When searching for the game-changing, momentum-swinging play in Saturday’s Arkansas’ game, one didn’t have to look too far.

It came on the opening kickoff for the Razorbacks and before we discuss the implications of Korliss Marshall’s electrifying return, here’s the play.

Normally, I would discuss the details of the play as they unfold, breaking down exactly what went right or what went wrong in some cases. However, on this return that’s not really needed. It’s pretty simple actually as Marshall fields the opening kickoff at the three-yard line and gets a tremendous running lane, thanks to some terrific blocking downfield by the special teams unit. Wide receiver Keon Hatcher gets in on the action, providing a key block at about the 39-yard line. By then, it was off to the races for Marshall and with his speed, it’s usually him that’s winning the races.

Aside for the spectacular highlight, Marshall’s kickoff return showed three very important things Saturday night:

  1. Marshall’s speed is unparalleled on Arkansas – Everyone knows about the bruising running style of Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams, but it’s Marshall’s name that often gets lost in the shuffle. Just how dynamic is the sophomore running back? Head coach Bret Bielema called him “arguably the most explosive player in his coaching career” on the Paul Finebaum Show earlier this month. And it was this electrifying return that best incapsulates just how fast and game-changing Marshall can be with the ball in his hands. Arkansas often is thrown in with the slower, more physical teams, but make no mistake about it – the Hogs have SEC speed and it begins with Korliss Marshall.
  2. Korliss finally makes an impact – Last season, Marshall showed flashes of his big-play potential, most notably on an 87-yard return against Auburn, but the sophomore had been largely unimpressive so far this season. In the season-opener, Marshall started off strong against Auburn, carrying the ball for 45 yards in the first half. However, an arm injury took him out of the game and he was never as effective in the second half. Then, with questions about his ball security, Bielema had focused the running game mostly on Collins and Williams with Marshall only getting five carries for 13 yards in the Hogs’ 438 rushing yard performance against Texas Tech last season. So Saturday’s kickoff return was finally Marshall’s first tangible impact on the Hogs’ 2014 season. No one can question how explosive he is, but rather it’s a matter of if he’ll get the ball enough down the line to make an impact. If he keeps pulling off similar plays against the likes of Texas A&M next weekend, Arkansas’ offense just catapulted to another level.
  3. Arkansas was all business – All week long, Arkansas received the praises of the masses for their dismantling 49-28 victory over Texas Tech. Suddenly, the Hogs were no longer one of the bottom feeders of the SEC, but an improved team that could surprise the top teams in the conference. Unfortunately for the Hogs, they faced a tough task with Northern Illinois coming in to play and then a huge SEC showdown with Texas A&M the week after that. Too many times, we’ve seen teams better than Arkansas fall prey to a trap game like the Hogs’ matchup with NIU. That’s why Marshall’s return was such a statement for the Hogs. They were clearly focused on the task in front of them and weren’t looking ahead to the Aggies. Good teams aren’t affected by trap games and it was on the first play where the Razorbacks showed they weren’t going to let this game slip away. Marshall took the return 97 yards and Arkansas never looked back.