Sorry I was AWOL this weekend yall, had my folks in town!
1. The Incredible Treylon Burks - HUTCH
After another great performance against Texas A&M, I think it’s time we all take a moment to appreciate what we’re all witnessing from Treylon Burks. The stud sophomore now leads the Razorbacks in all three major receiving categories - despite missing almost two complete games.
When he’s been healthy enough to play a full game, Burks has put up the following stat lines: 7 receptions for 102 yards and 1 touchdown against Georgia, 11 receptions for 137 yards and 1 touchdown against Ole Miss, and 7 receptions for 117 yards and 2 touchdowns at Texas A&M.
It’s a tall task, but if he manages to average his production from those three games over the final five games of this season, Burks would finish the year with 959 yards and 11 touchdowns on 68 catches. Those figures would rank sixth, tied for second and second, respectively, in UA history… All while playing only nine games - and basically only eight - all against SEC foes, meaning no cupcakes to pad his stats against.
Even if he falls short of breaking any single-season records because of the lack of games, Burks could still have one of the best seasons ever by an Arkansas wide receiver. He’s already just the ninth player in UA history with three 100-yard receiving games against conference foes in a single season.
If he eclipses the century mark one more time, he’d join Anthony Eubanks (1997) and Mike Reppond (1971) as the only players to do it four times. No one has done it five times in the same season. If he gets 100 yards against Tennessee this Saturday, he’d be the fourth player with three straight 100-yard receiving games - but just the second, joining Reppond, to do it against three conference opponents.
2. Franks is exactly what Arkansas needed - NIKKI
Feleipe Franks isn’t playing himself into Heisman contention or anything like that but he’s the quarterback Arkansas needed at the right time and the way things look, I’d guess he’s played well enough to get drafted. He’s not perfect but his play is certainly in the pros column of this year’s season so far.
He’s the 3rd highest graded offensive player for the Hogs at 71.7 through five games (behind Burks and Ty Clary). Arkansas has gone from 12th in the SEC in passing grades to 6th (behind Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss, LSU, Missouri).
Franks’ 74.2% completions was the highest of this season and the highest of his career, as was his rushing yardage Saturday of 91 yards. He looked like a man on a mission on his runs and less timid. Hopefully that gives Briles the green light to use Franks in the designed run game a bit more going forward.
The four sacks he took weren’t great, most so far in a game this season, but it’s better than turning the ball over and hopefully he can improve on that in the final five.
3. Boyd Bounces Back - HUTCH
One of the best things about the Texas A&M game was Rakeem Boyd looking like the player we’ve come to expect. He had his first 100-yard game of the season, finishing with exactly 100 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
With that performance, he became the 18th player in UA history to eclipse 2,000 career rushing yards and he now ranks 16th on the school’s all-time rushing list with 2,055 yards. Boyd needs just seven yards to pass E.D. Jackson for 15th and 114 yards to pass Chrys Chukwuma for 14th.
Records aside, the Razorbacks need him to play that well - and better - during the second half of the season if they’re going to win a few more games. They hadn’t had much of a run threat before the open week, so adding that should open things up in the passing game even more and make the offense that much more dangerous.
4. Knox’s slump - NIKKI
One of the most disappointing aspects of this season so far has been Trey Knox’s disappearance in this offense. He’s got less than a catch per game and no scores after being a reliable number three in 2019. He has a star personality so it just feels like he’s destined to do great things, making the disappointment that much more.
He’s a positive guy so I hope he doesn’t get down on himself and consider a transfer. We’ve seen he has more to offer (and in a less competent offense), he just needs a confidence boost.
5. Checking the SEC Standings - HUTCH
We have essentially reached the halfway point of the SEC season, as most teams have played at least five of their 10 games. (Florida and Vanderbilt have played only four games and a handful have played six.)
Here are the standings as of today…
EAST
1. Georgia: 4-1
2. Florida: 3-1
3. Tennessee: 2-3 (beat MIZZ and SC)
t-4. Missouri: 2-3
t-4. South Carolina: 2-3
6. Kentucky: 2-4
7. Vanderbilt: 0-4
WEST
1. Alabama: 6-0
2. Texas A&M: 4-1
3. Auburn: 4-2
t-4. Arkansas: 2-3
t-4. LSU: 2-3
6. Ole Miss: 2-4
7. Mississippi State: 1-4
Some observations…
~As expected, the showdown between Georgia and Florida this weekend will likely determine who wins the East. I picked Florida before the season, so I’ll stick with that.
~This is Alabama’s conference to lose. The Crimson Tide are so dang good.
~Maybe I wasn’t crazy for picking Texas A&M to finish second in the West?
~I feel pretty good about picking LSU fourth now. Honestly, the Tigers might end up finishing lower than that.
~My goodness, Vanderbilt sucks. The Commodores have been outscored 153-47 in their four losses - an average margin of 26.5 points. Yikes. (But that’s also a glimpse into what Arkansas’ season would probably look like if Chad Morris was still the head coach.)
arkansas.rivals.com
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