ARKANSAS
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas coach Chad Morris announced Cole Kelley as the starting quarterback Saturday against Eastern Illinois. Does that mean Arkansas’ quarterback competition is finished? Not at all.
Morris stated junior Ty Storey — Kelley’s top competitor — will also play in the 2018 season opener.
“We felt going into this first game that Cole had earned that right to start,” Morris said. “It doesn’t say that he’s the finisher, but he’s the starter. Ty is going to play. Regardless, if Ty had started, Cole was going to play.”
Based on the message delivered by Morris, it sounds like Kelley is receiving the first opportunity to start by default more than anything.
Kelley, a 6-7 sophomore, beat out Storey to become the backup to Austin Allen last season. When Allen missed four games with a shoulder injury, Kelley filled in and led the Hogs to a 2-2 record. He passed for 1,038 yards with 8 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.
That experience made him the most logical option to start in Morris’ first season. Kelley failed to gain firm control of the job, though. It’s seemingly for that reason Morris wants to see other quarterbacks play and won’t concede to the idea of Kelley being the top option past Week 1.
QB1. @ColeKelley10 pic.twitter.com/3Nt42ln2NE
— Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) August 27, 2018
“The thing we were looking for was consistency. And consistency over a long period of time,” Morris said. “I was really in hopes that there would be a clear-cut, boom, here it is, it was evident from the first scrimmage. We didn’t get that. We got a really good, healthy competition at that position.
“This is by no stretch of the imagination saying this is a lifetime contract. I shared that with Cole last night. You don’t have a lifetime contract. Your job is to get the ball in the end zone.”
The lack of consistency from Kelley and Storey also left the opportunity for playing time open to a trio of freshmen — Daulton Hyatt, Connor Noland and John Stephen Jones. Hyatt, who redshirted last season, worked primarily with the scout team during the Hogs’ final preseason scrimmage last Saturday. Morris says Noland and Jones, both true freshmen, are still being groomed to play at some point this season. The new redshirt rule allows both to participate in up to four games and still redshirt.
For at least this week, this is Kelley’s job to lose. There is little margin for error, though, as Morris remains set on keeping other options in consideration.
I hope you do more writing for this site trent, I always liked your stuff on sec country. Keep up the good work!
I appreciate that! The plan is for me to contribute at least a couple stories here each week throughout the season.
I agree Trent….nice take.
Cole Kelley is going to get hurt. No, I DO NOT wish him to get hurt, and I hope I’m wrong. But he is too big and too slow. The man simply can’t scramble or run and everyone knows how to take down a 6’7 dude… go for the knees every time. He’s not going to last. He’s too tall and weighs too much to survive at the QB position. He’s going to get chewed up.
For those who’ll play the Jared Lorenzen card, I’d have to say that dude was one in a million. Not because he was huge, but because he could move his weight around like he was only 200lbs. Not Cole Kelley. His height and weight will work against him. Again, I hope I’m wrong. I hope he doesn’t get hurt. But I’ve been watching football for long enough to know what size works at QB and what doesn’t.
sometimes its better to keep your mouth shut than open it and remove all doubt that you no nothing about football.
*know
lol FAIL. AGAIN
Kelley lost a bunch of weight this season so his ability should be much improved. Having a dual threat is cool, but being fast isnt a prerequisite of greatness. Tom Brady and Payton Manning are excellent examples
I just don’t see it. There’s a threshold, I believe. Once a QB crosses that size threshold, those headhunters on defense are going to have a field day. Expect some nightmarish hits. To his credit, he is a huge dude and can probably take one hell of a hit because of it.
He is faster that people think. He’s big, has a cannon, and is mobile enough. More importantly for Arkansas and the questionable O-line, he is durable. He proved that last year. BTW Bunker Buster, how’d the Chad Kelly & Shea Patterson injuries treat you? How long has Ben Roethlisberger been in the NFL? He’s 36 and has been in since 2004. Not saying he’s big been, just stating your prototype size argument isn’t necessarily valid. Tua at Bama certainly doesn’t meet any metric of a prototypical QB…but does that matter?
How did the Kelly/Patterson injuries treat me? What? Just because I said Kelley is too big doesn’t mean I’m saying smaller QBs can’t get injured. Because you’re taking a nonsensical position, your argument is invalid.
I’m just going to let things play out. Like I said before, I hope he doesn’t get injured, even if it means you’ll prove me right. I’ll happily accept correction if it means he stays healthy. I just don’t see how his knees or ankles are going to survive.
Ben Rothesberger says “Hey!” Oh and you might want to look up Kelley trucking would be tacklers and get back to us.
Alright, man. I hear ya. Just watch. All’s I’m gonna say. Kelley isn’t going to last to Week 7. If he does somehow miraculously survive through Week 7, look for his banged up ass to be throwing 2-3 picks per game for the rest of the season. I’m telling you, pass rushers love them some big slow QBs.
He scored 4 touchdowns on your Rebel/Black Bear/Landsharks. Three throwing and one rushing but yeah…ok.
That’s COMPLETELY irrelevant. Who taught you how to debate? Let’s just end this before you end up in tears.
Awwww….Bunghole Buster has gotten his panties all in a wad.
You changed the subject completely. It went from your QBs seasonal performance to you staking your entire argument on how well he did in ONE game.
Apples and oranges. Speaking of panties in a wad, I believe it was you who’s taking this discussion personal. You got offended because 1) he’s Arkansas QB, and 2) you’re afraid that I’m right and you’re not mature enough to know the difference between facts and personal attacks!
