2012 Arkansas Razorbacks football team

2012 Arkansas Razorbacks football
2012 Arkansas Razorbacks football
Conference	Southeastern Conference
	Western Division
Record	4–8 (2–6 SEC)
Head coach	John L. Smith (1st season);
Offensive coordinator	Paul Petrino (3rd season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Defensive coordinator	Paul Haynes (1st season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium ; War Memorial Stadium
	Seasons ← 2011 2013 →

Last updated February 14, 2025

2012 Southeastern Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
Eastern Division
No. T–5 Georgia xy	7	–	1	12	–	2
No. 9 Florida x%	7	–	1	11	–	2
No. 8 South Carolina	6	–	2	11	–	2
No. 23 Vanderbilt	5	–	3	9	–	4
Missouri	2	–	6	5	–	7
Tennessee	1	–	7	5	–	7
Kentucky	0	–	8	2	–	10
Western Division
No. 1 Alabama x$#	7	–	1	13	–	1
No. 14 LSU *	6	–	2	10	–	3
No. T–5 Texas A&M	6	–	2	11	–	2
Mississippi State	4	–	4	8	–	5
Ole Miss *	3	–	5	7	–	6
Arkansas	2	–	6	4	–	8
Auburn	0	–	8	3	–	9
Championship: Alabama 32, Georgia 28
# – BCS National Champion $ – BCS representative as conference champion % – BCS at-large representative x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant * Ole Miss and LSU vacated all wins due to NCAA violations. Rankings from AP Poll

The 2012 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas during the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Razorbacks played their home games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville and War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas. They were a member of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference.

The Razorbacks entered the season coming off of a win in the 2012 Cotton Bowl Classic, finishing the season with an 11–2 record and a No. 5 ranking in the AP poll. However, head coach Bobby Petrino was fired in the offseason after it was discovered that he covered up an extramarital affair with a member of his staff. Athletic director Jeff Long decided to hire former special teams coordinator John L. Smith, who had recently left to become the head coach at Weber State, as their head coach on a 10-month contract. Despite these circumstances, the Razorbacks were ranked No. 10 in the AP preseason poll.

The Razorbacks started their season with a win over Jacksonville State, defeating former head coach Jack Crowe, and rose to No. 8 in the AP poll. However, after an upset loss to unranked Louisiana–Monroe in overtime, they dropped out of the poll. The Razorbacks would never re-enter the poll, as this loss began a 4-game losing streak, and an eventual 4–8 finish. After the season, it was decided that Smith's contract would not be renewed. Instead, the Razorbacks chose to hire Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema.

Personnel

Coaching staff

Name	Position	Seasons at Arkansas	Alma mater
John L. Smith	Head coach	1	Weber State Wildcats (1970)
Paul Haynes	Defensive coordinator, Secondary	1	Kent State (1992)
Paul Petrino	Offensive coordinator, Quarterbacks	1	Carroll College (1988)
Tim Horton	Running Backs, Recruiting Coordinator	5	Arkansas (1990)
Kris Cinkovich	Wide receivers	3	Carroll College (1984)
Kevin Peoples	Defensive line	1	Carroll College (1989)
Steve Caldwell	Special Teams, Defensive ends	3	Arkansas State (1977)
Taver Johnson	Linebackers	1	Wittenberg (1994)
Reference:^[1]

