2009 Arkansas Razorbacks football team The 2009 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2009 football season . The Razorbacks played five home games at Donald W . Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville , Arkansas and two home games at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock , Arkansas . Head coach Bobby Petrino was in his second season at Arkansas . The Razorbacks finished the season 8 – 5 , 3 – 5 in SEC play and won the Liberty Bowl 20 – 17 against East Carolina . Leading into the 2009 season . Former Michigan State head coach John L . Smith was hired as special teams coordinator . He replaced Lorenzo Ward who took a spot with the South Carolina Gamecocks . Quarterback Ryan Mallett and linebacker Ryan Powers were both arrested before the season . Mallett ' s charge of public intoxication garnered national headlines , and Powers was charged with shoplifting from a Fayetteville Wal - Mart . Neither player was suspended . Players . Additions . Punter Briton Forester signed with the team on March 2 out of Palomar College . Forester had previously competed at Hawaii in 2006 and 2007 , and will be designated a junior at Arkansas . New special teams coach John L . Smith was integral in Forester ' s signing . Southern Cal transfer Broderick Green was cleared to play by the NCAA on July 31 , 2009 . The running back transferred to Arkansas to be nearer his ill grandmother , who resides in Little Rock , Arkansas . He will have three years of eligibility remaining . Departures . In a press release on December 16 , 2008 , Nathan Dick , brother of Casey Dick , announced his intentions to transfer from the University of Arkansas . His release was granted by Bobby Petrino . Dick transferred to in - state UCA . Crosby Tuck , a sophomore receiver from Shiloh Christian School , announced that he would no longer compete with the Razorbacks on February 23 , 2009 . The Springdale native ' s decision was based on an elbow injury against Kentucky in 2007 , from which he has not returned . Tuck will remain at the University of Arkansas . Sophomore linebacker Khiry Battle was dismissed from the team on June 29 , 2009 , due to an unspecified violation of team rules . Regular season . Personnel . Coaching staff . < / div > Game notes . Missouri State . Arkansas began the season with a bang as Dennis Johnson returned the opening kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown . The Razorbacks also threw for over 400 yards as a team for the first time in school history . Ryan Mallett went 17 for 22 passing for 309 yards and a touchdown in his Razorbacks debut . He transferred from the University of Michigan following the 2007 season , and had to sit out the 2008 season in accordance with NCAA regulations . His backup , Tyler Wilson , was more efficient but less productive going 13 for 19 for 138 yards with an interception and two touchdowns . Senior running back Michael Smith scored from 15 yards out to make the score 14 – 0 Razorbacks . Broderick Green scored on a 1 yard touchdown plunge to make the score 21 – 3 to close the first quarter . Van Stumon caught a Wilson pass for a two - yard touchdown , followed by a Bears score to push the Razorback advantage to 28 – 10 . Alex Tejada added a short field goal before halftime to give the Hogs a 21 point lead . Joe Adams caught a 40 yard touchdown pass from Mallett to start the third quarter scoring , with the Hogs also notching another Tejada field goal . The fourth quarter produced another TD strike from Wilson , this time to Cobi Hamilton . Smith finished with four carries for 43 yards and the score . True freshman Ronnie Wingo Jr . rushed eight times for 50 yards , Broderick Green rushed 10 times for 31 yards and a touchdown . Jarius Wright caught 6 passes for 139 yards , with Joe Adams snagging 4 for 70 and a TD . Cobi Hamilton had four grabs for 56 and a TD , Greg Childs caught 4 for 50 yds . Tight end D . J . Williams , named to the Mackey Award watch list , caught two passes for twenty yards . Razorback linebackers Wendel Davis and Jerry Franklin had five solo tackles each . # 20 Georgia . The fifth - largest crowd in Razorback Stadium history watched the Hogs and Dogs pile up over 1 , 000 yards of offense and numerous school records . Georgia QB Joe Cox threw for 375 yards and five scores . Bulldogs receiver A . J . Green had seven catches for 137 yards and two scores . Ryan Mallett of Arkansas completed 21 of 39 for 408 yards and five touchdowns . The yardage and touchdown totals both are school records . Razorback receiver Greg Childs caught five passes for 140 yards and two TDs . Arkansas scored on their first two plays ; Joe Adams catching an 18 yard pass from Ryan Mallett ( Alex Tejada kick ) followed by a Jarius Wright 48 yard pass from Mallett . Georgia would score on a Joe Cox TD pass and Blair Walsh field goal , followed by a Greg Childs 30 yard TD reception from Ryan Mallett to make it a 21 - 10 Razorback lead to end the first period . Early in the second quarter , Razorback linebacker Jerry Franklin was assessed two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and was ejected . Georgia opened the second quarter scoring with an 80 yard run by Richard Samuel , followed by a 25 yard pass from Joe Cox to A . J . Green . Walsh would add a field goal as time expired , giving UGA the first half , 27 - 21 . Arkansas forced Georgia into a three - and - out , followed by a 40 yard Ryan Mallett aerial to Greg Childs , to make it a 28 - 27 Arkansas advantage . Tavarres King of Georgia responded by catching a 50 yard pass from Cox . Arkansas replied when D . J . Williams snagged a 2 yard pass from Mallett . Georgia two - way player Orson Charles caught a 44 yard pass from Joe Cox to make the score 40 - 35 . The Dogs attempted a two point conversion , and A . J . Green caught the lob from Cox to make it 42 - 35 . Razorback kicker Alex Tejada added a short field goal , making the score 42 - 38 to Georgia ' s advantage . A . J . Green caught a 28 yard touchdown pass from Cox to give UGA an 11 point lead in the fourth quarter . The Razorbacks drove inside the Georgia 10 yardline , but settled for a field goal . Georgia subsequently took the ball and tacked on another field goal , making the final score 52 - 41 . The three - hour and forty - five - minute affair contained 25 penalties for 193 total yards . The two teams combined to run 125 plays . Joe Cox was named National Offensive Player of the Week by the Walter Camp Football Foundation for his efforts . # 3 Alabama . Arkansas visited Bryant - Denny Stadium on September 26 to play the third - ranked Alabama Crimson Tide . Arkansas and Alabama battled to a 0 - 0 tie after the first quarter , with the two teams combining for five punts and six first downs . Trent Richardson got the scoring started for ' Bama , breaking numerous tackles on his way to a 52 - yard touchdown run . After Arkansas punted on the ensuing possession , Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy completed a deep pass to Julio Jones for 50 yards and a touchdown out of the wildcat formation . Arkansas rushed for negative yardage in the second quarter , but was losing by only 14 at halftime . Arkansas ' offense got started in the third quarter on a Greg Childs 18 yard touchdown reception from Ryan Mallett . The Alex Tejada kick made it a 14 - 7 Alabama lead . Alabama ' s response was a single play : McElroy to Marquis Maze for an 80 - yard touchdown pass . Arkansas ' Dylan Breeding had his punt attempt blocked , setting up Mark Ingram to catch a 14 yard TD pass from McElroy . The Crimson Tide led 28 - 7 entering the fourth quarter , and Ingram ' s 2 yard run produced the 35 - 7 final score . Texas A & M , Southwest Classic . Texas A & M and Arkansas renewed their past rivalry , now named the Southwest Classic , in Cowboys Stadium on October 3 , 2009 . Texas A & M would take an early 10 - 0 lead on a Randy Bullock field goal and Jerrod Johnson 60 - yard pass to Bran Jackson , but Arkansas would respond with 30 unanswered points before halftime . TD passes from Ryan Mallett to Broderick Green and DeAnthony Curtis , followed by a 85 - yard fumble return for a touchdown by Jerry Franklin , gave the Hogs a 21 - 10 lead . Alex Tejada would make a field goal and Jarius Wright ' s 31 - yard TD reception would give the Razorbacks a 30 - 10 lead at halftime . The Aggies replied with a field goal from Bullock with 8 : 16 to play in the third quarter . Mallett would hit Michael Smith for a 29 - yard passing touchdown to close the third quarter scoring . Texas A & M receiver Ryan Tannehill would catch a 3 - yard pass from Johnson to make it a 19 - 37 game , but the Aggies failed the two - point conversion . After another Tejada field goal , Razorback true freshman Ronnie Wingo , Jr . would break loose for a 62 - yard touchdown to produce the final margin of 47 - 19 . Texas A & M quarterback Jerrod Johnson completed 30 of 58 passes for 345 yards and two