UA RED-WHITE GAME : Smith leads Hogs in posting big numbers in Red-White Game
Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008
Just hours Saturday after former Razorback teammates Darren McFadden and Felix Jones became official No. 1 draft choices, Michael Smith proved their NFL defections didn’t leave Arkansas’ running back cupboard entirely bare.
The fourth-year junior showed an estimated Razorback spring game record 40, 200 Saturday night at Reynolds Razorback Stadium that he can put up numbers worthy of the departed All-Americans who arrived with Smith in the Razorback freshman class of 2005.
With 157 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown, on 13 carries, plus 3 catches for 63 yards including taking a short pass some 55 yards, Smith led the Red, the combined first-team offense and first-team defense, to a 45-14 over the rest, the White, in Arkansas’ annual Red-White game closing the curtain on spring football practice. Senior Red quarterback Casey Dick also put up some big Red numbers completing 33 of 49 passes for 404 yards and 2 touchdowns versus an interception. Tight end D. J. Williams, 9 catches for 80 yards and a touchdown, and wideouts London Crawford, 8 catches for 82 yards and a TD but also some drops, and Carlton Salters, 7 catches for 108 yards also starred offensively for the Red. Though a second-teamer, Camden’s Rod Coleman played like a first-teamer for the White. The junior wide receiver figured prominently on both White touchdown drives catching a 50-yard pass from redshirt freshman quarterback Nathan Dick to the Red 3 and later, with Alex Mortensen quarterback, running a flanker reserve 29 yards. The only thing Smith liked better than his top billing Saturday night was watching McFadden and Jones get the first-round draft status so well-earned for both. “ I was too happy to see them on the TV screen, ” Smith said immediately after the Red-White game. “ I’m going to call them as soon as I am done here. I think they would expect me to step up while they are gone and that’s what I am going to do now. ” Smith proved his toughness to new coach Bobby Petrino this spring playing through a hip-pointer and delaying needed hernia surgery until spring football’s conclusion.
“ It was a challenge, ” Smith said. “ But Coach P emphasizes toughness. You get a couple of nicks and bruises and you’ve got to keep playing. ”
Petrino said it was “ great to see the crowd ” and “ great to see the defense tackle better in the second half” and great to see he’s got a bellcow running back albeit a calf sized one with Smith only 5-7, 173.
“ He made some great plays, ” Petrino said. “ It’s great to see his speed show up. I’ve got to learn to use him right. Make sure we get him the ball enough and get him in the open field. ”
Of McFadden, now an Oakland Raider, and Jones, now a Dallas Cowboy, Petrino said “ It’s too bad they aren’t lined up playing for us next year, but it was great to see them go in the first round. They have been excellent representatives of the University of Arkansas. ”
Petrino cited Casey Dick, D. J. Williams, Crawford and Salters and tight end Andrew Davie and on defense praised the all-round play of his four top defensive ends led Saturday by senior Antwain Robinson’s fumble recovery, pass breakup and two tackles behind the line among four total tackles.
“ I felt we made a couple of big plays and put pressure on the quarterback, ” Robinson said. “ But we can’t let the offense make big plays. ”
Praising Robinson, redshirt freshman Jake Bequette, Damario Ambrose and Adrian Davis, all basically deemed first-teamers, Petrino called defensive end his deepest position but that all four are too valuable terrorizing quarterbacks on the flanks to move to thinner spots at defensive tackle or linebacker.
“ I feel we have four that can rush the passer from the edge, ” Petrino said. “ I feel we have them at the right position. We need to keep them fresh rushing the passer. ”
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