Ralph Fitzgerald • Special to the Arkansas News Bureau
By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — When tight end D.J. Williams finally completed his sideline to sideline run to the end zone last Saturday night, Arkansas receiver Jarius Wright approached him with a big smile on his face.
The junior was one of several players who helped Williams score, throwing a bone-jarring block on Mississippi State linebacker Chris White.
It knocked the White clean off his feet and was the last major hurdle for Williams, who slipped into the end zone and give the Razorbacks a 14-7 lead.
“Jarius got up and came up to me and said, ‘Thanks for scoring,’” Williams said Tuesday. “Now I feel good that my block actually meant something.”
Make no mistake, the 12th-ranked Razorbacks (9-2, 5-2 in Southeastern Conference) know exactly what those types of blocks mean for their success as they prepare to play No. 6 LSU (10-1, 6-1) in War Memorial Stadium on Saturday. The big-play offense has turned in plenty of touchdown-producing blocks, which have helped promising plays turn into six points this season.
They were really evident in the 38-31 two-overtime win against the Bulldogs. Arkansas notched three touchdowns of 25 yards or more and each was highlighted by an impressive effort from players without the ball.
Five Razorbacks, including Wright, had key blocks on Williams’ touchdown catch. Center Travis Swanson knocked down three defenders on Davis’ 62-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Receiver Joe Adams recorded a hustle block, sprinting downfield to help Wright — who stumbled at midfield — get into the end zone on his game-changing 89-yard touchdown catch.
“It really shows our competitiveness,” Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said about the touchdown blocks. “That’s kind of what I’m talking about when we talk about competing hard, playing hard, being proud of our effort. On D.J.s touchdown run, I can think of five blocks we got just on effort alone and three of them were huge. It’s great to see that our players really buy into it. On J. Wright’s touchdown, Joe Adams is just sprinting to make a block so he can score.”
Petrino said extra effort is rewarded by the Razorbacks, who show a highlight film every Friday night before a game. Arkansas showcases players who made impressions the previous week and it’s no surprise touchdown blocks are common during the video session.
“We make a big deal of it,” Petrino said.
Petrino believes effort blocks have become contagious for his team, with one player trying to outdo the other. Or, perhaps, pay him back for previous help.
Remember Adams’ block to help Wright last Saturday? It wasn’t long ago Wright threw a bone-jarring block to ensure Adams reached the end zone on a 97-yard punt return against Ole Miss in mid-October.
“We just played with an attitude,” said Davis, who admitted Williams’ touchdown catch wasn’t supposed to come to his side but grappled with a defender long enough for the tight end to slip into the end zone. “That comes from, we’re just a family. We’re real close. We never like when any of our teammates get hit. We’re trying to keep them off the ground.”
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Wright explained his big block on Williams’ touchdown catch as simply a little guy trying to catch a defender off guard. In that case, he said, it was a linebacker chasing down the play.
“So I just did what I could to help,” Wright said.
Williams may have been on the receiving end of a helpful block from Wright last Saturday, but has gotten in his share as well this season.
There’s no doubt players all revel in scoring touchdowns. But Williams said no one minds throwing a block that helps spring a teammate, either.
“It’s one of the best feelings in the world,” Williams said. “It feels like you have the ball.”
Saturday’s Ticket
No. 6 LSU (10-1, 6-1 in SEC) at No. 12 Arkansas (9-2, 5-2 in SEC)
When: 2:30 p.m.
Where: War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock
TV: CBS
Radio: Razorback Sports Network
Satellite Radio: Sirius (Ch. 216), XM (Ch. 200)
Series Record: LSU leads 34-19-2
Last Meeting: LSU 33, Arkansas 30 (OT) in 2009
Coaches: Arkansas — Bobby Petrino (22-14 in third season); LSU — Les Miles (61-16 in sixth season)
