEC-record 24 consecutive completed passes in Saturday’s game at Kentucky.
Hamilton moved into 10th place nationally and took over the conference lead with his average of 107.25 receiving yards per game.
He also is one of four nominees for the Capital One Cup’s impact performance of the week, which includes fan voting.
Fans can cast their votes at www.es.p/RNZNMJ until Wednesday at 11 a.m.
Hamilton is pitted against TCU linebacker Kenny Cain, Michigan State running back LeVeon Bell and Notre Dame linebacker Manti Teo for the award.
Injury report
Coach John L. Smith, speaking to the Little Rock Touchdown Club on Monday, confirmed that tight end Chris Gragg suffered a deep bone bruise and is day-today, as the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Monday.
“I think he’s doing much better,”quarterback Tyler Wilson said of Gragg. “The reports from him were positive. ... I expect him to be OK.”
Cornerback Tevin Mitchel, who suffered a concussion against Louisiana-Monroe and also had gall bladder surgery, has begun cardiovascular work, Smith said.
“How long it’s going to be [until Mitchel can play], I can’t tell you,” he said. “We definitely miss him and need him and hopefully he’ll be back right away.”
Small done
Arkansas Coach John L. Smith confirmed in Little Rock on Monday that fullback Kiero Small has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Small broke a bone in his foot the Wednesday before the Razorbacks’ game against Louisiana-Monroe on Sept. 8, and his backup, Kody Walker, broke his left leg during the Hogs’ 34-31 overtime loss.
Walk-on Morgan Linton has been taking snaps at fullback since then.
Hogs trivia
What is Arkansas’ record in games played in Texas since the Razorbacks joined the SEC in 1992?
Mentally ‘strong’
Linebacker Alonzo Highsmith, who led the SEC last week with 15 tackles against Rutgers, said the Razorbacks are mentally strong in the midst of their 1-3 start.
“We feel like we’ve improved from Game 1 as a defense,” Highsmith said.
“We just aren’t getting the results that we want right now. But as a defensee, we feel like we’re improving.”
Aggies stats
Texas A&M (2-1) ranks No. 1 nationally with 5.33 sacks per game and No. 2 in net punting (47.21 yards).
The Aggies are in the top half of the SEC in practically every category, including No.
2 in scoring (45.0 ppg), punt returns (21.7) and tackles for loss (8.0), and No. 3 in total defense (279.7), where they rank No. 12 nationally.
Individually, Texas A&M’s Damontre Moore leads the country with 2.0 sacks per game, and punter Ryan Epperson ranks third with a 47.6-yard average.
Morning kick
Struggling SEC West opponents Arkansas and Auburn have been chosen for the SEC’s 11 a.m. time slot for their game Oct. 6 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. The Razorbacks and Tigers are both 1-3, with Arkansas on the road at Texas A&M this week while Auburn is idle.
Trivia answer
Arkansas has an 8-4 record in games played in Texas since joining the SEC, including a four-game winning streak - three victories over Texas A&M in the Southwest Classic and a 29-16 decision over Kansas State in the 2012 Cotton Bowl.
Arkansas (1-3, 0-1 SEC)
Sept. 1 Jacksonville State W, 49-24
Sept. 8 La.-Monroe# L, 34-31 (OT)
Sept. 15 Alabama* (CBS) L, 52-0
Sept. 22 Rutgers (ESPNU) L, 35-26
Sept. 29 at Texas A&M* 11:21 a.m.
Oct. 6 at Auburn* (ESPN) 11 a.m.
Oct. 13 Kentucky* TBA
Oct. 27 Mississippi*# TBA
Nov. 3 Tulsa TBA Nov. 10 at South Carolina* TBA
Nov. 17 at Mississippi State* TBA
Nov. 23 LSU* (CBS) 1:30 p.m.
*SEC game #at War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock
Sports, Pages 17 on 09/25/2012