Matt Jones looks to be a double threat for the Arkansas football team this season as he splits time at quarterback and wide receiver.
Jones got the nod as the starting quarterback last season for the Hogs after splitting time at the position his freshman year.
Winning the Southeastern Conference Western Division required a 6-2 SEC record including a 21-20 win over LSU in the season finale. Jones rushed for 614 yards, a school record for the quarterback position, on the way. The junior does not seek to break another record at wide receiver. He just wants to help the Razorbacks get another shot at the SEC championship.
“I’m not looking to break any records,” Jones said in a phone interview. “I just want to help the team win and get back to Atlanta.”
Jones said a problem with his throwing shoulder keeps him from throwing in every practice, but he still wants to contribute to the team.
“It’s a loose shoulder and gets tired more easily,” Jones said. “I can’t throw for both practices so instead of sitting on the sidelines, I’m working at wide receiver.”
Jones saw time at both positions during the team’s spring practice. The shifty 6-foot-6 athlete completed 17-of-34 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown at quarterback while gaining 78 yards on six receptions as a receiver in four major spring scrimmages.
Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said he has no plans of moving Jones to wide receiver full time.
“When he’s fresh, he can throw the ball and make plays,” Nutt said in a preseason press conference. “That is why you can’t say he’s a full-time receiver. We have a lot of confidence in Matt.”
Senior quarterback Ryan Sorahan will fill in the gaps for Jones. The junior college transfer played in six games for the Hogs completing 39-of-73 passes for 388 yards, one touchdown and six interceptions.
Nutt said the play of Sorahan and Jones is vital to the success of the Razorbacks this season.
“Ryan Sorahan has perseverance and works hard,” Nutt said. “It’s going to take both of them this year.”
Nutt said the Razorbacks have great versatility at wide receiver. He said Jones gives the team one of the deepest receiving corps he has coached.
“Our nucleus of George Wilson, Richard Smith and DeCori Birmingham can line up anywhere,” Nutt said. “You’ve got some guys who can run with that group, then you add Matt to the equation and it’s one of the deepest sets we’ve had. We just need to get the pieces in the right place.”
Birmingham was the third leading receiver on the team with 184 yards receiving in 2002, but many LSU fans know him for his 31-yard reception against the Tigers with nine seconds left in the game. The catch dashed LSU’s hopes of repeating as SEC champions.
Wilson, Smith and Birmingham combined for 1,392 of the team’s 3,283 yards. Jones was on the other end of most of those passes. He said playing at wide receiver gives him more chances to make plays and may improve his quarterback skills because he knows what they experience now.
“You get a chance to be in open space and make things happen,” Jones said. “It helps you see the whole picture a lot clearer with the receivers.”
Jones said nothing is definite about how many snaps he will take at either position.
“We’ll see what happens with the situation,” Jones said. “Right now, we don’t know. Each situation will be different and we’ll just play it by ear.”