Wright bringing his ‘FBI,’ playmaking, to Carolina
When Jarius Wright was released last week by Minnesota, the feeling here was he wouldn’t be without a team for long.
Carolina offensive coordinator Norv Turner thought the same thing.
“His style really fits the way we’re going to go about doing things,” said Turner this week.
He spent two-and-a-half seasons coaching Wright in Minnesota.
“Very quick starter — explosive,” Turner said. “And he’s a very natural player in the slot. He’s been very successful in that area.”
Wright’s always been a natural, going all the way back to the sixth grade in Warren when you could look at him and tell he was going to be special.
Lumberjacks coach Bo Hembree told former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino that Wright’s football IQ was the best thing about him and after four seasons, Petrino talked about that a lot, too.
Wright has always been either making the big play or around when the big play happened. He trailed Cobi Hamilton down the sideline at AT&T Stadium against Texas A&M and fell on a fumble in the end zone for a score.
When Minnesota needed a Hail Mary in the playoffs against New Orleans this January, Wright was right there when they got one to advance to the NFC Championship game.
“My football intelligence has definitely helped me become a seven-year player in the NFL,” Wright said in a conference call Tuesday.
That’s not bragging, either. That’s not what Wright does, but he’s heard it from every coach he’s ever played for.
Wright is humble. He was raised by an Arkansas state trooper and a schoolteacher and he is keenly aware of his Warren roots, being the first player from that town to be drafted by an NFL team.
When the Vikings let him go last week, which was more a salary cap and numbers game at wide receiver, he wasn’t too worried, either. He may be humble, but he has a quiet determination.
He wasn’t going to pout about it, thanks to his upbringing.
“I hung out with the older kids. My brother is eight years older than me, so I really didn’t get a chance to pout and cry because they would make fun of me if I did,” Wright said. “I didn’t want to be that kid.”
Oh, and he’s confident about what he can do for an NFL team.
“When the ball is thrown to me, regardless of whether I have a defender right on me or if it’s not a good throw, I usually come up with the ball — knock on wood,” he said Tuesday.
That is exactly what Turner wanted.
“We got him matched up in one-on-one situations (at Minnesota), and I think he’s going to win most of those,” Turner said. “And he made a lot of big plays for us in the fourth quarter.”
With Turner, Wright knows exactly what he’s getting and that was a big part of wanting to play for the Panthers.
“”Just playing for Norv and knowing all the experience that Norv has in this league, he’s been able to get it done as offensive coordinator pretty much anywhere he’s gone,” Wright said. “That’s one thing that persuaded me.
“The other thing is that Norv also knows me; Norv knows what to expect from me. Us getting together and us teaming up, you definitely have a player and a coach that know each other.”
It helps they have Cam Newton at quarterback.
“The sky is the limit,” Wright said.
For Panther fans, that’s some good news. with the team reportedly close to being sold for a record multi-billion dollar amount, bringing in a clutch third-down receiver for Newton is something positive.
“”I don’t know him that well,” Wright said of Newton. “I’ve had a chance to play against him three or four times now, so I know he’s one heck of a player.
“What he brings to the game — whether he’s throwing the ball or running the ball — is something I definitely want to pair my talents up with.”
The Panthers do get a player that makes big plays with his smarts as much as his legs.
“Besides just athletic ability, I like to call it FBI … my football intelligence,” Wright said. “Just being in the right place at the right time, knowing your quarterback, knowing how they like to throw the ball and where they like to put the ball.
“Being on the same page with your quarterback, being able to find an open spot in the zone or if it’s man coverage, keep running.”
Razorback fans saw during a four-year stretch, including his final two years where the Hogs posted a 21-5 record, including a No. 5 ranking after a Cotton Bowl win over Kansas State following the 2011 season.
Panther fans are hoping for the same result.
Arkansas starts road trip with loss to Central Florida
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas opened a three-match road swing with a 5-2 loss Wednesday night against Central Florida at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Florida.
The night did not get off to a good start for Arkansas, as the Razorbacks fell behind early, dropping the doubles point.
Adam Sanjurjo and Oscar Mesquida fell to No. 7 Korey Lovett and Eero Vasa 6-3, while Jose Salazar and Alex Reco lost to Alan Rubio and Enrique Paya 6-4 to give UCF the early advantage.
Brothers Jose and Pedro Alonso led Danny Kerznerman and Gabriel DeCamps 5-4 at the clinch.
To start singles, Salazar was able to get Arkansas on the board and tie the match at 1-1, as the senior defeated Lovett 6-3, 6-2.
The Razorbacks and Knights split the next two courts, as Sanjurjo fell to DeCamps 6-4, 6-2, while Razorback freshman Josh Howard-Tripp defeated Mikhail Sokolovskiy 6-3, 6-3 to even things at 2-2.
UCF took the next three courts and cruised to a 5-2 win.
Reco fell to Vasa 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), while Mesquida lose to Rubio in three sets, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 to clinch the match for the Knights.
After the clinch, Alonso fell to Kerznerman 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.
Arkansas will quickly get back into conference action, as the Razorbacks will then travel north to Columbia, South Carolina, for a matchup with the South Carolina Gamecocks on Friday at 3:30 p.m.
The Razorbacks will close out the road trip with a match in Gainesville, Florida, on Sunday, as Arkansas takes on the No. 9 Florida Gators at 11 a.m.
