Opponent Scouting Report: Arkansas Razorbacks Offense, Position-By-Position

Nov 9, 2013; Oxford, MS, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Brandon Allen (10) prepares to take snap during the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterback

The good news for Arkansas is they return their starting quarterback from last season, which immediately gives them one of the most experienced signal callers in the SEC. The bad news is that Brandon Allen completed only 47.7% of his passes in conference and just 49.6% total. Allen’s passing efficiency was the worst among all SEC starting quarterbacks.

The season started well enough for Allen last year. Across the team’s first three games, Allen threw for 388 yards, five touchdowns and recorded just one interception. It is no surprise that the Razorbacks won those three games. Unfortunately for the quarterback, and for the Hogs, Allen suffered a shoulder injury in the third game.

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Allen missed the game against Rutgers, which was the first of Arkansas’ nine consecutive losses. He returned to start the SEC opener against Texas A&M, but his shoulder hindered his play the rest of the year. Allen finished the season with 1,552 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and threw ten picks. He completed 128 of 258 passes in 12 games.

Despite his struggles, Allen established himself as the unquestioned leader of the offense. He quickly became the undisputed starting quarterback in spring practice, which allowed the coaching staff to move 2013 backup AJ Derby to tight end and redshirt freshman Damon Mitchell to wide receiver.

This year’s backup will be Brandon’s brother Austin Allen. The younger Allen is a redshirt freshman, and while he obviously does not have game experience at Arkansas, Allen threw for 139 yards and two touchdowns in the spring game. The third stringer will be Rafe Peavey, who is probably the quarterback of the future. A top 20 pocket passer recruit from Missouri, Peavey was an early enrollee that participated in spring practice.