Following a heartbreaking 13-10 loss to Alabama last weekend, the Commodores aim to capture their first victory in 2006 in their home opener against the Razorbacks of the University of Arkansas on Saturday.
The Razorbacks shut out the opposition in their home opener, soundly defeating Utah State by a score of 20-0, and thus leveling their season record at 1-1. Sophomore running back Darren McFadden rushed for 184 yards on just 20 carries, reasserting his position at the center of the Arkansas offense. Last season’s Southeastern Conference freshman of the year, McFadden has been named to the 2006 Preseason All-America Team.
Standing in McFadden’s way will be the Commodores’ junior linebacker, Jonathan Goff, who in just two games has proved himself to be more than deserving of national recognition. Touted as the best junior linebacker in the nation by ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr., Goff currently leads the SEC in solo tackles (20), total tackles (27) and forced fumbles (2).
“McFadden is a very talented runner,” coach Bobby Johnson said. “If there is a hole, he is good enough to hit it. It’s very important that we tackle well, and Jonathan is a very important part of our defense. He has been stepping up and doing exactly what we have needed him to do.”
Taking the snaps for the Razorbacks and making only his second collegiate start will be freshman quarterback Mitch Mustain. Having stolen the starting job from junior Robert Johnson just one week prior, Mustain completed nine of 17 passes against Utah State, throwing for 119 yards and a touchdown.
It comes as no surprise that Mustain slipped so easily into his new role as the leader of the Arkansas offense—he has been running that exact offense for years. Gus Malzahn, hired in the offseason as the Razorbacks’ new offensive coordinator, was Mustain’s coach at Springdale High School in Springdale, Ark.
“Mustain has been running this offense for a very long time,” Johnson said. “I don’t think we are going to find him in a situation in which he is going to make a bunch of mental errors. We are expecting a good performance out of him.”
In their last meeting, the Commodores defeated the Razorbacks 28-24 on the strength of a pair of fourth quarter touchdown drives orchestrated by quarterback Jay Cutler. Recently, the Commodores have struggled in their seasonal debuts at Vanderbilt Stadium. Last year’s 31-23 victory over Ole Miss snapped a losing trend in home openers dating back to 2002.
Having made great strides on both offense and defense in week two, however, the Commodores are confident that they will continue to improve both their overall caliber of play as well as their standing in the SEC.
Crucial to the Commodores’ success will be the play of the offensive line, led by tackle Brian Stamper. After allowing six sacks in the season opener at Michigan, the offensive line was impenetrable against Alabama, permitting quarterback Chris Nickson to complete 15 of 23 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown.
“It was great to see them come together as a unit and execute the things that we ask them to do,” Nickson said. “They have been doing a great job.”
The steadily improving play of running back Cassen Jackson-Garrison, who rushed for 42 yards on nine carries against Alabama after seeing only limited action at Michigan, also serves to take some of the pressure off of Nickson’s shoulders.
“Cassen is a vital part of this team,” Nickson said. “He’s going to take a lot of the pressure off of me on Saturday. If he gets loose, it’s going to be a great day.”
