2011 Arkansas Razorbacks football team

Last updated

2011 Arkansas Razorbacks football
Cotton Bowl Classic champion
Conference Southeastern Conference
DivisionWestern Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 5
APNo. 5
Record11–2 (6–2 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Garrick McGee (2nd season)
Offensive scheme Multiple
Defensive coordinator Willy Robinson (4th season)
Base defense 4–3
Captain Jake Bequette
Knile Davis
Jerry Franklin
Jerico Nelson
Tyler Wilson
Jarius Wright
Home stadium Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium

War Memorial Stadium
Seasons
  2010
2012  
2011 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Eastern Division
No. 19 Georgia x  7 1   10 4  
No. 9 South Carolina  6 2   11 2  
Florida  3 5   7 6  
Vanderbilt  2 6   6 7  
Kentucky  2 6   5 7  
Tennessee  1 7   5 7  
Western Division
No. 2 LSU x$  8 0   13 1  
No. 1 Alabama  %#  7 1   12 1  
No. 5 Arkansas  6 2   11 2  
Auburn  4 4   8 5  
Mississippi State  2 6   7 6  
Ole Miss*  0 8   2 10  
Championship: LSU 42, Georgia 10
  • # BCS National Champion
  • $ BCS representative as conference champion
  • % BCS at-large representative
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • * Ole Miss vacated all wins due to NCAA violations.
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2011 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Razorbacks were led by fourth year head coach Bobby Petrino and played five home games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium and two at War Memorial Stadium. They were a member of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference. They finished the season with an 11–2 overall record, 6–2 in SEC West Division play, finishing in 3rd place with losses to LSU and Alabama, the two teams that played in the BCS National Championship Game. They were invited to the 2012 Cotton Bowl Classic and defeated Kansas State 29–16. The win capped off only the third 11-win season in Arkansas' 119-year football history. They also finished fifth in the final AP Poll—their highest national ranking since finishing third in 1977. Tyler Wilson became the first Arkansas QB to be voted 1st Team All-SEC. WR Jarius Wright and DE Jake Bequette were also named 1st Team All-SEC. WR Joe Adams was also placed on the 1st Team All-SEC squad, as well as being named a consensus 1st team All-American as a punt returner, and won the inaugural Jet Award given to the nation's best return specialist.

Contents

Although this season was very successful, this would ultimately be Petrino's final season as head coach at Arkansas, as he was fired in the offseason. A motorcycle accident on April 1, 2012 led to the discovery that he had covered up an extramarital affair with a member of his staff, and that Petrino had hired the young lady in question over several other applicants for the position. It was also revealed that he paid her money as a "gift", and then lied about the entire incident to then Athletic Director Jeff Long, prompting Long to release Petrino with cause.

Schedule

[1]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 36:00 pm Missouri State *No. 15 PPV W 51–770,607
September 106:00 pm New Mexico *No. 14 ESPNU W 52–352,606
September 176:30 pm Troy *No. 14
  • Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
  • Fayetteville, AR
CSS W 38–2869,861
September 242:30 pmat No. 3 Alabama No. 14 CBS L 14–38101,821
October 111:00 amvs. No. 14 Texas A&M *No. 18 ESPN W 42–3869,838
October 86:00 pmNo. 15 Auburn No. 10
  • Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
  • Fayetteville, AR
ESPNW 38–1474,191
October 2211:21 amat Ole Miss No. 10 SECN W 29–2457,951
October 2911:21 amat Vanderbilt No. 8SECNW 31–2833,247
November 56:15 pmNo. 10 South Carolina Dagger-14-plain.pngNo. 8
  • Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
  • Fayetteville, AR
ESPNW 44–2873,804
November 125:00 pm Tennessee No. 8
  • Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
  • Fayetteville, AR
ESPN2 W 49–772,103
November 192:30 pm Mississippi State No. 6
  • War Memorial Stadium
  • Little Rock, AR
CBSW 44–1755,761
November 251:30 pmat No. 1 LSU No. 3CBSL 17–4193,108
January 67:00 pmvs. No. 11 Kansas State *No. 7
FOX W 29–1680,956
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

Personnel

Coaching staff

2011 Arkansas Razorbacks coaching staff

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

 

Special teams

Administrative staff

  • Athletic director (AD) – Jeff Long
  • Director of high school relations – Kevin Peoples
  • Director of on-campus recruiting/eligibility coordinator – Dann Kabala
  • Director of football operations – Mark Robinson
  • Strength and conditioning – Jason Veltkamp

Roster

2011 Arkansas Razorbacks roster
2011 Roster from the University of Arkansas Razorbacks Athletics

Quarterbacks

  • 8 Tyler Wilson Redshirt.svg junior
  • 9 Jacoby Walker – Redshirt.svg sophomore
  • 13 Brandon Allenfreshman
  • 16 Brian Buehner – Redshirt.svg sophomore
  • 17 Brandon Mitchell – junior
  • -- Davis McElroy – sophomore