Recruits

College recruiting information (2012)
Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	40^‡	Commit date
Vin Ascolese LB	North Bergen, NJ	North Bergen HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	4.6	Jan 27, 2012
Vin Ascolese LB	Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 74
Cordale Boyd OL	Memphis, TN	Ridgeway HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	290 lb (130 kg)	N/A	Apr 20, 2011
Cordale Boyd OL	Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79
Ray Buchanan Jr. DB	Suwanee, GA	Peachtree Ridge HS	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	178 lb (81 kg)	4.5	Aug 20, 2011
Ray Buchanan Jr. DB	Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77
Jared Collins DB	Tulsa, OK	Booker T. Washington HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	4.4	Aug 1, 2011
Jared Collins DB	Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 73
D'Arthur Cowan WR	Olive Branch, MS	Olive Branch HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	4.6	Jul 27, 2011
D'Arthur Cowan WR	Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 80
Austin Flynn DE	Wilmington, CA	Los Angeles Harbor C.C.	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	260 lb (120 kg)	4.5	Dec 21, 2011
Austin Flynn DE	Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: JC
Keon Hatcher WR	Owasso, OK	Owasso HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	4.5	Aug 1, 2011
Keon Hatcher WR	Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 80
Eric Hawkins WR	Longview, TX	Longview HS	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	172 lb (78 kg)	4.5	Jul 16, 2011
Eric Hawkins WR	Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: NR
Will Hines DB	Waco, TX	Waco HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	4.5	Jan 19, 2012
Will Hines DB	Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75
Nathan Holmes ATH	Port Arthur, TX	Port Arthur Memorial HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	4.49	Apr 6, 2011
Nathan Holmes ATH	Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78
Taiwan Johnson DE	Manvel, TX	Manvel HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	240 lb (110 kg)	4.8	Dec 21, 2011
Taiwan Johnson DE	Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79
Brandon Lewis DE	Memphis, TN	Ridgeway HS	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	4.7	Jul 16, 2011
Brandon Lewis DE	Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79
Defonta Lowe DB	Bearden, AR	Bearden HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	4.5	Sep 7, 2011
Defonta Lowe DB	Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77
Mekale McKay WR	Louisville, KY	Moore HS	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	192 lb (87 kg)	4.45	Mar 8, 2012
Mekale McKay WR	Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79
Otha Peters LB	Covington, LA	Covington HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	221 lb (100 kg)	4.6	Jan 31, 2012
Otha Peters LB	Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79
Darius Philon DE	Prichard, AL	Vigor	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	282 lb (128 kg)	4.78	Feb 1, 2012
Darius Philon DE	Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79
Trevor Williams WR	Norman, OK	Norman HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	188 lb (85 kg)	0.1	Apr 27, 2011
Trevor Williams WR	Star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79
Jeremy Sprinkle DE	White Hall, AR	White Hall HS	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	4.6	Jun 16, 2011
Jeremy Sprinkle DE	Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77
A. J. Turner LB	Lepanto, AR	East Poinsett County HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	4.5	Apr 16, 2011
A. J. Turner LB	Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: NR
Jeremy Ward OL	Pottsville, AR	Pottsville HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	290 lb (130 kg)	5.3	Feb 4, 2011
Jeremy Ward OL	Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79
Jonathan Williams RB	Allen, TX	Allen HS	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	4.51	Nov 11, 2011
Jonathan Williams RB	Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79
Demetrius Wilson WR	Glendale, AZ	Glendale CC	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	4.4	Jan 29, 2012
Demetrius Wilson WR	Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: JC
JaMichael Winston DE	Prichard, AL	Vigor HS	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	226 lb (103 kg)	N/A	Oct 11, 2011
JaMichael Winston DE	Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78
Deatrich Wise DE	Carrollton, TX	Hebron HS	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	4.7	Aug 6, 2011
Deatrich Wise DE	Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 19 Rivals: 34
‡ Refers to 40 yard dash Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Arkansas 2012 Football Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 19, 2012. "2012 Player Commitments - Arkansas". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 19, 2012. "2012 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 19, 2012.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 1	6:00 pm	No. 22 (FCS) Jacksonville State *	No. 10	Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, AR	ARSN PPV	W 49–24	71,062
September 8	6:00 pm	Louisiana–Monroe *	No. 8	War Memorial Stadium Little Rock, AR	ESPNU	L 31–34 ^OT	53,089
September 15	2:30 pm	No. 1 Alabama		Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, AR	CBS	L 0–52	74,617
September 22	6:00 pm	Rutgers *		Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, AR	ESPNU	L 26–35	72,543
September 29	11:00 am	at Texas A&M		Kyle Field College Station, TX (rivalry)	SECN	L 10–58	86,442
October 6	11:00 am	at Auburn		Jordan–Hare Stadium Auburn, AL	ESPN2	W 24–7	85,813
October 13	6:00 pm	Kentucky		Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, AR	SECRN	W 49–7	67,153
October 27	11:21 am	Ole Miss		War Memorial Stadium Little Rock, AR (rivalry)	SECN	L 27–30	55,378
November 3	11:21 am	Tulsa *		Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, AR	SECN	W 19–15	64,451
November 10	11:00 am	at No. 12 South Carolina		Williams-Brice Stadium Columbia, SC	CBS	L 20–38	78,772
November 17	11:21 am	at Mississippi State		Davis Wade Stadium Starkville, MS	SECN	L 14–45	54,838
November 23	1:30 pm	No. 8 LSU		Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, AR (Battle for the Golden Boot)	CBS	L 13–20	71,117
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

