By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com

FAYETTEVILLE — Defensive coordinator Willy Robinson remembers Arkansas’ most complete game in 2010.

It came on the road at South Carolina, when the Razorbacks rolled to a 41-20 win. It was a convincing victory, one in which the Razorbacks dominated the eventual Southeastern Conference Eastern Division champs on offense, defense and special teams.

It also told Robinson plenty about Arkansas’ potential for 2011.

“We’re capable of doing that week-in and week-out,” Robinson said. “So it’s going to be a matter of making sure that’s the point we’ve got to strive for. … If we can get all three phases to work I’m not real sure who can beat us. It’s a very, very talented football team.”

Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino made it clear during Southeastern Conference Media Days in Hoover, Ala., he wouldn’t shy away from the expectations surrounding his program. One week later, Robinson’s thoughts were a sign Petrino’s assistants aren’t tempering those thoughts, either, with the start of preseason camp looming.

Robinson and the rest of Arkansas’ assistant coaches shared their optimism for the season before Petrino’s media/sponsors golf scramble at Paradise Valley Athletic Club in Fayetteville on Thursday. The overwhelming consensus was that they will welcome their most talented team to the field when preseason camp opens on Aug. 4.

It’s the start of a month-long grind in which plenty of questions must be answered before the opener against Missouri State on Sept. 3. But special teams coordinator John L. Smith agreed big things could be in store.

“I think we have a legit shot to win the SEC title and go to the championship game,” Smith said. “We’re going to have to have a lot of luck. We’re going to have to play well and we’re going to have to stay healthy. All of those things are yet to be determined.

“But, yeah, we’re fired up.”

Most of the optimism is centered around the fact Arkansas returns 13 starters, including veterans like defensive end Jake Bequette, linebacker Jerry Franklin, and receivers Jarius Wright and Joe Adams.

The group that suffered its share of well-known struggles during Petrino’s first season with the program in 2008. But Robinson said those youngsters have become leaders as Arkansas pushes to meet its expectations.

“I get goosebumps looking at those kids,” Robinson said. “It happened so fast. The kids that are now seniors, they were sitting way back in the back of our team meeting room and now all of a sudden they’re in the front row. The majority of those kids are starters and for the first time there’s a world of experience.”

There’s an influx of new talent and players who have been waiting for their opportunities as well.

Junior college transfer Robert Thomas is expected to make an impact on a defensive front that could be a team strength. Chris Gragg will get an opportunity to be an every-down tight end in place of departed veteran D.J. Williams. And of course there’s Tyler Wilson, who is competing with Brandon Mitchell to become the next quarterback under center in Petrino’s offense.

Arkansas has not named its starting quarterback and doesn’t plan to for some time. McGee said the Razorbacks are evaluating everything and expect competition.

“I expect it to be extreme,” McGee said. “I expect them to go after it and really compete for it.”

Arkansas does have other legitimate concerns, most notably at offensive tackle where DeMarcus Love, Ray Dominguez and Anthony Oden are gone. So, too, are other linemen like Wade Grayson, Seth Oxner and Cam Feldt.

McGee said he’s confident the new group of tackles — which includes junior Grant Freeman and four newcomers (Brey Cook, Jason Peacock, Chris Stringer and Austin Beck) — can handle the job. He said they’re big, athletic and have been willing learners so far.

“We feel like we’ll be fine,” McGee said. “We have to get in camp and bruise them up a little bit physically and mentally. And get them to come around fast because we expect them to play well the first night out.”

Arkansas has been regarded as a top 15 team by most preseason publications despite the uncertainty. The Hogs will likely land in the top 15 when the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Coaches polls are unveiled, too.

It’s a preseason ranking the assistants, despite their own expectations, approach with caution.

“It’s highly overrated,” Smith said. “The one that counts is the one at the end of the year. That’s what our kids have to relate to and that’s what they have to believe in. That’s where we want to be at the end.”

But McGee, who thought back to 2008, acknowledged it’s a good position to be in as Arkansas prepares for 2011.

“We came here with a plan to build our program to where we are one of the teams contending for a national championship,” McGee said. “Now we feel like we’re in that position.

“So there’s going to be a challenge to get there.”