Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

11/7/2011 at 4:00pm

Image by Mark Wagner

Dennis Johnson was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week.

News and notes from Monday’s Arkansas football media availability …

I. Rare Company
Dennis Johnson has won another SEC player of the week honor. It’s his fifth as a Razorback, putting him in rare company.

Johnson, who was named the top special teams performer for the weekend, joins former Razorback great Darren McFadden as a five-time winner. Johnson returned a kick 98 yards for a touchdown, plus had another return for 33 yards and 122 yards of total offense.

McFadden’s wins came as freshman of the week (twice, 2005), co-offensive (2006) and offensive player (twice, 2007). Johnson has been freshman of the week (2008), co-special teams (2009), special teams (2009), offense (2011) and special teams (2011).

Coach Bobby Petrino said he is hopeful Johnson can follow up with another big performance. Consistency in practice has not been a strong suit for Johnson in the past, but Petrino sees improvement there.

“I think he’s worked extremely hard at that and I think coach [Tim] Horton’s done a really nice job with him on just coming to work each day, have a good attitude, a smile on your face and go out and work hard,” Petrino said. “Those guys [running backs] push each other hard. They get out on the practice field. They all want that rep. So there’s not a lot of room for not coming out and working hard.”

II. Feeling Good
Jake Bequette looked a lot more like himself in Saturday’s 44-28 victory against South Carolina. And he obviously felt a lot more like himself in a performance that included four tackles and three sacks and resulted in SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Bequette said his health was the best its been since the second week of the season when he injured his hamstring against New Mexico. Bequette was an all-SEC preseason pick, but hadn’t looked the part since the injury.

“It felt good to go out there and make some plays on the edge,” Bequette said. “It was definitely the best I’ve felt since the New Mexico game. I’m still getting there, but I definitely felt more like myself.”

Petrino said Bequette’s presence was “really disruptive” to the South Carolina offense. 

III. Earthquake Explanation
An earthquake could be felt in Northwest Arkansas around 10:50 Saturday night. Coach Bobby Petrino wondered if perhaps the quake didn’t actually occur a little sooner.

Maybe, Petrino suggested with a laugh, the earth was moving when Cobi Hamilton dropped a sure touchdown catch in the end zone.

“Cobi Hamilton does not drop passes,” Petrino said. “Ever. So I bet that’s when the earthquake hit.” 

Petrino actually did not feel the earthquake.

Speaking Out
“It does encourage me more to know my last home game here is going to be sold out. We are going to try and put on a show for our fans.”
—Wide receiver Jarius Wright on Saturday’s 5 p.m. game against Tennessee being sold out.

Tagged: Tennessee Volunteers, South Carolina Gamecocks, Arkansas Razorbacks, Bobby Petrino, Dennis Johnson, Darren McFadden, Jake Bequette, Jarius Wright