No I was on point. You made the statement that “pass rushers love em some big slow quarterbacks” I posted what Cole Kelley did against your pass rushers last year.
You started the personal attacks by saying you were going to make me cry. You got all upset with my response and here we are.
Your complete ignorance and lack of understanding is on display again… And if I were you, I wouldn’t tell others a damn thing about debating when you have a willfully ignorant stance.
From an Alabama newspaper after their game against Arkansas in 2017:
“Alabama linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton talks about the size of Arkansas quarterback Cole Kelley, who’s listed at 6-foot-7 and 268 pounds.
KAMARRI DARRINGTON
TUSCALOOSA — Alabama defenders didn’t have a lot of fun trying to take Arkansas quarterback Cole Kelley down on Saturday.
“He’s the biggest quarterback I’ve ever seen,” Hamilton said. “He was definitely tough. One guy could have a hand on him, but he could still throw the ball away. We just needed as many people as possible to get him down to the ground.”
I will take the experience and words of an Alabama LB over a jar of mayonnaise tongue punching a keyboard in an effort to troll another Fanbase with their extreme stupidity.
Don’t sleep on Arkansas, this is a team that is no longer being mismanaged by an alcoholic. Yet despite that, Bret had your team’s number… Morris and Chavis are going to break wreak havoc your cheating program.
Wow, that escalated. Let’s just let the season play out.
By the way, Unknown Nobody, you didn’t have to create another account to continue this discussion. Did you really think making it appear as though more people joining the discussion against me would somehow make you correct in your argument?
Is there anything in any of my responses that is clost to the style and tone of that guys response? No but of course a mental midget like you would never get that.
Same style of writing. You’re the same person as that other account.
Don’t feel bad guys this paranoid prick thinks I’m 5 different posters.
lol same this guy still has that racist profile picture… His house (BarnyardWithWifi) is draped in confederate sh*t…
Great job as usual. Hopefully you will be able to do your recruiting reports also.
@BB
Using facts to correct your absolute stupidity then you moan that it could only be the poster making up another account to combat your willful moronic posts… You really are this stupid.
You are a horrible troll who has ZERO knowledge of football and when you get your head handed to you, you start whining that Unknown made up another account to combat your moronic posts? You. Are. Pathetic.
lol….
Mayor, hope y’all have good Season. Interested in seeing what y’all do with your new Coach as well.
Cheers man!
Thank you TGOBB. We are excited to see what happens.
*gargle gargle gargle*
Whatever you say, Unknown Nobody. lol
Bunghole lives in a fantasy world.
The Mayor there must be one of my many accounts created to attack you.
You are the only person on here that sets up new accounts, ArmyGuy.
Screw that lid on tighter Miracle Whip, but keep tongue punching that keyboard you half wit.
Again, you get your dumb ass handed to you by multiple posters but it’s just one guy? I bet you’re a MAGAt too. Not very bright and easily mislead… I will happily be respectful to other posters of other fan bases who want to have an intelligent discussion but that leaves out now doesn’t it.
MAGAt.
lol df I walk into?!?!
There is like 10 different screen names and about 3 posters in these forums….. SDS is going to $hit fast…
No… Just one idiot from OM. A lot of posters are tired of his pathetic attempts at trolling. I would much rather have intelligent conversations with competent Fans from other schools. Are you one of those, if so that would be great. But when one is losing their argument, make something up and see if it distracts from their absolute moronic take on Cole Kelley.
But let’s talk about the projecting that this response could only be from multiple accounts bs… Y’all can leave your Q conspiracy crap at home. I despised this moron from last year and evidently so do a lot of others. Occam’s Razor. No tin hats.
Let’s talk real football and enjoy the season.
Look at your post history…. You dont “talk real football”
Praise Jesus, you caught that. Well done. Like you said, SDS is going to hell in a handbasket with all these douches and their new screen names. No way people like VolTrainConductor, Rebel_Landsharks, Bulldawgrock, olemissforever, or ArmyGuy just up and disappear. They’re too fanatical to just give up rolling in the SDS mud.
It’s only a matter of time before this one drops “Delumptard” or ends every post in “you’re welcome”. Then we’ll know for sure who it is.
Unfortunately I have to deal with pigheaded idiots like yourself… I know what I’m dealing with now. Good job.
@BB Don’t post absolutely horrible takes and people won’t rip your head off… Are you such a lonely pos that you have to come to another Fanbase’s comment section to get someone to play with you? Are you going to follow “BamaTime” around like a lost puppy swooning and drooling over his words?
I countered your DA posts with facts, Kelley is tough to take down, I provided the very words of a Bama LB to back that up… The Guy led a comeback against your pos cheating program despite having to play for an alcoholic coach and beat them. Tricked several of your defensive players. You have nothing of substance to discuss.
And BT, I can’t help it if you have comprehension problems. But we both know that public education system has a lot to be desired in Bama. It’s obvious your parents need to ask for a tax refund.
Y’all stand by while I switch accounts… *eyeroll
Enjoy your tinfoil hats ladies.
It’s not hard to spot a dumba$$ that just started an account to respond to his other account. You’re providing nothing of worth in this comment section. You’re rambling on about others being a troll or what not but that is all you have done since you started your new account……
If you wanted to talk football like you say then you would have at least posted on another topic and tried to actually talk football. You’re just another troll account to go with the numerous troll accounts that have been popping up lately……
You seem awfully rattled by this discussion. Might I have struck a cord using a little truth? It appears so!