Arkansas
There may be no team in the country that is operating under as much uncertainty as the Arkansas Razorbacks. A team that was supposed to be a legit contender for the SEC West, is now trying to put the pieces back together after a shattering off season. Former coach Bobby Petrino was involved in the motorcycle accident heard 'round the south and was ousted by the university this past spring. Former Michigan State coach John L. Smith has been hired in the interim and his job is to put his team in a position to win the division.
The Arkansas offense is possibly the best in the country. Returning quarterback starter Tyler Wilson completed 63% of his passes a year ago for 3,600 yards and 24 touchdowns. Lets not forget his plethora of receivers that he has at his disposal. Senior Cobi Hamilton is a pre-season All-SEC player and Marquel Wade is coming on strong as well. Tight end Chris Gragg is one of the best pass catching tight ends in the nation and will play a huge role again this season. And let's not forget the return of star running back Knile Davis who rushed for 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2010 before being sidelined for the entire 2011 season. His return immediately makes the Arkansas offense a true juggernaut.
The Razorbacks will need to step it up defensively in 2012. Defensive end Austin Flynn JUCO transfer who was very impressive in winter/spring workouts. The rotation up front led by Bryan Jones, D.D. Jones, Robert Thomas, Alfred Davis and Lavunce Askew make this a huge position of strength for the Hogs. Improved play in the secondary is going to be huge and their proven playmaker is safety Eric Bennett. New defensive coordinator Paul Hynes is going to get the most out of his defense this year and if improvement is shown, Arkansas is going to be a very dangerous team in 2012.
OVERALL
What was shaping up to be a championship type season is now surrounded by a cloud of uncertainty. Arkansas will miss Bobby Petrino's play calling and recruiting may take a temporary hit as they transition coaches. The Hogs should still be very good in 2012 based off of returning starters on offense, however.
PREDICTIONS
9-3 (5-3) SEC West 4th Place
Bowl Game- Outback Bowl
Team Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (CT) | Results | Media |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sep 01 | Jacksonville State | Fayetteville, Ark. | 6 p.m. |
PPV
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| Sat, Sep 08 | Louisiana-Monroe | Little Rock, Ark. | 6 p.m. |
ESPNU
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| Sat, Sep 15 | Alabama * | Fayetteville, Ark. | 2:30 p.m. |
CBS
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| Sat, Sep 22 | Rutgers | Fayetteville, Ark. | TBA | ||
| Sat, Sep 29 | Texas A&M * | at College Station, Texas | TBA | ||
| Sat, Oct 06 | Auburn * | at Auburn, Ala. | TBA | ||
| Sat, Oct 13 | Kentucky * | Fayetteville, Ark. | TBA | ||
| Sat, Oct 27 | Ole Miss * | Little Rock, Ark. | TBA | ||
| Sat, Nov 03 | Tulsa (HC) | Fayetteville, Ark. | TBA | ||
| Sat, Nov 10 | South Carolina * | at Columbia, S.C. | TBA | ||
| Sat, Nov 17 | Mississippi State * | at Starkville, Miss. | TBA | ||
| Fri, Nov 23 | LSU * | Fayetteville, Ark. | 1:30 p.m. | CBS |
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