Since an opening day win that probably was far closer than most considered comfortable, it’s been a week of doom and gloom over the state of the Arkansas offense.
Freshman wide receivers Treylon Burks and Trey Knox weren’t having it Tuesday in their first time talking to the media this season.
They are far more confident in this offense than the fans or the majority of media folk.
“We’re going to dominate,” Burks responded to a question, which drew a reaction from the interviewer.
Burks didn’t miss a beat.
“Just being honest with you,” he said.
It was the kind of candid reaction you don’t normally get from freshmen on their first trip into the media scrum. In case you don’t know that’s when a coach or player stands there and it’s usually about 10 people trying to get as close as possible.
And Burks is the quiet one.
Knox is much more animated, often doing a little dance during wide receiver drills in practice and he was all smiles talking with us Monday.
“We’re going to put a lot of points up in this game,” Knox said.
Knox had the longest catch of the day, a 38-yarder, but he also had a drop earlier that somebody brought up Monday. Earlier in the second quarter, Ben Hicks threw a pass over the middle to Knox … and he dropped it.
“We needed that one,” Knox said. “I didn’t think it was going to get through, but I should have been prepared for it. But it’s not going to happen again.”
This week, Razorback fans have questioned why Hicks is even starting at quarterback as Nick Starkel is in the position of what is often the most popular position … backup quarterback.
Yet, he throws a pass to Knox he didn’t think would get through, but somehow it did.
Injuries put the two highly-touted freshmen into the starting lineup in the season opener. But it’s just a preview, Knox thinks.
“It shows what we have coming in the future,” he said, with the customary smile.
There was a moment, though, when a lot of fans held their collective breath.
Burks took a helmet to the knee he had surgically repaired last October and he grabbed the knee on the Hogs’ sideline.
“It just scared me,” Burks said. “That’s the first time I got hit on my knee since I’ve had knee surgery.”
The game against Portland State was the first time he’d been in a live contest since suffering that knee injury.
“It was a little nerve-wracking,” Burks said of being back on the field for the first time.
Now all we have to do is get Razorback radio commentator Quinn Grovey to remember there’s only one Trey on the field when both of the freshmen are playing.
It’s Treylon Burks and Trey Knox.
Quinn, you’re confusing the folks in Warren.
