FAYETTEVILLE — As an Arkansas Razorbacks position group, it seemed receivers most disappointed Coach Chad Morris and offensive coordinator Joe Craddock last spring.
Now they laud too many to fit into one game plan.
Morris, Craddock, and perhaps receivers coach Justin Stepp, too, if assistants other than coordinators were made media available, cite a boatload of wideouts capable of forming a fleet.
Seniors Jared Cornelius, Jonathan Nance and Gary Cross, junior La’Michael Pettway, sophomores Jarrod Barnes, Tobias Enlow, Jordan Jones and De’Vion Warren, redshirt freshmen Tyson Morris and Koilan Jackson and true freshman Michael Woods all at some point this August have been publicly praised by Morris, Craddock or both.
So how many can receivers can they plan cohesively to play starting with the Sept. 1 season-opener at Reynolds Razorback Stadium against Eastern Illinois?
“That’s a really good question,” Craddock replied after last Wednesday’s practice. “Especially when you get into SEC play (starting Sept. 22 at Auburn after three nonconference games) and you are only allowed to travel so many. We’ll get to that point pretty soon, but right now we’re just trying to find our six, seven best guys … playmakers.”
Any just beyond the six or seven fringe will need to make a special case on special teams, normally a natural spot for receivers covering punts and kickoffs.
“Those guys are gonna have to step up and show ‘You can’t not travel me,’” Craddock said. “I have to be on the bus. I’m too valuable to this team at receiver and special teams.”
Returning punts and kickoffs comes naturally to many receivers.
Naturally Morris turns to the ones proven. Warren returning kickoffs, and Cornelius returning punts.
“He’s electric,” Morris said of Warren, who returned a 100-yard touchdown kick return against Auburn last year in Fayetteville.
Cornelius ably returned punts for former Coach Bret Bielema’s Razorbacks from 2014-16.
In retrospect, season-ending injuries to Cornelius during last year’s third game and returning lockdown cornerback Ryan Pulley in last season’s opener proved pivotal in Bielema’s fifth and final Arkansas team sliding to 4-8.
Cornelius’ torn Achilles of 2017 now benefits Arkansas in 2018. He received a medical hardship for fifth-year senior eligibility and rehabbed to full health, Morris and Cornelius himself have said.
Arkansas’ most versatile receiver capable of playing split wide or in the slot and proven dangerous running reverses, Cornelius even helps the offensive line.
The heat the O-line takes when the quarterback is sacked sometimes isn’t justified, Craddock said. A line only so long can protect a quarterback with all receivers covered.
“Everybody wants to talk about the offensive line,” Craddock said. “You’ve got to have guys making plays on the field too. You’ve got to have guys running routes get open.”
Cornelius, with 79 career catches for 1,163 yards and 10 touchdowns, 25 carries for 188 yards and three touchdowns, and a blue-collar blocker and precise route runner, always was one of those guys and is again.
“He looks like the old J-Red to me,” Pettway said.