FAYETTEVILLE - For the first time since Joe Adams, Greg Childs and Jarius Wright debuted at Arkansas in 2008, the Razorbacks are expecting big contributions from multiple newcomers at wide receiver.
Arkansas will still have veterans in the corps, like seniors Javontee Herndon and Julian Horton, to lead the way. But because of a season-ending injury to Demetrius Wilson, a half-season injury to sophomore D’Arthur Cowan and the transfer of Mekale McKay, the Hogs need players like redshirt freshman Eric Hawkins and true freshmen Melvinson Hartfield and Drew Morgan to make plays soon.
Hartfield had a long touchdown catch in Arkansas’ last scrimmage.
“It was strictly because he’s got fresh legs,” receivers coach Michael Smith said. “He looked a different speed. He can run also, and the quarterback made a great throw and he just ran underneath it.”
Coach Bret Bielema suggested Morgan had the most production in that Saturday scrimmage.
“Drew’s doing some really good things, another young guy that’s getting a lot thrown at him now,” Smith said. “He’s responding well to this point.”
The Razorbacks have had a bad run of luck at the wide out positions in camp, the latest issue being Cowan’s noncontact injury that resulted in a broken bone in his left foot this week after catching a punt.
“He was really having a great fall camp,” Bielema said on KABZ-FM, 103.7, The Buzz, in Little Rock. “It was in pre-practice. He’s a punt return guy. He just kind of caught it, took a couple of steps and heard a crack in his foot. They put a screw in it and he should be back in hopefully a six- to eight-week window.”
Sophomore receiver Keon Hatcher has been slowed by a hamstring injury, and Herndon has missed time with an undisclosed injury, so the loss of Wilson late last week with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee was extra painful for the unit.
“It was tough, man,” Smith said. “It was extremely tough. I feel so bad for Demetrius but, you know, I’ve tried to teach these guys that the next guy in line has to be ready, and right now that’s what we’re doing, trying to get the next guy in line ready.”
Cowan was the next guy in line after Wilson’s injury, and now Hawkins, Morgan and Hartfield have moved up a notch.
“We have to fight,” Herndon said Monday. “Another lost soldier, that’s what Coach Smith keeps saying. So we’ve just got to try to make the best of the situation. [Wilson] was going to make a lot of plays for us this year, so we have to find somebody to step up and take his place.”
Late last week, reserve quarterback Brian Buehner, a walk-on, moved to the receiving corps to help bolster the unit.
Herndon and Horton, both projected starters, are expected to be the biggest producers from the unit, but quarterback Brandon Allen recognized the depth has to extend several more players down the line.
“I think the young guys, especially I think Eric Hawkins, has had to step up a lot,” Allen said. “He’s doing his best right now to get on the same page with everyone else.”
Bielema told reporters Wednesday that tight ends Hunter Henry and Jeremy Sprinkle also would be splitting out wide in some formations.
Morgan came in as a slot receiver behind Horton, but with the injuries he’s branched out.
“I got the fire thrown at me, so I’ve jumped in the furnace and I was like, ‘Bring it on,’ ” Morgan said. “I’ve got to learn three positions in this very complicated offense, and I have to learn them all soon. So, I’m still learning. … I think I’m doing solid right now.”
Hartfield came in during the second week of camp after having his eligibility paperwork hung up at the NCAA clearinghouse, but he’s already made an impression.
“He missed quality time, but he’s got fresh legs,” Bielema said. “He’s fast already. We knew that coming in, but he’s got fresh legs and he was making people look silly out there. He’s a very gifted football player.”
Position Glance: Wide Receivers
RETURNING STARTERS None
KEY LOSSES Cobi Hamilton, Mekale McKay, Brandon Mitchell, Demetrius Wilson (torn ACL)
WHO’S BACK Javontee Herndon, Julian Horton, D’Arthur Cowan, Keon Hatcher,
WHO’S NEW Melvinson Hartfield, Eric Hawkins, Drew Morgan
WALK-ONS Anthony Antwine, Alex Cacciarelli, Nathan Crouch, Kendrick Payne, Chris Saunders, Scotty Thurman
ANALYSIS The unit isn’t expected to post numbers approaching the record-breaking production of the past five seasons at Arkansas, but Coach Bret Bielema and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney contend there is much more balance in their offense than people give them credit for. Herndon and Horton are the leaders and the most likely players to lead the unit in receptions. The crew needs game-breakers, and Hartfield might be a candidate if he can get caught up. Cowan had come on strong in camp and stood to be a breakout player before his foot injury. Now the breakout opportunity is available for Hawkins, Hartfield or Morgan. Without a target who is 6-4 or taller, the fade route might not be as big a weapon for the Hogs this year as in seasons past.
Sports, Pages 17 on 08/22/2013