Arkansas lost three games by single digits last season. Perhaps not a coincidence is the Razorbacks ranked next to last in the SEC in field goal percentage, making only 9 of 15 field goals for a 60 percent clip.

They ranked 11th in punting (40.3 yards per punt) and eighth in kick return yardage (20.6 yards per return). Looking for a bright side, Arkansas was fourth in the league with 13.3 yards per punt return – only five teams averaged better than 13 yards per.

Kicker Cole Hedlund returns as a sophomore as does senior punter Toby Baker. Junior and senior Jared Cornelius and DJ Dean each had seven punt returns for 93 yards last season and now-senior wide receivers Eric Hawkins and Dominique Reed had 10 kick returns each for nearly identical 223 and 222 yards.

2015 Stats
FGM-FGA: 9-15
Longest: 45
Punting average: 40.3 (11th)
Kickoff return average: 20.6 (8th)
Kickoff return TDs: 0 (tied for last)
Punt return avg.: 13.3 (4th)
Punt return TDs: 0 (tied for last)
Kickoff/punt return TDs allowed: 1

THE KICKER

Being a freshman in the SEC isn’t easy, and that includes being a freshman kicker. In late-game situations, few jobs offer as much pressure, glory or blame. Hedlund made his first two field goals of the season against UTEP, 19 and 27 yards. He missed his first 40-plus yarder of the season against Toledo and finished 1 of 4 for the season from 40-49 yards away. The one he did make turned out to be huge. It was from 47 yards and while coming in the second quarter at Ole Miss, it was a difference-maker in the 1-point overtime win.

Hedlund struggled with distance, a combined 1 for 5 from 30-49 yards. Even from inside 29 yards, he was 8-for-10. It helps to have senior holder Matt Emrich back. Emrich has played in every game of his career.

As a unit, the Razorbacks saw four field goals blocked, one was a really crucial one from not that far away to be discussed farther down the page.

THE PUNTER

Baker had 43 of Arkansas’ 44 punts last season. The Razorbacks punted fewer than any team in the league, its 44 attempts eight fewer than Ole Miss and 40 less than Florida’s.

There is room for improvement. The Hogs were one of six teams in the SEC to average less than 41 yards per punt. Baker did put 23 punts inside the 20-yard line and had six punts of 50-plus yards. The unit allow a blocked punt, which was credited to the team, not Baker.

THE RETURNER

Arkansas split duties about as evenly as could be asked on kick and punt returns. On kickoffs, Eric Hawkins and Dominique Reed each had 10 returns. Only one yard separated the two, Hawkins finishing with 223 total yards to Reed’s 222.

Same went for Jared Cornelius and DJ Dean on punt returns. The senior wide receiver and junior defensive back are still in Fayetteville after both had seven returns for an even 93 yards. The numbers are skewed some as the Razorbacks forced only 52 punts. Only Auburn and South Carolina forced fewer.

Arkansas was one of six SEC teams to not have a punt returned for a touchdown and one of 10 not to score a touchdown on a kickoff.

COVER TEAMS

The Razorbacks ranked third in the SEC in opponent punt return average. Only Florida and Ole Miss allowed fewer than the 6.9 yards per punt return Arkansas allowed.

There is a little more work to be done on kick return, where the Hogs ranked eighth in the conference after allowing 19.5 yards per return and were one of only three teams (LSU and Kentucky the others) to allow a kick return for a touchdown.

SPECIAL MOMENT

Hedlund had an early-but-big kick against Ole Miss that made a huge difference in the win. That was after he had one blocked that would have beaten the Rebels without overtime.

With the good comes the bad, and a blocked kick in the final seconds against Mississippi State in Fayetteville may have kept Arkansas from having a nine-win season.

Down a point, the Razorbacks had gone 77 yards in nine plays. With less than 50 seconds to play, Hedlund had a 29-yarder blocked by a tip at the line. A made field goal would have been the difference in eight wins and nine wins and ending the season somewhere besides Memphis in the Liberty Bowl.

ONE STAT THAT MUST IMPROVE IN 2016

In the tight SEC West, every inch counts. Especially with a new quarterback, the Razorbacks need those extra inches. Arkansas’ 40.3 yards per punt was more than seven yards behind SEC-leading Texas A&M. Those yards matter.

BETTER OR WORSE IN 2016?

With Hedlund returning as a sophomore with a lot of pressure kicks under his belt and a solid foursome of return specialists, things are looking up offensively. As long as Baker at least stays consistent with the boot, the Razorbacks’ special teams should see improvement in 2016.