Jacolby Criswell, a redshirt junior quarterback, gained playing time last week behind KJ Jefferson, according to University of Arkansas coach Sam Pittman.
The Hogs’ lone touchdown in a 48-10 loss to Auburn came from an 11-yard scoring pass to Isaac TeSlaa after Criswell completed two of four passes for 19 yards with one interception.
Pittman pointed out that in his two games thus far this season, Criswell has thrown touchdown passes in both of them, including a 14-yard pass to Davion Dozier in the season’s opening 56-13 victory over Western Carolina.
Criswell, who started his career at North Carolina after graduating from Morrilton High School, has received appreciation from his teammates for his practice efforts and sparse game participation.
Receiver Andrew Armstrong described Jackson as “very dialed in, locked in” while he’s on the field. “You’ve all witnessed him toss the ball. He has unmatched ball throwing ability. His arms are among the strongest I’ve ever seen.
“He is a boss. If you’re not sure where you’re supposed to be when he arrives on the field, he can help you line up. He can tell you the play if you stare at him and forget what it is. He’s just being Jacolby Criswell and blending in.”
Josh Braun, the guard, said, “Seeing him put in the work he puts in day in and day out just in practice, and … having his number called and filling in the shoes that needed to be filled, it was great to see as a friend of his.”
Chris Paul, a linebacker, expressed his happiness at watching Criswell do well in his chance last Saturday.
“Just looking at Jacolby and talking with him … you can tell that he is a natural-born leader,” stated Paul. “He has that factor about him that was instilled in him.”
Big bones
To play Arkansas on Saturday, Florida International will receive a guaranteed payment of $1.5 million. This is the biggest game guarantee the Panthers have given this season. Arkansas paid Kent State a record-breaking $1.6 million for a game on September 9 that the Razorbacks won 28–6.
Against SEC opponents, Florida International has a 0–4 record, with a 58–10 setback to Arkansas in 2007.
Tackle touts
After last week, coach Sam Pittman wasn’t the only one bemoaning careless tackles. Mike MacIntyre, the coach of Florida International, stated that the Panthers must quickly address their deficiencies in that area after their 40-6 home loss to Middle Tennessee State last week.
“We need to finish up and get started,” MacIntyre remarked. “We need to tackle more effectively than we have in the past several games. That has been a major issue for us. Much earlier, we were tackling.
“We put a lot of effort into it during our week off. Over the past few days, we continued to work on it. With any luck, we’ll be able to handle it better. Without a doubt, we must confront and subdue these individuals.”
TE catches
Against Auburn, senior tight ends Nathan Bax and Francis Sherman of Arkansas caught their first passes of the year.
In his fifth season at Arkansas, Bax caught two passes for fifteen yards, including nine yards after the catch for a 10-yard gain.
Mostly used as a blocker, Bax recorded 3 catches for 16 yards in the previous campaign.
Coach Pittman remarked, “Bax is dependable. You are fully aware of what he is going to give you. His presence on the football team has been fantastic. He will only be available for two more games.
The transfer from Louisville, Sherman, caught a pass for eight yards. With redshirt freshman tight end Ty Washington sustaining a season-ending shoulder injury versus Florida last week, he and Bax were active in the passing game.
Prior to his injury, Washington has 11 catches for 170 yards on the season. He took the place of Luke Hasz, a true freshman who had racked up 16 receptions for 253 yards before breaking his collarbone during the opening series of the team’s September 30 game against Texas A&M.
Redshirt sophomore Var’Keyes Gumms, who moved from North Texas, has two receptions for 27 yards, including a 25-yard reception against Alabama.
Same board
Todd Knight of Ouachita Baptist is the current president of the American Football Coaches Association, which has coaches Sam Pittman of Arkansas and Mike MacIntyre of FIU on its board of trustees.
Coaches James Franklin of Penn State, Neal Brown of West Virginia, and Dave Clawson of Wake Forest are among those who are on the board.
Pittman said of MacIntyre, “I know him because he’s on the AFCA Board of Trustees with me.” “I know a few individuals who were employed by him at Colorado. Fantastic guy, really vivacious.”
MacIntyre declared, “Sam Pittman is fantastic. He knows what college football is all about and has a sincere passion for the game.
“Given my extensive exposure to him, I believe he would be an excellent coach for my sons.” His interests lie in young people, the college football process, and the game itself. He seems like a genuinely sincere and modest person, which I really value.”
Younger days
The sole previous matchup between the programs took place on October 27, 2007, with the Razorbacks winning 58-10. At the time, Florida International’s quarterback was Wayne Younger, the high school coach of Arkansas tailback Raheim “Rocket” Sanders.
In the defeat, Younger completed 9 of 26 passes for 93 yards and 5 interceptions in addition to his game-high 124 yards of rushing. Kevin Woods, Michael Grant, Jerell Norton, and Rashaad Johnson each had one interception for Arkansas.
C-USA changes
Although Conference USA has changed over the years, the trend has gotten more focused in the last few years.
The conference welcomed Sam Houston State, Liberty, Jacksonville State, New Mexico State, and New Mexico State this season. Kennesaw State is scheduled to join in 2024.
From east to west, that will leave the following nine states in C-USA: Texas (Sam Houston State and Texas-El Paso), Florida (FIU), Georgia (Kennesaw State), Tennessee (Middle Tennessee State), Kentucky (Western Kentucky), Alabama (Jacksonville State), Louisiana (Louisiana Tech), and New Mexico (New Mexico State).
Kickoff score
At 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, the Razorbacks will visit Florida International for their fourth night game of the season and first since losing 27-20 to Ole Miss on October 7.
Arkansas kicked off at noon or earlier in five of its games (Western Carolina, Texas A&M, at Alabama, Mississippi State, at Florida), and it will kick off at three o’clock in three more (Kent State, Auburn) when it plays Missouri on November 24.
Toast to Beers!
There are two tight ends at Florida International with amusing names. Rocky Beers is a Littleton, Colorado, redshirt sophomore who is 6-4 and 233 pounds. He transferred from the Air Force. A 6-3, 232-pound freshman from Littleton’s Valor Christian High School is named Rowdy Beers.
