QB carousel continues for Razorbacks
There has been plenty of room for improvement in just about every phase of the game so far this season for the Arkansas Razorbacks, but the Hogs’ struggles have clearly been compounded by a lack of consistency at quarterback.
Three Arkansas quarterbacks threw a combined six interceptions in last Saturday’s 44-17 home loss to North Texas — four by sophomore starter Cole Kelley and one each by true freshman Connor Noland and John Stephen Jones.
Junior Ty Storey didn’t take a snap against the Mean Green but first-year Arkansas coach Chad Morris said Storey will start Saturday when the Razorbacks play on the road at Auburn.
“Ty Storey will start for us as we take this thing forward,” Morris announced at his weekly news conference.
Morris said Storey was healthy and available for the North Texas game, but Morris felt it would be unfair to put him on the field in what had turned into a rout. The Mean Green led 34-10 at halftime.
“We came into the game last week with the intent to settle with Cole being there, and that’s why we went with him in the second half. I wanted to see if we could work through some things,” Morris said.
“We got to a point in the second half, especially after the last interception, and they go down and kick a field goal that put them up 37-10. I just felt like Ty in that situation there would have been … I’ve been saying all along, I wanted to get the freshmen some reps, and that was an opportunity for us to do that. I just thought that it’s time to go with Ty and give him an even slate as he starts the game.
“Regardless of the practice, regardless of the way things go, I wanted him to know straight up from yesterday that, ‘Look, we’re going to go with you, and let’s respond. Now instead of putting you in to where you’re in a tough situation with the momentum not in our favor, how would you respond?'”
Storey had a strong performance in a season-opening victory over Eastern Illinois, coming off the bench to complete 12 of 17 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. But he struggled as Arkansas’ starter the following week, completing 5 of 13 passes for 36 yards with two interceptions in a loss to Colorado State.
