Gator Country previews Florida vs Arkansas by providing you our Q&A with Razorback expert Richard Davenport of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and Whole Hog Sports. You can find more of Davenport’s work on Twitter (X) @ArRecruitingGuy.
Q: Arkansas is 2-6 (0-5 SEC) but has shown the ability to play with every team on their schedule. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the 2023 Arkansas Razorbacks?
RD: Arkansas’ strengths are defense and special teams. The defense has played better as the season has gone on and currently ranks No. 32 nationally in total defense.
Kicker Cam Little is one of the best in the nation and is 12 of 13 for the year and has hit all four field goals of 50 yards or more.
His kickoffs are rarely returned. Max Fletcher is averaging 48.4 yards per punt (No. 5 nationally) and 18 of his 39 punts of 50 yards or more. He’s downed 13 inside the 20.
Isaac TeSlaa has excellent speed and returns kicks. He’s averaging 16.4 yards per punt return has an 88 yarder for a score against BYU.
The offense has struggled in ways no one ever saw coming. There was a lot of optimism going in to the season with KJ Jefferson and Rocket Sanders coming back along with an impressive list of receiver transfers but the offensive line has struggled to get a push in the running game and protecting KJ.
How well the offense responds under new OC Kenny Guiton remains to be seen after the firing of Dan Enos.
Guiton was the receivers coach the previous three seasons under former OC Kendall Briles, so he knows the offense’s and KJ’s strengths and weaknesses.
Arkansas’ offensive performance against Mississippi State was probably the worst I’ve seen in my lifetime and I go back to the late 1960s. It’s hard to see a repeat of that but there’s no guarantee.
Q: What are the keys for Arkansas’ offense against the Gators? Give us a few players to look out for.
RD: Arkansas needs to have a respectable running game (at 100 rushing yards) to keep the Gator D honest enough to where they don’t tee off in passing situations.
The Hogs can’t get behind the sticks on first down. The offense just isn’t good enough to overcome long and second or third downs on a consistent basis.
Arkansas is dead last in the SEC in total offense for a reason.
Jefferson will have to make some big plays in the running and passing games. He can’t have a bad game and Arkansas have a chance to win.
For the most part, he looked uncomfortable in Enos’ offense. Arkansas’ hope is Guiton will be able to help Jefferson get back to his old self.
Andrew Armstrong has been the most consistent receiver and is capable of making the big play.
Q: What are the keys for Arkansas’s defense against the Gators. Give us few players to look out for defensively.
RD: The defense has played at a high level most of the season. Defensive end Landon Jackson had a monster game against Alabama with 11 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
He could open up opportunities for others on defense because Florida will have to account for him.
Arkansas has good depth on the defensive line and is capable of rotating and staying fresh.
Chris Paul and Jaheim Thomas (Cincinnati transfer) are the two leaders at linebacker. Both are having very solid seasons.
The secondary has been solid for the most part and has 17 pass breakups for the season. Cornerback Dwight McGlothern is very talented and has the ability to be a lockdown type but he was held out of the Mississippi game despite being healthy.
The Arkansas D has allowed an average of 19.5 points in its last four games.
Q: If RB Rocket Sanders suits up, what kind of a difference maker could he be in this contest?
RD: He’s played in three games and has a total of 91 rushing yards. That tells you about the struggles up front.
The running game has been dismal but if somehow Arkansas can get some push up front, he can definitely give them a boost.
Q: Florida opened as a six-point favorite over Arkansas. How do you see this game going? Give us a score prediction.
RD: Even with the historical offensive struggles, Arkansas has been in every game this season and five of the losses have been one score games.
The defense has to continue play well and get a couple of turnovers to help the offense.
The wild card for the game is the Arkansas offense. If the offense can have one of its better games this season, the Hogs have a legitimate chance to pull off the upset.
But with Arkansas’ track record of subpar offensive outings this season, it’s hard to see the Hogs winning.
I’ll go 31-24 Florida.