Arkansas fell to 2-5 and 4-15 overall under second-year coach Chad Morris.

After the game, Morris addressed reporters on hand at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. He discussed the play of QB Ben Hicks and the Hogs defense, an area where he saw positives after a rough start. Morris also talked about long-term roster management, executing RPOs and getting the ball to playmakers. Here are the highlights of what Morris said in his postgame press conference:

  • After “taking two haymakers out of the gate,” Morris saw defense stabilize. “… [F]or about 32 minutes or so, our defense was playing exceptional.”
  • On turnovers:  Team “not good enough” to survive four turnovers in a game.
  • On the fake punt: Arkansas worked on it for “a couple weeks.” Morris thought Hogs needed a spark.
  • On keeping Ben Hicks in: It wouldn’t be fair to put any other guys in that position late in the game. Morris later called Hicks “gritty” and “tough” facing tough Auburn defense.
  • On the UA offense: Need to execute, especially on RPOs.
  • On O’Grady: “I think we all know what kind of playmaker CJ is. … [W]e’ve got to find a way to get him the ball more.”
  • On playing young players: Plan is to get young players into games, but be smart about it. The staff doesn’t want to burn anyone’s redshirt for just a few snaps.