Warren emerges as Hog playmaker

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas sophomore receiver De'Vion Warren caught his first career college touchdown reception on Saturday during the Razorbacks' 65-31 loss to No. 1 Alabama at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

"It was amazing," Warren said. "As you saw, I didn't know what to do, so we just celebrated with my teammates as we always do. Celebrate as a brotherhood. That's it."

Warren, from Monroe, La., previously scored on a 100-yard return for the team's final score in last year's 52-20 Southeastern Conference loss to Auburn in Fayetteville, He almost repeated the feat on Saturday with a 78-yard kick return, which set up the game's final scoring drive capped by 6-7 Cole Kelley's quarterback sneak.

It was Warren's only return in the game after calling for fair catches on the others. The fair catch rule in college football places the ball at the 25-yard line on kickoffs.

"I have to understand Alabama kicks you high and puts a lot of air under the ball," Warren said. "We've got to be smart about it and make sure the offense has great field position when they get on the field."

The final kick set him up for the return.

"Yeah I got one pretty good return,,"Warren said. "We blocked it well and coach (Chad Morris) said, 'We've got nothing to lose. Come on, let's get some motivation and return one.'

"We blocked it good as a team. It was good to be able to make an impact like that in the game, even late like it was."

Warren could have an increasing role in the team's receivers rotation starting with Saturday's home game for Arkansas (1-5, 0-3) at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock against Ole Miss (4-2, 0-2). The game will be broadcast at 6:30 on the SEC Network (Resort Channel 79).

"Only the time of the game plan will tell," Warren said. "I just try to play my role as the week goes on. Just be 100-percent every practice. I'll just continue to grind like I always have and always will and maybe hopefully I'll move up."

The role increase seems likely with Warren now recovered from the foot injury that caused him to miss games earlier in the season.

"De'Vion is just really now back to full speed," Morris said. "He's such an electric return guy and does some really good things when we get the ball out on the edge to him. We need to continue to find ways to get him the ball."

Offensive coordinator Joe Craddock said this week he knows the numbers to call now that Warren is fit to answer.

"Ever since the spring, we've been very excited about De'Vion and the things that he brings to the table," Craddock said. "Obviously, getting off the injury and missing a couple of games, we had to get him back in shape, make sure he knew what he was doing, get some reps in practice. We felt like this was a game to get him in there a little bit, see what he could do."

"I think he's a guy we can build on," Craddock added. "He's that playmaker, a guy that can be deadly with the ball in his hands and I think he'll continue to get better as he goes."

Arkansas will face Ole Miss in SEC action on Saturday after hosting Florida A&M in Little Rock last season.

"I like playing anywhere, actually," Warren said. "It's football. You've got to love it, wherever it's played. We could play in Alaska. Just being able to go out there and play."

Saturday night may be more significant for senior nickel back Kevin Richardson, of nearby Jacksonville. Richardson was a member of the team when Arkansas played its last SEC game at War Memorial Stadium, a 45-32 loss to Georgia in 2014.

The Hogs have since lost, 16-12, to Toledo of the Mid-American Conference in 2015 before clobbering Football Championship Subdivision teams the past two season. They defeated Alcorn State, 52-10, in 2016 and Florida A&M, 49-7, in 2017.

"I'm really excited to go down there and see War Memorial under the lights again with a Razorback (SEC) game," Richardson said. "It's been forever."

Arkansas' Thursday practice was completely closed. The team will fly today to Little Rock. The Rebels are expected to travel to Little Rock today from Oxford, Miss., by bus.

Sports on 10/12/2018

Upcoming Events