Arkansas quarterbacks compete for starting job in scrimmage

ByTREY BIDDY 15 hours ago

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Finding a starting quarterback is a huge priority for Razorback coaches in fall camp, but are they much closer to answering that critical question after seven practices and the first major scrimmage on Saturday?

Arkansas has 12 more practices to figure it out if they want to make a decision in time for game week preparation of the season opener against Portland State on Aug. 31 -- which means just two more weeks. They will dissect the scrimmage video next and hope to get closer to making a decision. They did some 'move the ball' work where they scrimmage as if it were a normal drive, but they also did a lot of situational work on Saturday. Arkansas may have focused on first down situations for a while while re-spotting the ball, then third down the same way, then some goal line work, etc.

"Offensively, it starts with our quarterbacks," Arkansas head coach Chad Morris said following the scrimmage. "All four of these guys really responded today."

Ben Hicks, a senior graduate transfer from SMU, threw touchdown passes to senior tight end Chase Harrell and junior receiver Jordan Jones. Nick Starkel, a junior graduate transfer from Texas A&M, threw touchdown passes to sophomore receiver Michael Woods and freshman receiver Shamar Nash, but he was also picked off by sophomore cornerback Montaric Brown for the only interception of the day.

Those two are considered to be the frontrunners for the job, but the guy who has barely been mentioned all camp is the one who got things going on offense in redshirt freshman John Stephen Jones. The offense had a "jittery" start the first drive, according to sophomore right tackle Dalton Wagner, but Jones came in with the second unit and led the offense on an estimated "7- or 8-play drive" and capped it off with a touchdown pass to freshman receiver Trey Knox.

"We started them out, we started Ben out, and we moved the ball a little bit. He did some really good things today. I was pleased with Ben," Morris said. "John Stephen got in on the second series, and he led his group down and scored. Again, he showed just his ability to make plays happen when the pocket breaks down with his eyes down the field."

"John Stephen was kind of backed up a little bit, had a third and long, hit somebody over the middle to get the drive going on the next rack, and we went down and scored. So, John Stephen really got us started today," offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Joe Craddock said. "It’s all about consistency and continuing to get your guys in the end zone. That’s what I’m harping on those guys. It doesn’t matter who you’re in there with, get them in the end zone, and the best one at that right now is John Stephen. No matter if he goes with the 2s or the 3s, he gets them in the end zone. Thought he did a really good job of that today."

"For sure. He's a baller. Ever since high school he's been a baller. You put him in the game he's going to make plays. I thought he did really good," Woods said.

Arkansas started off with Hicks and the Red unit (the first offense) and then brought Jones in with the White (second offense) and then Starkel took over for Hicks with the Red immediately following. Starkel threw the two touchdowns, but he also threw the lone interception. So far in camp, Starkel has displayed the purest arm with the most velocity on his passes.

"Nick came in and did some good things, as well. I was pleased with him," Morris said. "We missed a deep ball down the sidelines I wish we could have back. Miscommunication on a route, but Nick had a great ball, and it was in the spot where it needed to be."

The Hogs brought in a nice-looking young quarterback in the Class of 2019 in true freshman KJ Jefferson, and so far he has looked the part in camp. Jefferson, 6-3, 228, brings a different dynamic to the table with his running ability, and he too has shown some good velocity on his passes.

"KJ Jefferson continues to impress us," Morris said. "He’s physical, and he’s big and really good in his decision-making, and he showed that today. I was pleased with where all four of them are, right now. We’ve got a great competition going."

CONSISTENCY THE KEY

The player who is the most consistent is the one who will win the job, and that mostly means regularly putting the ball into the end zone without putting the 'ball in jeopardy' (B.I.J., as they say). Consistency was the primary answer given when both Morris and Craddock were asked the question separately; what is it going to take to win this job?

"I think consistency," Morris said. "I think really consistency and just the ability to not just lead one group down the field, but how do you respond when you’re put in an adverse situation? Maybe it’s a different group that you’re not used to leading. Just consistency all across the board. Those guys are responding. They’re challenging each other.

"Just consistency," Craddock said. "You know, like I said, we’re looking for..Whoever I put you in there with, if I put you in there with the 3s Ben or Nick, go put it in the end zone. That’s what we’re wanting to see, who can move the ball. Who can be the most consistent taking care of the football? Last year, we were around 129 or 130 in turnovers lost. I think we’ve done a much better job at this point in fall camp. So, we’ve just got to continue to take care of the ball and we’re on the right track of doing that the first week."

PART OF THE CULTURE

7COMMENTS

One thing that's just blatantly obvious to anyone who went to last year's practices versus this year's, is there is just a better sense of 'team' out there than before. That vibe also comes through with this QB battle.

"The one thing I will say, man, really the big thing that kept sticking out in my mind today is on the field," Morris said. "Ben’s on the field, all those quarterbacks over there, Nick, John Stephen, man, they’re rooting Ben on. Nick gets in there, throws a nice touchdown pass -- well, the first one, John Stephen threw his first one, they all came out there to him, excited -- when Nick threw his, Ben’s the first out there and commending him. We’ve got a great competition, a healthy competition going in that room."