Razorback Report

Stoerner: Hogs QB impresses

Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen (10) looks for an open player during the second quarter of the Tennessee game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen (10) looks for an open player during the second quarter of the Tennessee game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015, in Knoxville, Tennessee.

FAYETTEVILLE -- SEC Network analyst Clint Stoerner, the former Arkansas quarterback, said observers he comes in contact with rank Brandon Allen among the top quarterbacks in the SEC.

"His job and the numbers he's put up are awfully impressive," Stoerner said after his appearance at the Northwest Arkansas Touchdown Club this week. "If you talk to anybody outside the state, Brandon Allen's in their top three. I mean, Brandon Allen, they love him."

Allen ranks No. 2 in the SEC with 1,371 passing yards, No. 3 in completion percentage (66.0) and passing efficiency, and No. 1 with 9.65 yards per attempt.

Stoerner's not the only one who thinks highly of Allen.

"He's a very good player," said Alabama Coach Nick Saban, whose Crimson Tide will face Allen and the Razorbacks on Saturday. "He's a good passer. He's accurate. He makes good decisions. He makes plays with his feet. He's a good scrambler. He extends plays to throw and is athletic enough to take off and run to make a first down.

"I think each year he's gotten better and better."

Allen will make his third start against the Crimson Tide on Saturday.

It's the cap

Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said he had no choice but to go back to the black cap he wore in last Saturday's 24-20 victory at Tennessee.

Bielema said the cap has been dried out ever since Arkansas returned from Knoxville, Tenn., late Saturday.

"I have no choice," Bielema said on his radio show On the Air With Bret Bielema on Thursday night. "I have to put it back on. I wore it all night Saturday. Even got in the hot tub with it on."

'Cat' Collins

Speaking on his radio show Thursday, Bielema was asked by a fan if the Razorbacks had a Wildcat package they could use with a tailback taking snaps.

Bielema said junior Alex Collins, who joined him on the show along with running backs coach Jemal Singleton, was the main tailback in Arkansas' Wildcat package. Then he turned and asked Collins a question.

"Have we run it yet? We haven't run it," Bielema said. "Let's keep that under wraps."

After the crowd finished laughing, Bielema added that the Razorbacks used a similar Wildcat package with Collins last year.

It looked last week like tailback Rawleigh Williams was preparing to take a snap from Shotgun formation in the third quarter, but the Razorbacks called a timeout.

Homecoming

Count Rory Segrest among the Alabama alumni who will be back on campus for homecoming.

Segrest, Arkansas' defensive line coach, played on Alabama's offensive line from 1991-93. He also was a strength and conditioning graduate assistant coach for the Crimson Tide from 1994-95.

"Obviously, I've got a lot of great memories there in Tuscaloosa," Segrest said. "I met my wife [Jackie] there and won a lot of games in that stadium. It's good going back, but we're going down there to get a job done."

Two Gingers

Former Arkansas quarterback Clint Stoerner recently joined the SEC Network and is already needling fellow analyst Greg McElroy, the former Alabama quarterback who started with the network last year.

"I did remind him that we beat Alabama 42-6," Stoerner said during his speaking appearance at the Northwest Arkansas Touchdown Club last week, referencing the Razorbacks' victory in Fayetteville in 1998. "But then he hits me with, 'Well, man, you're older than dirt. I was like 12 when that happened.' ... So I've got to be careful how I choose my words."

Stoerner said he'd probably send a text to McElroy prior to Saturday's game proposing a bet.

"I'll definitely hit him up and see if I can get a friendly little wager, a Coke or something," Stoerner said.

In the mix

Josh Frazier, a sophomore from Springdale Har-Ber, is listed as Alabama's third-team nose guard but is getting playing time. Frazier, 6-4, 315, has played in four games and has three tackles.

Help from friends

Guard Sebastian Tretola became the first Razorback to win a conference award this season when he was named SEC offensive lineman of the week for his performance in the Tennessee game.

"That's a huge deal," Tretola said. "I'm extremely appreciative. I work my tail off, and the four guys around me make me look that much better. Just as much credit should be given to them as is given to me."

Hold that ball

Arkansas had possession for 35:18 against Tennessee, maintaining its spot at No. 3 nationally with an average time of possession of 35:44 per game. The Volunteers held the ball for more than three minutes longer than Arkansas in the first half, but the Razorbacks kept it for 21:59 in a dominating second half.

Kicking

A slick field, a wet ball and a shaky hold all added up to a madcap kicking game for Arkansas last weekend.

The Razorbacks overcame Tennessee's opening kickoff return for a 96-yard touchdown, on which two or three Arkansas defenders slipped on the wet turf, and a pair of field goal mistakes to beat Tennessee 24-20.

Bielema said holder Matt Emrich had the ball sideways on the tee for Cole Hedlund's 22-yard field goal try in the third quarter, a low-trajectory kick that was blocked by Shy Tuttle, which prevented Arkansas from going ahead 27-20.

Bielema said Emrich's pitch to kicker Adam McFain on a fake field goal from the Tennessee 10 was a little behind the runner. McFain was strung out on the play and gained 3 yards on a fourth-and-4 play.

On the call

The ESPN crew working Saturday's game in Tuscaloosa, Ala., will consist of Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge and Holly Rowe.

Sports on 10/09/2015

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