Hog Calls

Receivers could be difference-makers

Arkansas receiver Keon Hatcher catches a pass during practice Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, at the university's practice facility in Fayetteville.
Arkansas receiver Keon Hatcher catches a pass during practice Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, at the university's practice facility in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- An award-winning receiving corps should have the Arkansas Razorbacks more offensively optimistic for spring ball in March regardless of what transpires against Texas tonight.

Coach Bret Bielema's 6-6 Razorbacks and Coach Charlie Strong's 6-6 Longhorns close their 2014 campaigns in tonight's Advocare Texas Bowl in Houston.

Receivers generally evoked the most criticism given Arkansas' run-oriented attack was and will continue to be based on 1,000-yard rushing running backs Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins.

Williams announced last week that he will return for his senior year after exploring the 2015 NFL draft options he is entitled to explore as a third-year player.

Collins, a sophomore, will begin his junior year in 2015 after consecutively surpassing 1,000 yards rushing.

The better the receiving corps that current starting junior starting quarterback Brandon Allen has available, the less pressure on him and his backups and the more dangerous the running backs become with a more versatile attack.

Now other than sophomore tight end Hunter Henry (36 catches, 495 yards, 4 touchdowns), a second-team All-SEC selection by the league's coaches, no Razorbacks were recognized as receivers outside of Arkansas.

However, Bielema recognized junior wide receiver Keon Hatcher and graduating senior tight end AJ Derby for offensive appreciation during a team awards ceremony, freshman receiver-punt returner Jared Cornelius as offensive rookie of the year and redshirting freshman receiver-punt returner Jojo Robinson as offensive scout-teamer of the year.

Those in-house awards mean zip outside the team, but they ought to carry significance for Hatcher, Cornelius and Robinson going into the offseason and and is a reflection of the faith this staff has in them.

Nobody confuses Hatcher with Alabama receiver Amari Cooper, a Heisman Trophy finalist. But Hatcher, 6-2, 210 pounds, is big and fast and improving steadily from 3 catches for 27 yards in 2012, to 27 catches for 380 in 2013 to a team-leading 39 for 517 yards and 5 touchdowns this season going into tonight's bowl game.

"He received the coaches' appreciation award, but really it was the most improved award," Bielema said.

Hatcher's 2014 success encouraged him to explore pro 2015 options, but he has said he expects to return.

Bielema has great expectations if he does.

"I think he's set himself in position to have a great year," Bielema said.

Cornelius, 6-1, 200, out of Evangel in Shreveport, caught 15 passes for 196 yards and 2 touchdowns. Late in the season he got the opportunity to be the reliable punt returner that Arkansas lacked. Cornelius fielded punts without a fumble and broke one of his eight returns for 35 yards.

Robinson, a four-star recruit from Miami, was among the Hogs' most heralded 2014 signees. He was injured during preseason, so Bielema redshirted him but acknowledged that he was tempted to activate Robinson until Cornelius emerged as a reliable punt returner.

"Jojo is going to make us so much better," Bielema said. "He'll push Jared Cornelius, and Jared has done some nice things. I think Jared is just scratching the surface of what he's going to do while he's here."

Sports on 12/29/2014

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