HawgBeat - Scouting the Kent State Golden Flashes
HawgBeat provides an in-depth look at the challenge Kent State presents for Arkansas.
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After a 56-13 victory over Western Carolina in Week 1, the Razorbacks will look to do much of the same against a Kent State team that has a first-year head coach and zero returning starters on offense.
Arkansas will welcome the Golden Flashes to Reynolds Razorback Stadium after they were dismantled by Central Florida on Saturday, 56-6. Here's a in-depth look at strengths and weaknesses on both sides of the ball for Kent State, keys to the game and a prediction.
Kent State: The Rundown
Record: 0-1
Last Week: UCF 56, Kent State 6
Head coach: Kenni Burns (first season)
OC: Matt Johnson (first season as OC, 5th at Kent State)
Offensive Scheme: “Flash Fast” (fast tempo, heavy RPO)
DC: Dave Duggan
Defensive Scheme: 4-3
Tale of the tape from Week 1
Week 1 was not a week to remember for the Flashes, who were blitzed from the opening kick against UCF.
Down 14-3 after one quarter, 28-3 at half and 56-6 at the end of the game, the Golden Flashes were dominated in every segment of the game.
Growing pains were to be expected for the Flashes, given it was their first game under new coach Kenni Burns, especially on offense, given they returned 0 starters from their 2022 offense. A trip to Fayetteville was probably not what the doctor ordered.
STRENGTHS
OFFENSE
• Tempo: It may not have been apparent in its matchup against UCF, but Kent State has been successful in recent years in employing a high-tempo, heavy RPO-style offensive system to force their opponents into quick decisions. In a new, aggressive style of defense under defensive coordinator Travis Williams, the Razorbacks will have to be keen on not biting on fakes or over-pursuing the football if they don't want to be taken advantage of.
• Pass Protection: Despite having five new starters on the offensive line, the Golden Flashes allowed only three sacks and one additional QB hit. The offensive line for the flashes was the highest graded position group for the Golden Flashes in Week 1.
• Talent at running back: The Golden Flashes' have two primary running backs — Gavin Garcia and Xavier Williams — combined for 58 yards on 25 carries against Central Florida, but that doesn't paint the whole picture. In Williams' two previous games, he totaled 261 rushing yards on 21 carries for a 12.4-yard average. If the Razorbacks aren't careful, Williams can take over a game.
• Unpredictability: Kent State has lots of new faces after a coaching change during the offseason led to roster turnover. With this loss of talent and depth comes some unpredictability, which may be hard to prepare for if you're Sam Pittman. One game of film helps, but it's not enough to be totally comfortable.
• QB Decision making - Dating back to the 2022 season, Kent State did a good job of not throwing the ball to the wrong team, only throwing eight picks in 2022. The Golden Flashes threw one in 35 attempts in their first game in Orlando.
DEFENSE
• Turnovers: It's hard to find any advantages when looking at Kent State's defensive stats against UCF, but one area it did win in was the turnover battle, 3-1. Two interceptions from linebacker Nick Giacolone and defensive back D.J. Miller plus a fumble recovery show that the Golden Flashes are capable of taking advantage of mistakes. Arkansas starting quarterback KJ Jefferson will have to continue to protect the football to have prolonged drives.
• Rush Defense Although not a strength in the first game, Kent State had a very solid run defense in 2022, boasting a yards per carry allowed of 3.9, which was top-45 nationally.
• SEC talent at linebacker: Missouri transfer linebacker Devin Nicholson mans the middle of the field for the Kent State defense, and his play against UCF shows why. The former Tiger led the team with 13 tackles and two tackles for loss against the Knights. This will be Nicholson's fifth career game against the Razorbacks, and he'll be ready for the opportunity to tackle Jefferson.
WEAKNESSES
OFFENSE
• Offensive line: A big reason why Kent State struggled was because it could not protect its starting quarterback, Michael Alaimo, who finished the game 12-of-31 passing. UCF ended the game with three sacks, six tackles for loss and multiple quarterback pressures. This is largely due to a lack of experience, as the offensive line had a combined two starts going into the season. The Razorbacks' older, deeper defensive line should be licking its chops going into this matchup.
• Passing efficiency: Kent State really struggled to be efficient in Week 1 in the passing game, averaging only 4.5 yards per pass attempt. Kent State ended up throwing a ton of RPO’s in week one because of the amount of man coverage UCF played, but struggled mightily both to separate and to complete passes.
• Go-to wide receiver: Gone are standout wide receivers Dante Cephas, Devontez Walker and Ja'Shaun Poke, who combined to catch 289 passes for 4,217 yards and 29 touchdowns for the Golden Flashes throughout their careers. An entirely new crop of starting wide receivers means a lack of a trusted go-to playmaker for Alaimo and the offense, which spells trouble against an SEC secondary.
• First Down: The Golden Flashed averaged just 2.7 yards per play on first down, with only one play of over 10 yards on first downs last week. In 29 first down plays against UCF, the Golden Flashes collected only 79 yards, setting up many long yardage situations to dig themselves out of.
DEFENSE
• Stopping the run: After one week of college football, Kent State currently ranks dead last in the country in rush defense after allowing 389 rushing yards to UCF. Going against an Arkansas offense with a dual-threat quarterback in Jefferson and a loaded running back room does not instill confidence that the Golden Flashes will improve in this statistic in Week 2.
• Tackling: Kent State really struggled to bring down ball carries in their season opener, being tabbed with 24 missed tackles and a 31.4 tackling grade in Week 1, per Pro Football Focus.
• Explosive Plays: It was a long night generally for Kent State on defense, especially when it comes to explosive plays allowed. The Golden Flashes allowed 24 plays of over 10 yards, the 5th most in the FBS football in Week 1, allowing an explosive play on 26% of the plays they defended on the day.
KEYS TO THE GAME
• Win in the red zone: The Arkansas offense should have no problem marching down the field against Kent State, but once they get into the red zone they'll need to punch in touchdowns. There's some experience in the Golden Flashes' secondary that could mitigate a talented group of Arkansas wide receivers with less room to work with.
• Establish the run: Arkansas struggled to find gaps in the run game against Western Carolina, but that should change versus Kent State. Yes, Raheim "Rocket" Sanders is out due to injury, but Rashod Dubinion, AJ Green, Dominique Johnson and Isaiah Augustave are more than capable of getting the Razorbacks back on track in the run department.
• Force Michael Alaimo to win the game: A transfer from Purdue, Alaimo had completed just nine passes for 74 yards in three seasons prior to his first start for Kent State. That inexperience was on full display against UCF, as he was forced into making quick decisions with the Knights' defensive line chasing him all night and ended the game with an interception and zero touchdown passes. If the Razorbacks can eliminate Kent State's rushing attack and force Alaimo to win the game, more turnovers could be in store for an Arkansas defense that forced five against Western Carolina last week.
Prediction
Kent State will almost certainly play better than it did in Week 1, but the Razorbacks should be able to overwhelm the Golden Flashes with relative ease and roll to a record of 2-0.
Arkansas 52, Kent State 14
