Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

9/9/2010 at 6:30pm

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas place kicker Zach Hocker didn’t get to attempt a field goal in the season opener. It might be a source of frustration if not for the fact that Hocker is still a little surprised the attempt would have been his anyway.

Hocker came to No. 14 Arkansas from Russellville where he had a successful career as a kicker and punter. Razorbacks coaches told him throughout the recruiting process that they intended him to compete for at punter and on kickoffs.

And that’s the way the preseason was headed until a couple weeks before camp opened.

So, you can understand why Hocker was just glad to get six extra point attempts. And he converted them all, a nice confidence boost for the freshman.

“Getting out there as a freshman and getting the nerves out of the way after that first PAT, it feels good,” Hocker said.

Expect to see Hocker get more than extra point work in the future. His strong leg impressed coaches and Petrino said on Wednesday that Hocker has hit from beyond 50 yards in practice.

“He’s got a big leg. The leg is not a problem,” special teams coordinator John L. Smith said. “It’s never going to be a problem with him. It’s just technical things.”

No Update
Petrino continued to be increasingly tight-lipped about player injuries in press conferences. Asked about the status of defensive lineman Pat Jones and linebacker Bret Harris, Petrino got a bit testy.

“I don’t have any update on them,” Petrino said. “Do I ever tell you? I am going to answer about the guys that practice. Next question.”

Petrino has shared injury updates in the past on some players, but not all. He seems to be enforcing the no practice = no comment rule more of late.

Goodin Out
ULM will not start top running back Frank Goodin, according to a report in the Monroe News Star. Goodin has been limited in practice while working on “recovery from a minor injury.”

Redshirt freshman Jyruss Edwards will start in Goodin’s place.

Reverse Psychology
Steady rain fell on Fayetteville during practices Tuesday and Wednesday. The Razorbacks worked outside.

Skies were clear on Thursday. Arkansas worked indoors.

Why?

“Just to mix it up,” Petrino said. “Sometimes that changes it up and then we came outside for special teams.”

Quotable
“It’s never perfect. We have a ways to go to get perfect.”
—Petrino when asked to evaluate how ‘Perfect Thursday’ went for the team.

Tagged: Bobby Petrino, Zach Hocker, Arkansas Razorbacks