Tailbacks

  • 7 Knile Davis Redshirt.svg
  • 27 Chris Milam – sophomore
  • 20 Ronnie Wingo, Jr.junior
  • 30 Ronald Watkins – Redshirt.svg junior
  • 33 Dennis Johnson – junior
  • 40 Kody Walker – sophomore
  • -- Dylan Cruz – sophomore

Fullbacks

  • 21 Brad Shearin – sophomore
  • 35 Morgan Linton – Redshirt.svg freshman
  • 36 Kiero Small – senior
  • 37 Brandon Pyle – sophomore
  • -- Allen Whitlow – sophomore

Wide receivers

  • 1 Marquel Wade – freshman
  • 2 Julian Hortonsophomore
  • 3 Joe Adamssenior
  • 4 Jarius Wrightsenior
  • 10 Jarvis Hunter – sophomore
  • 11 Trevor Williams – junior
  • 15 Keante Minor – freshman
  • 19 Javontee Herndon – sophomore
  • 23 De'Anthony Curtis – senior
  • 81 Kane Whitehurst – freshman
  • 83 Maudrecus Humphrey – sophomore
  • 84 Price Holmes – junior
  • 85 Greg Childssenior
  • 89 Brandon Wolford – sophomore
  • -- Sean Burnette – freshman
  • -- Alex Cacciarelli – Redshirt.svg freshman
  • -- Alex Pastor – sophomore
  • -- Matthew Showalter – freshman
 

Tight ends

  • 6 Colton Miles-Nash Junior
  • 80 Chris Graggjunior
  • 82 Brad Taylor – junior
  • 87 Austin Tate – sophomore
  • 88 Garrett Uekman – Redshirt.svg freshman [A]
  • 89 Andrew Peterson – freshman
  • -- Alex Voelzke – freshman
  • -- Austin Weese – freshman

Offensive line

  • 59 Marcus Danenhauer – Redshirt.svg freshman
  • 66 Adam Deacon – freshman
  • 70 Chris Stringer – sophomore
  • 71 Jason Peacock – junior
  • 75 Luke Charpentier – Redshirt.svg freshman
  • 76 Tyler Deacon – Redshirt.svg junior

Offensive tackles

  • 65 Mitch Smothers – freshman
  • 68 Austin Beck – freshman
  • 69 David Hurd – sophomore
  • 74 Brey Cook – freshman
  • 79 Grant Freeman – Redshirt.svg senior

Offensive guards

  • 56 Blake Gunderson – junior
  • 67 Alvin Bailey Redshirt.svg sophomore
  • 72 Grant Cook – Redshirt.svg senior

Centers

Defensive ends

  • 83 Darrick Sullivan – freshman
  • 43 Tenarius Wright – Redshirt.svg junior
  • 50 Grady Ollison – freshman
  • 86 Trey Flowersfreshman
  • 91 Jake Bequette Redshirt.svg senior
  • 94 Will Coleman – sophomore
  • 95 Horace Arkadie – freshman
  • -- Ben Poeschel – freshman
 

Defensive tackles

  • 51 Alfred Davis – Redshirt.svg junior
  • 54 Byran Jones – sophomore
  • 57 Jared Green – senior
  • 61 Zach Stadther – senior
  • 63 Devin Bowers – freshman
  • 92 DeQuinta Jones – junior
  • 93 DeMarcus Hodge – freshman
  • 96 Jeremiah Jackson – freshman
  • 98 Robert Thomas – sophomore
  • 99 Lavunce Askew – senior

Linebackers

  • 10 Braylon Mitchell – Redshirt.svg freshman
  • 25 Terrell Williams – junior
  • 31 Jerico Nelson – sophomore
  • 32 Bret Harris – Redshirt.svg senior
  • 34 Jerry Franklin Redshirt.svg junior
  • 35 Ross Rasner – junior
  • 39 Jarrett Lake – sophomore
  • 44 Robert Atiga – sophomore
  • 45 Alonzo Highsmith – junior
  • 46 Tyler Gilbert – freshman
  • 47 Matt Marshall – Redshirt.svg junior
  • 48 Austin Jones – sophomore
  • 52 Mitchell Loewen – senior
  • 55 Brock Haman – freshman
  • 97 Darrell Kelly-Thomas – freshman
  • -- Joe Bequette – freshman

Cornerbacks

  • 6 Isaac Madison – senior
  • 8 Tevin Mitchel – freshman
  • 21 Darius Winston – junior
  • 22 Kelvin Fisher Jr. – freshman
  • 28 Greg Gatson – senior
  • 18 Jay Nelson -Junior
  • 38 Jerry Mitchell – sophomore
  • -- Dakota Baggett – freshman
  • -- Kaelon Kellybrew – senior

