ARLINGTON, Texas — Measuring Arkansas’ speed against that of Kansas State, wide receiver Jarius Wright vs. linebacker Arthur Brown doesn’t count.
Wright is supposed to outrun Brown as he did on a 45-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter of the Cotton Bowl on Friday night. And, nobody will confuse Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein with former Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones.
Describing Klein’s running style, lumber comes to mind.
Those two examples are the extreme. It was Arkansas’ across-the-board, every-play speed that was evident in the 29-16 victory that will net some big prizes.
For starters, 11-2 Arkansas will be in the top six in the final Associated Press poll for the first time since Lou Holtz’s 11-1 team was No. 3. That was also the last Razorback team to win 11 games. Based on the return of playmakers who are underclassmen, Arkansas also will get a great deal of attention in 2012 prognostications.
The disparity in speed was on display time and again. Klein, who ran or passed on 65 percent of KSU’s plays during the season, hurt Arkansas on occasion, but most of the time, defensive ends Jake Bequette or Tenarius Wright would contain and then close in on the KSU quarterback.
KSU receivers caught 16 passes, but Arkansas defenders converged so quickly that a big play was never a possibility. A 23-yard completion was the only one of more than 20 yards.
Most surprising was the number of times the KSU defense stifled Arkansas. After three quarters, the Razorbacks’ high-flying offense totaled 251 yards.
Forgotten most of 2011, Greg Childs will be remembered for his one game in 2012. Against KSU, he looked like the Childs who had people talking about whether he would leave Arkansas early for the NFL until he was injured in the eighth game of 2010.
This year, he had caught only 16, never more than four in a game. His fifth reception vs. KSU netted 15 yards on third-and-12 during the touchdown drive that gave Arkansas a 26-16 lead.
In the first half, I’m not sure which team helped the other the most.
It was so bad that, early in the second quarter, Arkansas had 10 points and zero first downs.
Klein lost a fumble at his 13 after a slew of penalties put the Wildcats in the unenviable position of second-and-33. Arkansas said thanks with a field goal.
Arkansas’ Tyler Wilson lost a fumble at his 13 when hit from behind while trying to throw on third down with his team leading 19-2 and 1:06 left in the half.
Appreciative, KSU scored on a throwback pass to a wide-open tight end.
Between those two fumbles, KSU followed up Arkansas’ fourth fruitless possession with a series of mistakes. KSU’s Trainee Thompson inexplicably decided to field a punt inside the Wildcats’ 5, a decision compounded by a block in the back penalty.
Klein made it worse when he passed up the opportunity to run for a first down and threw too high for an open receiver.
KSU had to protect its punter and Joe Adams outran the first couple of Wildcats. From there, all he needed was a Javontee Herndon block to complete the 51-yard return.
Arkansas left no doubt about its superiority over Kansas State. For the Razorbacks and their fans, all that remains is whether all of Arkansas’ eligible players return for 2012.
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Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media’s Arkansas News Bureau. Email: hking@arkansasnews.com.