FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas' most veteran quarterback will start the team's Southeastern Conference opener Saturday on the road at No. 9 Auburn, the defending SEC West champion.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. to be televised on the SEC Network (Resort Channel 79). The Tigers (2-1, 0-1) lost a top-12 matchup on Saturday, 22-21, against LSU (3-0).
Fourth-year junior Ty Storey, of Charleston did not play during a 44-17 loss to North Texas (3-0), of Conference USA, Saturday at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Third-year sophomore Cole Kelley started and played until midway through the third quarter. He was relieved in the second half by true freshmen Connor Noland, of Greenwood, and John Stephen Jones, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' grandson.
"Ty Storey will start for us as we take this thing forward," said Arkansas head coach Chad Morris, prefacing explaining why Storey vaults from not playing to starting. "We're going with Ty this week regardless of the practice, regardless of the way things go. I wanted him to know straight up from yesterday (Sunday) that, 'Look, we're going to go with you, and let's respond.'"
How did Storey respond?
"His exact words to me were, 'Let's go, coach,'" Morris said.
Storey and Kelley were preordained to split time in the first two games after neither asserted complete command during spring drills and the August preseason.
Kelley started the season-opener but Storey shined the most, throwing three touchdown passes during the 55-20 victory in Fayetteville over lower division Eastern Illinois (0-3). Storey started the next game against Colorado State (1-3) in Fort Collins, Colo. and had a 13-9 halftime lead, but he threw two interceptions on 5 of 13 passing.
On came Kelley, who responded with two third-quarter touchdown passes to build a 27-9 lead. Arkansas (1-2) would not score again in a 34-27 defeat.
Kelley was allowed to go solo on Saturday until his fourth interception led to a third field goal by former Razorback Cole Hedlund. The kick gave North Texas a 37-10 lead in the third quarter.
"I've been saying all along I wanted to get the freshmen some reps and that was an opportunity for us to do that," Morris said Monday. "I just thought that it's time to go with Ty and give him an even slate as he starts the (Auburn) game."
Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Joe Craddock, calling plays from the press box, said Morris before pulling Kelley informed him of the revised pecking order before pulling Kelley.
"Coach Morris told me on the headset he didn't feel it was gonna be fair to put Ty in when we were obviously down late in the third quarter," Craddock said. "He thought that was a good time to get those freshmen work and see what they could do. And that's what we did."
Noland and Jones showed promise as each reeled off a good run. Jones' was called by a holding penalty, but each threw an interception and Jones' was returned for a touchdown.
Craddock said both freshmen shrugged off nervousness and were quite poised for their impromptu debuts, but he joined Morris saying Storey is their guy against Auburn.
"One thing about Ty, like I said all along, is he works really hard every day and gives his teammates the best," Craddock said. "I've seen him really push other guys and lead and I think that the games he's gotten in, obviously he did some good things for us."
Regarding Razorbacks ailing from injuries, Morris said first-team senior weakside linebacker Dre Greenlaw, backup defensive end Dorian Gerald and receiver De'Vion Warren are "day-to-day." Greenlaw has been out with a sprained ankle since making 10 tackles in the first quarter of the Eastern Illinois game. Gerald missed the North Texas game with a sprained ankle.
Starting sophomore cornerback Chevin Calloway missed the North Texas game for "personal reasons," Morris said after Saturday's game. Calloway's status for Auburn seemed unclear on Monday.
"He's out on some personal family issues that he's dealing with and we're helping him through," Morris said.
Morris said kick returner Gary Cross is "doubtful" for Auburn because of an ankle injury he sustained against North Texas. The coach said he believes freshman receiver Michael Woods, who made four catches for 61 yards against North Texas, will be recovered to play against Auburn after suffering an injury on Saturday.
Morris said was pleased that fourth-year junior left tackle Colton Jackson, of Conway, and senior defensive end Randy Ramsey made their season debuts against North Texas. Jackson had been idled by July back surgery, while Ramsey was hamstrung by an August preseason hamstring strain.
The Razorbacks use Monday as their NCAA mandated off day and wage their most physical practice of the week today.
Arkansas' Sept. 29 SEC West game with the nationally No. 22 Texas A&M Aggies at the Dallas Cowboys' AT&T Stadium will be an early-bird special.
Kickoff in Arlington, Texas is set for 11 a.m. televised by ESPN.
Sports on 09/18/2018