2011 Arkansas Razorbacks football
Cotton Bowl Classic champion
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionWestern Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 5
APNo. 5
Record11–2 (6–2 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorGarrick McGee (2nd season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorWilly Robinson (4th season)
Base defense4–3
CaptainJake Bequette
Knile Davis
Jerry Franklin
Jerico Nelson
Tyler Wilson
Jarius Wright
Home stadiumDonald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium

War Memorial Stadium
2011 Southeastern Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
Eastern Division
No. 19 Georgia x  7 1   10 4  
No. 9 South Carolina  6 2   11 2  
Florida  3 5   7 6  
Vanderbilt  2 6   6 7  
Kentucky  2 6   5 7  
Tennessee  1 7   5 7  
Western Division
No. 2 LSU x$  8 0   13 1  
No. 1 Alabama  %#  7 1   12 1  
No. 5 Arkansas  6 2   11 2  
Auburn  4 4   8 5  
Mississippi State  2 6   7 6  
Ole Miss*  0 8   2 10  
Championship: LSU 42, Georgia 10
  • # BCS National Champion
  • $ BCS representative as conference champion
  • % BCS at-large representative
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • * Ole Miss vacated all wins due to NCAA violations.
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2011 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represents the University of Arkansas in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Razorbacks were led by fourth year head coach Bobby Petrino and played five home games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium and two at War Memorial Stadium. They are a member of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference. They finished the season with an 11–2 overall record, 6–2 in SEC West Division play, finishing in 3rd place with losses to LSU and Alabama, the two teams that played in the BCS National Championship Game. They were invited to the 2012 Cotton Bowl Classic and defeated Kansas State 29–16. The win capped off only the third 11-win season in Arkansas' 119-year football history. They also finished fifth in the final AP Poll—their highest national ranking since finishing third in 1977. Tyler Wilson became the first Arkansas QB to be voted 1st Team All-SEC. WR Jarius Wright and DE Jake Bequette were also named 1st Team All-SEC. WR Joe Adams was also placed on the 1st Team All-SEC squad, as well as being named a consensus 1st team All-American as a punt returner, and won the inaugural Jet Award given to the nation's best return specialist.

Although this season was very successful, this would ultimately be Petrino's final season as head coach at Arkansas, as he was fired in the offseason. After a motorcycle accident on April 1, 2012 lead to the discovery that he had covered up an extramarital affair with a member of his staff, and that Petrino had hired the young lady in question over several other applicants for the position. It was also revealed that he paid her money as a "gift", and then lied about the entire incident to then Athletic Director Jeff Long, prompting Long to release Petrino with cause.

Schedule

[1]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 36:00 pmMissouri State*No. 15PPVW 51–770,607
September 106:00 pmNew Mexico*No. 14ESPNUW 52–352,606
September 176:30 pmTroy*No. 14
  • Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
  • Fayetteville, AR
CSSW 38–2869,861
September 242:30 pmat No. 3 AlabamaNo. 14CBSL 14–38101,821
October 111:00 amvs. No. 14 Texas A&M*No. 18ESPNW 42–3869,838
October 86:00 pmNo. 15 AuburnNo. 10
  • Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
  • Fayetteville, AR
ESPNW 38–1474,191
October 2211:21 amat Ole MissNo. 10SECNW 29–2457,951
October 2911:21 amat VanderbiltNo. 8SECNW 31–2833,247
November 56:15 pmNo. 10 South CarolinadaggerNo. 8
  • Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
  • Fayetteville, AR
ESPNW 44–2873,804
November 125:00 pmTennesseeNo. 8
  • Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
  • Fayetteville, AR
ESPN2W 49–772,103
November 192:30 pmMississippi StateNo. 6
  • War Memorial Stadium
  • Little Rock, AR
CBSW 44–1755,761
November 251:30 pmat No. 1 LSUNo. 3CBSL 17–4193,108
January 67:00 pmvs. No. 11 Kansas State*No. 7
FOXW 29–1680,956
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

Personnel

Coaching staff

2011 Arkansas Razorbacks coaching staff

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

  • Defensive coordinator/secondary – Willy Robinson
  • Linebackers – Reggie Johnson
  • Defensive tackles – Bobby Allen
  • Defensive ends – Steve Caldwell
  • Graduate assistant – Brandon Sharp
 

Special teams

Administrative staff

  • Athletic director (AD) – Jeff Long
  • Director of high school relations – Kevin Peoples
  • Director of on-campus recruiting/eligibility coordinator – Dann Kabala
  • Director of football operations – Mark Robinson
  • Strength and conditioning – Jason Veltkamp

