Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

10/30/2010 at 10:42pm

Image by Mark Wagner

Linebacker Jerico Nelson runs back an interception 39 yards for a touchdown. Nelson led the team with seven tackles. He also returned punts in the 49-14 victory against Vanderbilt

This sounds familiar: Arkansas gives out the Crip Hall Award for the top performing senior in its annual homecoming game, and scanning the list of about 20 names offered few possibilities. Yes, we said that last year.

We also said it would bode well for the Razorbacks' future, that the best players in the game were underclassmen. The best one Saturday in the Hogs 49-14 win is the junior who next year will probably win the Crip Hall Award: outside linebacker Jerico Nelson.

Nelson, who led the team with seven tackles, deflected a Vanderbilt pass that ended up in the hands of senior safety Rudell Crim, whose 19-yard return to the Commodores 20 set up the Razorbacks' go-ahead touchdown. Nelson bookended the Hogs' dominant stretch of the game by picking off a Vanderbilt pass and returning it 39 yards for a touchdown.

In between, he and the Razorbacks pretty much snuffed every thing Vanderbilt attempted, which was what most people expected to see for 60 minutes. Vandy showed up with some trickery and excitement in its offense in the first 10 minutes with new coordinator Des Kitchings dialing up some unexpected twists, leading to a 14-6 Commodores lead.

Arkansas then bashed Vanderbilt 43-0 the rest of the way, the same score that Georgia hammered the 'Dores two weeks ago in Athens. Scoring just seven points in two weeks (South Carolina beat Vandy 21-7 in Nashville last week) led VU Coach Robbie Caldwell to make a change in playcallers, but ultimately the Commodores could do nothing after a couple of successful drives.

Tagged: Jerico Nelson, Bobby Petrino, Vanderbilt Commodores, Ryan Mallett