It is only 32 days until the kickoff of the 2019 NCAA FBS season and that means it is time for some wild, blind dart-throwing of predicting the coming season for the SEC teams. For the Hogs, it may not be so difficult to forecast.
Coach: Chad Morris (2-10 in one season at Arky; 16–32 overall)
2018 record: A robust 2-10 (0-8 in SEC, last in the West Division)
CB969 2018 Prediction: 5-7, Boy, was I optimistic. “the Razorbacks fired Bert as well as their NCAA-powerful AD, and hired a long-time high school coach who had mild success at SMU. Granted, he improved each season (2-10, 5-7, 7-5) but this is NOT the kind of guy needed to take an SEC team back to relevancy.”
Looking back: We knew it would be a rough year for the Razorback, but - WHOA - that was a dreadful stinker of a season. Losses to Colorado State and North Texas followed by being skunked in conference play including an East-crossover with Vanderbilt is not a way to win allies from the fanbase.
Returning starters: 5 on offense, 6 on defense, punter, kicker.
Key losses: G Hjalte Froholdt (Round 4, Patriots), LB Dre Greenlaw (Round 5, 49ers), DT Armon Watts (Round 6, Vikings), S Santos Ramirez, EDGE Randy Ramsey, CB Ryan Pulley, T Brian Wallace, QB Ty Storey (to WKU), QB Cole Kelley (to SE Louisiana), 2018 leading receiver WR La’Michael Pettway (to Iowa State).
Top returnees: RB Rakeem Boyd, RB Devwah Whaley, RB Chase Hayden, WR/KR De’Vion Warren, TE Cheyenne O’Grady, WR Michael Woods, DL McTelvin Agim, LB De’Jon “Scoota” Harris, PK Connor Limpert, P Reid Bauer, LS Jordan Silver
Top newcomers: QB Nick Starkel (TAMU Grad), QB Ben Hicks (SMU Grad), WR Treylon Burks (Warren, AR), TE Hudson Henry (Little Rock, AR), WR Trey Knox (Murfreesboro, TN), DB Devin Bush (New Orleans, LA).
Name you need to know: Junior WR De’Vion Warren is a dangerous man in the return game.
Strengths: While it is yet to be proved if Morris can win football games at this level, he is a helluva recruiter... QBs Hicks (3 year SMU starter) and Starkel (part-time TAMU starter) are vast improvements at signal caller... If the running backs can stay healthy, they will be a solid unit... Kickers and long snapper return... Weak non-conference schedule should produced four wins... Having a guy named “Bumper Pool” on the team...
Weaknesses: Say what you will about former Arky coach Bret Bielema, the man could put together an offensive line. This current team has some big holes along the line... Incoming true freshmen Burks and Knox may well be the best receivers on the team and they haven’t played a down... Mediocre defense with thin depth... Playing in the SEC West... Continuing to play games in Little Rock... Changing offensive philosophies: Will Morris’ young pass-happy nucleus gel with the holdovers from the Bert grind-it-out era? They didn’t last year.
Outlook: With nowhere to go but up, the Piggies should be improved in Year 2 of the Morris Debacle Era but they won’t be world-beaters. The situations at quarterbacks and pass catchers are improved but new to the program. At SMU, Morris went 2-10, 5-7, 7-5. Can he repeat that pattern in Fayetteville and go 5-7? I’d say yes. Can he do better than 5 wins? Probably not.
2019 SCHEDULE:
Sat, Aug 31, 3pm vs. Portland State SECN - W - Neil Lomax’s appeal for a fifth year denied.
Sat, Sep 7, 6:30pm at Ole Miss SECN - W - I know it’s on the road, but Ole Miss is THAT bad.
Sat, Sep 14, 3pm vs. Colorado State SECN - W - Revenge game at home.
Sat, Sep 21 vs. San Jose State - W - Sparty Jr. was 1-11 last season.
Sat, Sep 28 vs. Texas A&M (JerryWorld) - L - Aggies have won 7 straight. Make it 8.
Sat, Oct 5 - bye
Sat, Oct 12 at Kentucky - L - Despite all the player personnel losses, UK still has a decent team and the game is in their house.
Sat, Oct 19 vs. Auburn - L - This is the kind of game the flapping gums will say Arky could win. That’s why they won’t.
Sat, Oct 26 at Alabama - L
Sat, Nov 2 vs. Mississippi State - L - This could be a chance for an upset W.
Sat, Nov 9 vs. Western Kentucky - W
Sat, Nov 16 - bye
Sat, Nov 23 at LSU - L
Fri, Nov 29, 1:30 p.m. vs. Missouri (Little Rock, AR) - L - why do they keep playing games here???
If Arky does indeed start out 4-0, expect them to puff out their chests and talk all big, only to see their season come crashing back to Earth.
Let’s go Bowling! Nope. There is still a long way for this program to go to get back to a bowl.
Poll
Poll
Regular season wins for Arky in 2019:
This poll is closed
-
29%
4 or less
-
35%
5
-
26%
6
-
6%
7
-
2%
8 or more (put down the pipe)