It was exactly the kind of performance Bielema and Enos had hoped for, with Allen cementing his role as the starter entering Saturday against a Louisiana Tech team that was 9-4 previous year and ended its season with a win over Arkansas State in the New Orleans Bowl.
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“I think he’s (ready)”, Bielema said.
“The last one, it’s just a gut feel”, Bielema said. “So, I think that element is out there good enough”.
Austin Allen has completed just 9 of 19 passes for 188 yards and one touchdown in mop-up duty the last two seasons behind his brother, who passed for 3,440 yards, 30 touchdowns and was intercepted eight times while leading the Razorbacks to an 8-5 record and 45-23 Liberty Bowl win over Kansas State last season.
ARKANSAS: The Razorbacks entered the season with three new starting offensive linemen, and their inexperience showed on Saturday. Sophomore Rawleigh Williams will get the start at running back ahead of senior Kody Walker who aggravated scar tissue from a broken foot he suffered last season.
“I think we have an terrible lot of positive things to build on, but I don’t think this a game we wanted to be close, ” Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz said.
Said Allen, “We’ve got to get better”. Louisiana Tech travels north on the road to try to pull off what would be one of the biggest upset victories in the history of its football program today.
Heading into Louisiana Tech’s season opener, some wondered if redshirt freshman quarterback J’Mar Smith could play his way into a more significant role in 2016 with a strong performance at Arkansas.
Allen finished 20-of-29 passing for 191 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his debut as the Razorbacks starter, but he also threw a pair of first-half interceptions that led to Louisiana Tech touchdowns. “Tech is a very good team and Skip (a Fayetteville High grad and son of former Arkansas coach Lou Holtz honored at Saturday’s game as inductee into the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor) had a great game plan and their quarterback did a nice job and got rid of the ball quickly and their defense tackled very well”.
Overall Coach Holtz liked what he saw on the field.
If true, this is not a ringing endorsement of Arkansas fans.
After finishing 10th nationally in total defence two years ago, Arkansas fell to 58th last season – allowing 391.6 yards per game. The Razorbacks, led by third-year defensive co-ordinator Robb Smith and a unit that returns nine starters, believe they are poised to return to their 2014 form.
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Late in the game Arkansas’ head coach had one more decision to make. Hatcher led all receivers with 86 yards receiving on six catches.
