FOUR DOWNS – NOTES FROM ARKANSAS’ PRACTICE
1. Wilson Named Starter
Arkansas announced what seemed like the worst kept secret of preseason camp Thursday.
Junior Tyler Wilson will be its starting quarterback against Missouri State.
Coach Bobby Petrino said Wilson “deserves” the opportunity to lead Arkansas’ offense after competing for the position with sophomore Brandon Mitchell throughout the preseason.
“He’s prepared hard,” Petrino said. “He’s done a good job in practice. He’s done a good job working hard at his leadership.”
Wilson handled most of the first-team repetitions during preseason practices and has been the odds-on favorite to replace record-setting quarterback Ryan Mallett since the 2010 season ended. The reason: He was sharp in relief of Mallett in six games last season, completing 34 of 51 passes for 453 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions.
Wilson was elected a team captain before preseason practice began and had been lauded by teammates for his leadership during the offseason. But the Razorbacks had not named a starter until Thursday, saying they wanted to evaluate every aspect of its two candidates.
Wilson, who was told the news after leaving the practice field Thursday night, said being the starter has been his goal “from day one.”
“You want to be a starter or you don’t come to school in the first place,” Wilson said. “Obviously I’ve been wanting this position for awhile and have been working toward it for awhile. I knew if I was patient and I waited my time I’d get my chance. And the day has come and I’ve got a good team around me.
“I’m anxious to get the ball to these guys.”
Petrino is hoping Wilson won’t have to take all of the snaps during Arkansas’ opener against Missouri State, though. He said the goal is to make sure Mitchell earns playing time after pressing Wilson for the position.
“Brandon Mitchell competed. He gave everything he had,” Petrino said of the sophomore, who completed 1 of 3 passes for 16 yards in four appearances last season. “I thought he really grew and matured as a quarterback. I feel like he will play in the game. I haven’t decided if it will be in the second or third quarter.”
2. Johnson Still ‘Dinged’
Running back Dennis Johnson apparently is still dealing with a hamstring injury this week. Petrino was asked Thursday if Johnson would be his kick returner this season, but said he hadn’t gotten much work there lately.
“Dennis hasn’t practiced much this week,” Petrino said. “He’s been dinged up a little bit all week. Marquel Wade has done a nice job back there and we’re still rotating other guys in.”
Johnson is expected to team with Ronnie Wingo Jr. to handle the rushing load with Knile Davis (ankle) and Broderick Green (knee) out for the season. While he hasn’t gotten much practice time, running backs coach Tim Horton said he was confident Johnson will be ready next week.
“He’s dinged up a little bit, but he should be good to go for the first game,” Horton said. “We are excited about having him back and ready to get him going.”
3. (Mock) Game Time
With eight days until the opener against Missouri State, Arkansas is scheduled to hold its mock game in Razorback Stadium today.
The mock game, which is closed to the public, is a dry run for the Sept. 3 opener. Linebacker Terrell Williams said it’s a valuable tool to prepare Arkansas for its game-day routine.
“It teaches you game-type situations,” Williams said. “There’s timeouts and all the different things that come with a real game.
“Coach Petrino does a great job of getting it organized and having referees and everything. They try to make it as game-like as possible.”
4. Missouri State QB Out
Missouri State’s starting quarterback won’t be playing against the Razorbacks next Saturday.
Missouri State coach Terry Allen said in a news release Trevor Wooden has been suspended for the opener for “breaking a team rule.”
“I’m very disappointed by the situation, but I think it is in the best interest of our program to announce our decision at this time and move forward in our preparation for the Arkansas game,” Allen said in a news release.
MSU will turn to sophomore Mitchell Jenkins or freshman Kierra Harris of Texarkana against the Razorbacks. Wooden, a sophomore, was scheduled to earn his first start at quarterback after playing in 11 games as a receiver in 2010.
“More is expected of me as a leader on this team and I let my teammates down,” Wooden said in Missouri State’s news release. “I have great respect for this program and this university and I won’t let them down again.”
Quote of the Day
“I now feel 100 percent. My knee doesn’t hurt at all. For about a week and a half I haven’t felt any pain in my knee at all. I feel 100 percent right now. I think I am going to be good to go.” — Receiver Greg Childs, who was slowed at times in preseason camp, on the health of his knee with the opener approaching.
— Robbie Neiswanger • Arkansas News Bureau