Source: ArkansasRazorbacks.com: 2012 Arkansas football schedule^[2]

Game summaries

No. 22 (FCS) Jacksonville State

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 22 (FCS) Gamecocks	7	14	3	0	24
No. 10 Razorbacks	7	28	14	0	49

Louisiana–Monroe

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Warhawks	7	0	7	14	6	34
No. 8 Razorbacks	7	14	7	0	3	31

No. 1 Alabama

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 1 Crimson Tide	7	17	14	14	52
Razorbacks	0	0	0	0	0

Rutgers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Scarlet Knights	0	14	14	7	35
Razorbacks	10	0	3	13	26

At Texas A&M

	1	2	3	4	Total
Razorbacks	10	0	0	0	10
Aggies	7	20	17	14	58

At Auburn

	1	2	3	4	Total
Razorbacks	7	3	0	14	24
Tigers	0	0	7	0	7

Kentucky

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	0	0	7	0	7
Razorbacks	28	14	7	0	49

Ole Miss

	1	2	3	4	Total
Rebels	0	21	3	6	30
Razorbacks	10	7	0	10	27

Tulsa

	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Hurricane	0	12	3	0	15
Razorbacks	10	3	0	6	19

At No. 12 South Carolina

	1	2	3	4	Total
Razorbacks	0	10	3	7	20
No. 12 Gamecocks	7	14	17	0	38

At Mississippi State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Razorbacks	7	7	0	0	14
Bulldogs	7	10	14	14	45

No. 8 LSU

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 8 Tigers	3	7	7	3	20
Razorbacks	0	0	10	3	13

Rankings

Ranking movements
**Legend:**██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	10	8	RV	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Coaches	10	10	21	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Harris	Not released						—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Not released
BCS	Not released							—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Not released

Notes

December 4, 2012 – Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema has accepted the vacant coaching position at Arkansas for next season.^[3]

References

↑ "Football – 2012 Coaches". arkansasrazorbacks.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
↑ "2012 Arkansas football schedule". ArkansasRazorbacks.com. University of Arkansas Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
↑ Associated Press, Wisconsin Coach Headed to Arkansas, New York Times, December 4, 2012

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[Coaches-1] "Football – 2012 Coaches". arkansasrazorbacks.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012.

[2012schedule-2] "2012 Arkansas football schedule". ArkansasRazorbacks.com. University of Arkansas Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved March 3, 2012.

[3] Associated Press, Wisconsin Coach Headed to Arkansas, New York Times, December 4, 2012

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e Arkansas Razorbacks football
Venues	The Hill (1894–1937) Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium (1938–present) Quigley Stadium (alternate, 1932–1947) War Memorial Stadium (alternate, 1948–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games LSU Missouri: Battle Line Rivalry Ole Miss Texas Texas A&M Texas Tech
Culture & lore	Calling the Hogs Tusk Big Red "Arkansas Fight" Marching band 1969 "Game of the Century" 2001 Ole Miss game 2003 Kentucky game
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
National championship seasons in bold

2012 Arkansas Razorbacks football
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Division	Western Division
Record	4–8 (2–6 SEC)
Head coach	John L. Smith (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Paul Petrino (3rd season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Defensive coordinator	Paul Haynes (1st season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium War Memorial Stadium
Seasons ← 2011 2013 →