FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas' most understated football coach quietly makes a statement as impactful as any on Bret Bielema's staff.
Michael Smith, who is in his third year as Bielema's receivers coach, has pulled more rabbits out of a hat than a magician working three shows nightly.
And that's after starting at Arkansas under an illusion.
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Any receivers coach who inherited receivers recruited from Bobby Petrino's offensive regime, would presume he inherited the best.
Smith did not. Once Cobi Hamilton of nearby Texarkana, Texas, finished up in 2012 following the 2011 departures of homegrown Arkansas receivers Jarius Wright, Joe Adams and Greg Childs, the wideouts cupboard left for Bielema and Smith was sparse.
The touted receivers who Petrino brought in from afar mostly weren't cutting it and mostly moved on.
One who stayed and listened to Smith, Keon Hatcher from nearby Owasso, Okla., excelled as Arkansas' receiving leader (43 catches for 558 yards) in 2014.
Hatcher is tied for Arkansas' third-leading receiver this season with 13 catches for 198 yards and 2 touchdowns, but unfortunately his season lasted only two games after he broke his foot in the second game. Now he ponders a medical hardship for in 2016.
Hatcher's break is the first of many bad breaks among Arkansas receivers.
Junior Cody Hollister will return for today's game at Ole Miss after breaking his foot in the first practice after Hatcher's broken foot.
Sophomore Jared Cornelius returned for last Saturday's victory over Tennessee-Martin after breaking his arm Sept. 19 while catching the first pass in a loss to Texas Tech.
Two touted signees from last year out of Florida, Jojo Robinson and Kendrick Edwards, were dismissed from the team and released to transfer, Bielema announced last week.
Has Smith ever coached a season like this?
"No, I've never coached a year like this," Smith replied, smiling. "For me it's been a learning experience also. It's made me have to step my game up."
Has it ever. Bielema asserts that in addition to senior quarterback Brandon Allen's own improvement, Allen's improvement stems from "the better cast" around him. That "better cast" includes an understudy receivers excelling.
Junior Drew Morgan leads with 35 catches for 498 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Junior college transfer Dominique Reed (11 catches, 237 yards, 3 touchdowns) and converted quarterback Duwop Mitchell (4 catches, 72 yards, 1 touchdown) have stepped up significantly. Handyman walk-ons Anthony Antwine and Luke Rossi have blocked.
All the receivers are well-schooled blockers, Bielema and offensive coordinator Dan Enos say. Both applaud Smith's work, too.
" You've got to give him a lot of credit," Enos said. "I mean, the wide receiver roster looks a lot different today than it did Week 1 and Week 2, but our guys haven't really even flinched."
Their position coach effectively wouldn't allow it.
Sports on 11/07/2015