Central Florida 5, Arkansas 2
Singles Results – Order of finish (1,2,4,5,3,6)
1. #65 Jose Salazar (AR) def. Korey Lovett (UCF-M) 6-3, 6-2
2. Gabriel DeCamps (UCF-M) def. Adam Sanjurjo (AR) 6-4, 6-2
3. Alan Rubio (UCF-M) def. Oscar Mesquida (AR) 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
4. Josh Howard-Tripp (AR) def. Mikhail Sokolovskiy (UCF-M) 6-3, 6-3
5. Eero Vasa (UCF-M) def. Alex Reco (AR) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
6. Danny Kerznerman (UCF-M) def. Pedro Alonso (AR) 7-5, 3-6, 6-3
Doubles Results – Order of finish (1,2)
1. #7 Korey Lovett/Eero Vasa (UCF) def. Adam Sanjurjo/Oscar Mesquida (AR) 6-3
2. Alan Rubio/Enrique Paya (UCF) def. Jose Salazar/Alex Reco (AR) 6-4
3. Jose Alonso/Pedro Alonso (AR) vs. Danny Kerznerman/Gabriel DeCamps (UCF) 5-4, unfinished
Kjerstad launches pair of homers in loss to Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Arkansas saw its six-game winning streak come to an end on Wednesday afternoon, as UNC Charlotte scored six unanswered runs to capture a 6-3 victory at Hayes Stadium.
The Razorbacks (16-5) jumped on the 49ers (12-8) in the second inning when Dominic Fletcher lined a one-out single to right field and Heston Kjerstad followed two batters later and launched his fourth home run of the year to right field to give Arkansas a 2-0 lead.
Kjerstad would dial up the power again in the ninth inning, recording his second blast of the day to give the Razorbacks 41 home runs on the year, the most of any team in the country.
The freshman recorded his team-leading sixth multi-RBI game of the year and became the fifth Razorback to hit multiple home runs in a game this season.
The long ball wouldn’t be enough at the plate however, as Arkansas managed just five hits outside of Kjerstad’s big day and Charlotte scored single runs in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings to take a 3-2 lead.
The 49ers would bat around in the eighth frame, benefiting from three Razorback errors and pushing three unearned runs across to create all the offense they would need in the 6-3 victory.
Barrett Loseke made his second start of the year on the mound and did so in dominating fashion, lasting 3.0 innings and not allowing a hit. He faced 10 batters and recorded a career-high eight strikeouts.
Head Coach Dave Van Horn sent nine pitchers to the mound on the day, including five during the eighth inning. Kole Ramage (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing the go-ahead run in the seventh frame.
Up Next
The Razorbacks continue their season-long eight-game road swing this weekend, traveling to Gainesville, Florida, for a top-five match-up against the Gators.
Arkansas and No. 2 Florida will get national exposure with Saturday’s game airing on ESPN and Sunday’s contest on SEC Network.
Hogs add to homer total in doubleheader sweep
FAYETTEVILLE — Junior Katie Warrick continued her recent hot streak Tuesday afternoon with five hits including two home run to help the Razorbacks sweep a midweek doubleheader against UT Arlington.
Overall, Arkansas combined to hit four homers in the two-game set with three in the opener.
With the two wins, the Razorbacks are now 23-5 this season with a 14-0 mark on their home field at Bogle Park.
Up Next
Arkansas’ three-week home stand continues Friday with game one of the team’s SEC home opener against Missouri.
First pitch of the series is scheduled for 6 p.m.
In Monday’s initial release of the NCAA RPI, both teams are situated within the top 30. Admission at Bogle Park is free with gates opening one hour prior to first pitch.
Game 1: Arkansas 6, UT Arlington 0 | Box Score
In the opener, the first of three home runs came off the bat of junior Ashley Diaz who hit a two-run shot in the first inning.
It also marked the 21st home run of her career which is tied for the seventh most in program history.
The Razorbacks third run scored when senior Loren Krzysko drew a bases-loaded walk in the third inning.
Meanwhile, freshman Mary Haff carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning before giving up a two-out single to center.
She shook off the hit and retired the final seven hitters of the game. Haff finished the game with seven strikeouts, her ninth appearance of the season with seven or more strikeouts.
The complete-game shutout also marked her fourth one-hit outing as a starter.
Sophomore Aly Manzo led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a solo home run to right center, the first big fly of her career.
The offense generated another run in the fifth — an unearned tally — to push Arkansas’ lead to 5-0. With two hits already in the game, Warrick stepped to the plate and powered a solo shot to right field to push the game to its eventual final score.
Game 2: Arkansas 10, UT Arlington 6 | Box Score
The Razorbacks reached double figures for the fourth time this season, and for the first time since a 12-run outburst against Dartmouth on March 2.
After a scoreless first frame, Arkansas plated a run in each of the next two innings behind an RBI groundout by Kayla Green in the second and an RBI single by Diaz in the third.
A four-run spot in the fourth inning extended the lead with the big hit coming on a two-run triple by Autumn Buczek.
The visitors cut their deficit in half with three runs in the top of the fifth but Arkansas answered by getting two of those runs back in the home half of the inning.
The Razorbacks’ final two runs on one swing by Warrick, another opposite-field shot to right. Buczek who was 3-for-4 in the game scored on the play. Warrick is on an eight-game hit streak with all six of her home runs coming in that stretch.
Caroline Hedgcock entered the game to start the seventh but after giving up a two-run homer and walk, starter Autumn Storms re-entered to complete the game.
She retired the three hitters she faced including a groundout to third to end the game. Storms finished the outing with seven strikeouts while allowing just four hits in seven innings.