Roster

2011 Arkansas Razorbacks roster
2011 Roster from the University of Arkansas Razorbacks Athletics

Quarterbacks

  • 8 Tyler WilsonRedshirt junior
  • 9 Jacoby Walker – Redshirt sophomore
  • 13 Brandon Allenfreshman
  • 16 Brian Buehner – Redshirt sophomore
  • 17 Brandon Mitchell – junior
  • -- Davis McElroy – sophomore

Tailbacks

  • 7 Knile DavisRedshirt
  • 27 Chris Milam – sophomore
  • 20 Ronnie Wingo, Jr. – junior
  • 30 Ronald Watkins – Redshirt junior
  • 33 Dennis Johnson – junior
  • 40 Kody Walker – sophomore
  • -- Dylan Cruz – sophomore

Fullbacks

  • 21 Brad Shearin – sophomore
  • 35 Morgan Linton – Redshirt freshman
  • 36 Kiero Small – senior
  • 37 Brandon Pyle – sophomore
  • -- Allen Whitlow – sophomore

Wide receivers

  • 1 Marquel Wade – freshman
  • 2 Julian Horton – sophomore
  • 3 Joe Adamssenior
  • 4 Jarius Wrightsenior
  • 10 Jarvis Hunter – sophomore
  • 11 Trevor Williams – junior
  • 15 Keante Minor – freshman
  • 19 Javontee Herndon – sophomore
  • 23 De'Anthony Curtis – senior
  • 81 Kane Whitehurst – freshman
  • 83 Maudrecus Humphrey – sophomore
  • 84 Price Holmes – junior
  • 85 Greg Childssenior
  • 89 Brandon Wolford – sophomore
  • -- Sean Burnette – freshman
  • -- Alex Cacciarelli – Redshirt freshman
  • -- Alex Pastor – sophomore
  • -- Matthew Showalter – freshman
 

Tight ends

  • 6 Colton Miles-Nash Junior
  • 80 Chris Graggjunior
  • 82 Brad Taylor – junior
  • 87 Austin Tate – sophomore
  • 88 Garrett Uekman – Redshirt freshman[upper-alpha 1]
  • 89 Andrew Peterson – freshman
  • -- Alex Voelzke – freshman
  • -- Austin Weese – freshman

Offensive line

  • 59 Marcus Danenhauer – Redshirt freshman
  • 66 Adam Deacon – freshman
  • 70 Chris Stringer – sophomore
  • 71 Jason Peacock – junior
  • 75 Luke Charpentier – Redshirt freshman
  • 76 Tyler Deacon – Redshirt junior

Offensive tackles

  • 65 Mitch Smothers – freshman
  • 68 Austin Beck – freshman
  • 69 David Hurd – sophomore
  • 74 Brey Cook – freshman
  • 79 Grant Freeman – Redshirt senior

Offensive guards

  • 56 Blake Gunderson – junior
  • 67 Alvin BaileyRedshirt sophomore
  • 72 Grant Cook – Redshirt senior

Centers

Defensive ends

  • 83 Darrick Sullivan – freshman
  • 43 Tenarius Wright – Redshirt junior
  • 50 Grady Ollison – freshman
  • 86 Trey Flowersfreshman
  • 91 Jake BequetteRedshirt senior
  • 94 Will Coleman – sophomore
  • 95 Horace Arkadie – freshman
  • -- Ben Poeschel – freshman
 

Defensive tackles

  • 51 Alfred Davis – Redshirt junior
  • 54 Byran Jones – sophomore
  • 57 Jared Green – senior
  • 61 Zach Stadther – senior
  • 63 Devin Bowers – freshman
  • 92 DeQuinta Jones – junior
  • 93 DeMarcus Hodge – freshman
  • 96 Jeremiah Jackson – freshman
  • 98 Robert Thomas – sophomore
  • 99 Lavunce Askew – senior

Linebackers

  • 10 Braylon Mitchell – Redshirt freshman
  • 25 Terrell Williams – junior
  • 31 Jerico Nelson – sophomore
  • 32 Bret Harris – Redshirt senior
  • 34 Jerry FranklinRedshirt junior
  • 35 Ross Rasner – junior
  • 39 Jarrett Lake – sophomore
  • 44 Robert Atiga – sophomore
  • 45 Alonzo Highsmith – junior
  • 46 Tyler Gilbert – freshman
  • 47 Matt Marshall – Redshirt junior
  • 48 Austin Jones – sophomore
  • 52 Mitchell Loewen – senior
  • 55 Brock Haman – freshman
  • 97 Darrell Kelly-Thomas – freshman
  • -- Joe Bequette – freshman

Cornerbacks

  • 6 Isaac Madison – senior
  • 8 Tevin Mitchel – freshman
  • 21 Darius Winston – junior
  • 22 Kelvin Fisher Jr. – freshman
  • 28 Greg Gatson – senior
  • 18 Jay Nelson -Junior
  • 38 Jerry Mitchell – sophomore
  • -- Dakota Baggett – freshman
  • -- Kaelon Kellybrew – senior