Safeties

  • 36 Tramain Thomas – senior
  • 19 Elton Ford – senior
  • 13 Seth Armbrust – senior
  • 14 Eric Bennett – sophomore
  • 16 Ryan Farr – junior
  • 22 Darrell Smith – sophomore
  • 24 Daunte Carr – Redshirt.svg freshman
  • 26 Rohan Gaines – freshman
  • 20 Alan Turner – Redshirt.svg freshman
  • 30 Houston Pruitt – sophomore
  • 31 Jerico Nelson – senior
  • 49 Brett Weir – freshman
 

Punters/Kickers

  • 14 Dylan Breeding – junior
  • 18 Zach Hocker – sophomore
  • 43 John Henson – Redshirt.svg freshman
  • 47 Cameron Bryan – Redshirt.svg junior
  • -- Crawford Sullins – freshman
  • -- Forbes Harris – Redshirt.svg freshman

Long snappers

  • 53 Allan D'Appollonio – freshman
  • 62 Nick Brewer – Redshirt.svg junior
  • -- Drew Gorton – freshman

Terms:

  • Freshman – A player in his first year.
  • Sophomore – A player in his second year.
  • Junior – A player in his third year.
  • Senior – A player in his fourth year.
  • Redshirt.svg Redshirt – A player who sat out a
    previous season.

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP 151414141810101088863675
Coaches 1413131218121110888631075
Harris Not released11109886397Not released
BCS Not released910786386Not released

Game summaries

Missouri State

1234Total
Missouri State00707
Arkansas201014751

[3]

New Mexico

1234Total
New Mexico30003
Arkansas141771452

[4]

Troy

1234Total
Troy0714728
Arkansas14107738

[5]

Alabama

1234Total
Arkansas707014
Alabama71021038
The Arkansas offense in the huddle during their game against Alabama. Tyler Wilson and the Arkansas Razorbacks.jpg
The Arkansas offense in the huddle during their game against Alabama.

Texas A&M

1234Total
Texas A&M14210338
Arkansas710101542

[6]

On September 25, 2011 (six days prior to the game) Texas A&M announced that it would once again become conference mates with Arkansas, by joining the Southeastern Conference as a full member beginning in 2012.

Near the end of the game, Arkansas fans acknowledged A&M's announcement by appearing on the Cowboys Stadium jumbotron with a large sign saying "Welcome to the SEC".

Auburn

1234Total
Auburn1400014
Arkansas71471038

[7]

Ole Miss

1234Total
Arkansas0719329
Ole Miss3140724

[8]

Vanderbilt

1234Total
Arkansas7761131
Vanderbilt7147028

[9]

Five and a half minutes into the third quarter, after a three-and-out, while trailing 21-17, Arkansas wide receiver Marquel Wade was ejected for a flagrant personal foul when he hit defenseless punt returner Jonathan Krause.

South Carolina

1234Total
South Carolina777728
Arkansas101461444

[10]

Tennessee

1234Total
Tennessee07007
Arkansas147141449

Mississippi State

1234Total
Mississippi State370717
Arkansas1410101044

A day after the game, tight end Garrett Uekman was found dead in his dorm room of heart problems.

LSU

1234Total
Arkansas0143017
LSU02131741

Kansas State

1234Total
Kansas State097016
Arkansas3167329

Arkansas and Kansas State met for the first time in postseason and for the fifth time overall. The Razorbacks netted their first Cotton Bowl Classic win since 2000. The 2012 Cotton Bowl was the only non-BCS bowl that featured two Top 10 opponents.

Notes

  1. Uekman died during the season on November 11. Because he was on the roster for the team's first nine games, he is still listed on the roster. [2]

References

  1. "Football - Schedule - University of Arkansas Athletics". Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  2. "Arkansas TE Garrett Uekman dies". ESPN.com. November 20, 2011.
  3. "No. 15 Arkansas Wins 51–7 over Missouri State." ArkansasRazorbacks.com. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
  4. "New Mexico vs. Arkansas - Game Recap - September 10, 2011 - ESPN". Archived from the original on January 24, 2013.
  5. "Troy vs. Arkansas - Game Recap - September 17, 2011 - ESPN". Archived from the original on September 30, 2011.
  6. "Texas A&M vs. Arkansas - Game Recap - October 1, 2011 - ESPN". Archived from the original on October 3, 2011.
  7. "Auburn vs. Arkansas - Game Recap - October 8, 2011 - ESPN". Archived from the original on October 10, 2011.
  8. "Arkansas vs. Ole Miss - Game Recap - October 22, 2011 - ESPN". Archived from the original on October 23, 2011.
  9. "Arkansas vs. Vanderbilt - Game Recap - October 29, 2011 - ESPN". Archived from the original on October 31, 2011.
  10. "South Carolina vs. Arkansas - Game Recap - November 5, 2011 - ESPN". Archived from the original on November 8, 2011.