Auburn’s Freeze expects Arkansas to provide biggest challenge yet for Tigers

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

FAYETTEVILLE – In the past two match-ups in the Arkansas-Auburn football series, the visiting team has walked out of the game with a win.

The visiting Razorbacks jumped to a 31-13 lead and beat the Tigers 41-27 in 2022 before Auburn cruised to a 48-10 blowout win in Fayetteville last season.

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze is hoping that trend changes this season when the Tigers (2-1) host Arkansas (2-1) Saturday at 2:30 p.m in a game that will be televised nationally by ESPN and is the SEC opener for both.

“Getting ready to step into conference play, it challenges you in a lot of ways, mentally and physically, in your preparation, knowing that you’re getting ready to play some of the best coach teams and best athletes and best rosters,” Freeze said. “So it’s something that you get into this league for and we’re looking forward to facing what I think is a very improved Arkansas team, for sure.”

Freeze was asked if he would have to get his team up for a team that it beat by 38 points last season.

“I hope I don’t,” Freeze said. “I haven’t brought that up. I think last year’s last year, and obviously they have drastically improved their roster and the tape speaks for itself. And when our kids see that, hopefully we have enough maturity to know that, you know, every game has a life of its own and sometimes they snowball in rare instances in this league.

“And that was one of those, but that’s not a common thing. And now they certainly are much, much better in their roster. And so I don’t think we have to convince our kids of that.”

Arkansas has played well on the road under Sam Pittman and Freeze is wary of that.

“…I think he’s one of the best guys in the business,” Freeze said. “But, boy, his teams play on the road extremely well. If you go back and look at the scores. So I think our kids know we’re in for an incredible challenge.”

Freeze expects Arkansas to be his team’s toughest foe of the young season.

“We haven’t been challenged like this,” Freeze said. “…A good football team that’s well-coached. They’re deep at some places and they look like an SEC football team, particularly the O-line, running backs, tight ends. The quarterback’s very, very dangerous.

“Big defensive line, the inside guys are huge. (Number) 40 (Landon Jackson) is a preseason all-SEC guy at defensive end. They replaced a couple linebackers, but these guys seem solid. The secondary, they’re going to challenge you.”

Freeze is impressed with the improvement of Arkansas’ offense with the additions of offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, quarterback Taylen Green, tailback Ja’Quiden Jackson and several portal additions on the offensive line.

“This quarterback is another one that’s going to run around and make a lot of plays,” Freeze said. “They’ve got a really good offensive scheme that makes you prepare for a lot of different things, and experienced coaches that have done this a long time.

“O-line is probably the most improved unit that I’ve seen this year with the guys they brought in from the portal. They are really, really improved in the offensive line.

“Defensively, they’re very similar to last year, a lot of returners. Probably better in the secondary a little bit. Front’s the same guys, one linebacker’s back, so it’s pretty similar defensively, and they’re playing really, really hard right now. But offensively, it’s a lot to deal with, with the way they’re using their quarterback in the run game and in the pass game, and the running backs are really, really solid with an improved O-line.”

Arkansas offensive coordinator and Auburn defensive coordinator DJ Durkin were in those same positions at Texas A&M last season.

“I haven’t really talked to D.J. much about that other than, you know, they obviously have some familiarity from their time together at a previous school,” Freeze said. “You know, I think Bobby is such a good offensive coach that he probably changes from school to school based upon the talent that he has. I think they look a little bit different here than they did at A&M.

“I did ask DJ if anything has changed and he says it’s very similar. What makes him (Petrino) so different typically has been the mixture of the pro-style offense with some of the college flair in it and doing it out of a lot of big sets with a lot of tight-ends that present extra gaps in the run game but he’s able to throw all of the three level routes and the play-actions off of it also.”

Freeze expects the chess match match between the two to be a classic.

“He (Petrino) adjusts just like all of us do, I guess, when you have some strengths or weaknesses,” Freeze said. “So I don’t know if their time together is advantageous for one or the other, maybe more advantageous for Bobby because I don’t think D.J. has changed a lot. But both will have good game plans, and both will have to make adjustments. So I don’t know that it’s a big, big deal. But certainly there is some familiarity.”

Auburn will start redshirt Hank Brown at quarterback for the second straight game after he took over for senior captain Payton Thorne, who was benched after throwing four interceptions in a 21-14 home loss to California in week two.

Brown was 17 of 35 passing for 235 yards and four touchdowns and Jarquez Hunter rushed 20 times for 152 yards in Auburn’s 45-19 win over visiting New Mexico last Saturday.

Freeze was asked if Brown, who was 3 of 5 passing for 96 yards and a score in the Tigers’ 73-3 season-opening win over Alabama A&M, was solidified as the started now.

“I’m not much on slack,” Freeze said. “He’s got to get it done. You have a veteran senior behind him in Payton (Thorne) that we still have belief in. But Hank looked poised. I don’t think the moments are too big for him now.”

Auburn also boasts former Little Rock Christian standout and true freshman Walker White in its quarterback room.

“He (White) and Hank are two of the best human beings,” Freeze said. “They’re in church with us every Sunday and are about the right things for our program. He (White) leads that scout team probably better than any scout team quarterback I’ve ever seen and wants to compete every single snap in that.

“You know, it’s hard to say how his development is coming right now in the season because, you know, you can’t get reps for everybody in your preparations for game. But I thought in spring, in the 15 practices we had, I thought he really came on and has a real chance to be a really good player.”

Photo courtesy of Auburn