Safeties

  • 36 Tramain Thomas – senior
  • 19 Elton Ford – senior
  • 13 Seth Armbrust – senior
  • 14 Eric Bennett – sophomore
  • 16 Ryan Farr – junior
  • 22 Darrell Smith – sophomore
  • 24 Daunte Carr – Redshirt freshman
  • 26 Rohan Gaines – freshman
  • 20 Alan Turner – Redshirt freshman
  • 30 Houston Pruitt – sophomore
  • 31 Jerico Nelson – senior
  • 49 Brett Weir – freshman
 

Punters/Kickers

  • 14 Dylan Breeding – junior
  • 18 Zach Hocker – sophomore
  • 43 John Henson – Redshirt freshman
  • 47 Cameron Bryan – Redshirt junior
  • -- Crawford Sullins – freshman
  • -- Forbes Harris – Redshirt freshman

Long snappers

  • 53 Allan D'Appollonio – freshman
  • 62 Nick Brewer – Redshirt junior
  • -- Drew Gorton – freshman

Terms:

  • Freshman – A player in his first year.
  • Sophomore – A player in his second year.
  • Junior – A player in his third year.
  • Senior – A player in his fourth year.
  • Redshirt Redshirt – A player who sat out a
    previous season.

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP151414141810101088863675
Coaches1413131218121110888631075
HarrisNot released11109886397Not released
BCSNot released910786386Not released

Game summaries

Missouri State

1 234Total
Missouri State 0 070 7
Arkansas 20 10147 51

[3]

New Mexico

1 234Total
New Mexico 3 000 3
Arkansas 14 17714 52

[4]

Troy

1 234Total
Troy 0 7147 28
Arkansas 14 1077 38

[5]

Alabama

1 234Total
Arkansas 7 070 14
Alabama 7 10210 38
The Arkansas offense in the huddle during their game against Alabama.

Texas A&M

1 234Total
Texas A&M 14 2103 38
Arkansas 7 101015 42

[6]

On September 25, 2011 (six days prior to the game) Texas A&M announced that it would once again become conference mates with Arkansas, by joining the Southeastern Conference as a full member beginning in 2012.

Near the end of the game, Arkansas fans acknowledged A&M's announcement by appearing on the Cowboys Stadium jumbotron with a large sign saying "Welcome to the SEC".

Auburn

1 234Total
Auburn 14 000 14
Arkansas 7 14710 38

[7]

Ole Miss

1 234Total
Arkansas 0 7193 29
Ole Miss 3 1407 24

[8]

Vanderbilt

1 234Total
Arkansas 7 7611 31
Vanderbilt 7 1470 28

[9]

Five and a half minutes into the third quarter, after a three-and-out, while trailing 21-17, Arkansas wide receiver Marquel Wade was ejected for a flagrant personal foul when he hit defenseless punt returner Jonathan Krause.

South Carolina

1 234Total
South Carolina 7 777 28
Arkansas 10 14614 44

[10]

Tennessee

1 234Total
Tennessee 0 700 7
Arkansas 14 71414 49

Mississippi State

1 234Total
Mississippi State 3 707 17
Arkansas 14 101010 44

A day after the game, tight end Garrett Uekman was found dead in his dorm room of heart problems.

LSU

1 234Total
Arkansas 0 1430 17
LSU 0 21317 41

Kansas State

1 234Total
Kansas State 0 970 16
Arkansas 3 1673 29

Arkansas and Kansas State met for the first time in postseason and for the fifth time overall. The Razorbacks netted their first Cotton Bowl Classic win since 2000. The 2012 Cotton Bowl was the only non-BCS bowl that featured two Top 10 opponents.

Notes

  1. Uekman died during the season on November 11. Because he was on the roster for the team's first nine games, he is still listed on the roster.[2]

References

  1. "Football - Schedule - University of Arkansas Athletics". Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  2. "Arkansas TE Garrett Uekman dies". ESPN.com. November 20, 2011.
  3. "No. 15 Arkansas Wins 51–7 over Missouri State." ArkansasRazorbacks.com. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
  4. "New Mexico vs. Arkansas - Game Recap - September 10, 2011 - ESPN".
  5. "Troy vs. Arkansas - Game Recap - September 17, 2011 - ESPN".
  6. "Texas A&M vs. Arkansas - Game Recap - October 1, 2011 - ESPN".
  7. "Auburn vs. Arkansas - Game Recap - October 8, 2011 - ESPN".
  8. "Arkansas vs. Ole Miss - Game Recap - October 22, 2011 - ESPN".
  9. "Arkansas vs. Vanderbilt - Game Recap - October 29, 2011 - ESPN".
  10. "South Carolina vs. Arkansas - Game Recap - November 5, 2011 - ESPN".
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