“Jadon is a really good player, but do we know if he is the same thing as (Burks), or will they use him in the same way, I think those are the things you are always curious about in week one. We know he is a dynamic player, he led Oklahoma in receiving last year, but in what ways will they use him. That’s the things you have got to kind of figure out. We defiantly know who he is, where he will be whether it’s the same as Traylon Burks, I don’t know. The reality is they got athletes, they are going to put them in position to get him the ball, however they do that with him, whether it is downfield or what they did with Traylon Burks, we won’t know until Saturday,” said Bearcats head coach Luke Fickell.
The Bearcats will look to find a way to contain Razorbacks quarterback KJ Jefferson, as Jefferson is a dominant dual threat quarterback, standing 6-foot-3 weighing 242 pounds, Jefferson isn’t your typical mold of a college quarterback, after leading the Razorbacks in rushing a season ago where he tallied 664 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. Jefferson also threw for 2,676 yards and 21 touchdowns during the 2021 season, completing roughly 67% of his passes, Jefferson will look to lead the high-powered Razorback offense and will be a very key part to this team’s success throughout the season. The Bearcats could game plan well for a guy like Jefferson, especially after having a very successful dual threat quarterback themselves at the helm of the offense for the last five seasons in Desmond Ridder. Jefferson is poised to have a big year as he will be behind an offensive line that is returning four of their five-starting linemen from a season ago including redshirt senior Dalton Wagner, senior Ricky Stromberg, redshirt junior Brady Latham and redshirt junior Beaux Limmer, the four combined for a total of 124 games played with 99 of those being starts, which is the 2nd most games started among SEC offensive lines just behind Auburn. Stromberg will be the vocal point of the Razorbacks offensive line, after starting all 13 games a season ago, where he only allowed three sacks to opposing defensives and will be a key part in the trenches for the Razorbacks.
“They led the SEC in rushing last year. He is very dynamic in what he does, he can throw the ball, and I think he’s getting better and better at that. He is a dual threat guy, not a dual threat guy to just run, but to run you over. I think the unique thing about it when the quarterbacks are not just willing, but able to run downhill, and not just laterally, to me they put a lot more pressure on defenses,” said Fickell.
The Bearcats defense will look to stop the rushing game highlighted by sophomore running back Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders, the Florida native is coming off a season where he led the Razorbacks four man running back crew a season ago where he rushed for 578 yards and five touchdowns averaging 5.2 yards per carry, the 6-foot-2, 230 pound running back will look to be a vocal part of the Razorbacks offense after seeing what Alabama’s Brian Robinson was able to do to the Bearcats in the Cotton Bowl, expect Sanders to see a lot of touches early.
The Bearcat’s defense is what a lot of people are sleeping on after losing guys like Ahmad Gardner, Coby Bryant, Bryan Cook. Joel Dublanko, Darrien Beavers to the NFL, a lot of people are underestimating the Bearcats defense heading into week one, but the Bearcats are reloading and return a lot of guys on the defense that saw significant playing time from a season ago, the defense will look to return as one of the top defenses in the country and they get to test that early this season with a Week 1 matchup vs a top ranked Arkansas team.
This game will be a very fun watch to watch and should be one of the top viewed games across college football this week, and it will be very interesting to see how both teams come out and attack early and the first few drives will really set the tone for this contest.
Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman started the week by saying how important the first few series of this game would be, and they will be very important for both teams in this Top 25 showdown as both teams are looking to establish a huge non-conference win to start the season.
“The first few drives will be important to figure out, what they’re bringing to the party. Some guys bring iced tea, some guys bring liquor, you just got to figure out what they are bringing. Go into 2-minute offense and you will figure out what kind of party you are going to one the first play, they come after you, you go “oh okay” This what kind of party you’re going too. The first two series on both sides of the ball will be a very important thing on Saturday in my opinion, and how fast our coaches will have to make adjustments, same with the Bearcats staff. You can’t wait until halftime, the game is already halfway over at that point, so we really have to get good communication up front, to see what we have to see to figure this out.”
Bearcats Head Coach Luke Fickell joked when asked about Pittman’s comment referencing bringing Iced tea or liquor to the party when asked in his weekly press conference.
“I told you before, I don’t have a whole lot of friends, and I don’t get invited to a whole lot of parties. I don’t know what I’d do, I just know who I am, so I guess they will find out.”