touchdowns . Ryan Mallett was 17 of 27 passing for 271 yards , four touchdowns and an interception . Joe Adams caught three passes for 110 yards to lead Arkansas in receiving . The contest took three hours and twenty six minutes to complete , and contained 151 plays , 91 of which were run by Texas A & M . # 17 Auburn . Former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville provided his insight on the contest , stating over the radio on WJOX , " Arkansas can ’ t stop a cold , but they ’ ll try to score some points " and that Auburn would win " by three touchdowns " . Bobby Petrino was an offensive coordinator for the Tigers under Tuberville in 2002 , and was considered as Tuberville ' s successor after a dismal 2003 campaign . Arkansas forced a three - and - out on the game ' s opening drive , and scored on a Broderick Green 2 yard run to give the Hogs an early 7 - 0 lead . Early in the second quarter , Michael Smith broke a 25 - yard touchdown run to give the Razorbacks a 13 - 0 edge . Tigers running back Mario Fannin fumbled the ensuing kickoff , recovered by Arkansas ' Jerell Norton at the Auburn 34 yard line . Two plays later , Ryan Mallett completed a 16 - yard touchdown pass to Greg Childs to stretch the lead to 20 - 0 . Auburn ' s Wes Byrum hit on a 37 - yard field goal before halftime , and Mallett completed a five - yard touchdown pass to D . J . Williams to make the Arkansas lead 27 - 3 . Arkansas punted to open the third quarter , but Jake Bequette ' s recovery of Ben Tate ' s fumble gave the Hogs the ball at the Arkansas 5 yard line . Ten plays later , Ryan Mallett rushed for a four - yard touchdown to make it 34 - 3 Hogs . Tate would reply twice , first on a one - yard touchdwon run , and later on a 60 - yard touchdown scamper . Onterio McCalebb would also score on the ground for Auburn in the third quarter , cutting the Razorbacks ' lead to 23 - 34 . Broderick Green responded early in the fourth quarter on a 3 - yard rushing score . Alex Tejada would add a field goal to produce the final 44 - 23 margin . Arkansas won by 21 points , totally reversing Tommy Tuberville ' s prediction that the Tigers would prevail by three scores . # 1 Florida . Favored to lose by 25 points , the Arkansas Razorbacks pushed the top - ranked Gators to the edge . Arkansas sacked 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow six times and forced four turnovers , but missed a 31 - yard Alex Tejada field goal that would ' ve given the Hogs a 23 - 20 lead with 3 : 08 to play . Jake Bequette set up the game ' s first points be forcing a Tebow fumble , recovered by Zach Stadther . The Hogs would drive to the one yard line before the first quarter ended tied scoreless . USC transfer Broderick Green plunged into the end zone to start the second quarter , and gave the Hogs a 7 - 0 lead . Tebow would fumble again on his ensuing possession , but the Razorbacks could not capitalize . UF receiver Aaron Hernandez would fumble for the third straight Gator possession , but the Hogs were forced to punt . Florida ' s kicker , Caleb Sturgis , kicked a 30 yard field goal on Florida ' s next possession to make the game 7 - 3 in favor of Arkansas . The Razorbacks drove inside the UF five yard line before halftime , but could only get a field goal . This gave the Hogs a 10 - 3 lead at the break , despite missing on every third down conversion . Following the half time performance , Florida connected on a 51 - yard field goal from Sturgis to cut the Razorbacks ' lead to 10 - 6 . Tramain Thomas made an outstanding play on UF ' s Chris Rainey later in the third quarter . He attempted to tackle Rainey in the open field , but fell to the turf . While falling , Thomas kicked the ball cleanly out of Rainey ' s arm , and it fell right to Thomas . The Hogs took over at Florida ' s 28 yard line , but missed a short field goal and were forced walk away empty from the encounter . On Florida ' s ensuing possession , Tim Tebow connected with Deonte Thompson for a 77 - yard touchdown pass . Ramon Broadway was peeking into the backfield on the play , and took a false step towards the line of scrimmage . This allowed Thompson to give the Gators a 13 - 10 lead . Arkansas replied with a drive fueled mostly by the efforts of Dennis Johnson , who started at running back instead of an injured Michael Smith . The drive ' s deciding play , however , was when Ryan Mallett missed an open Van Stumon in the end zone . The Hogs did connect on another Tejada field goal , tying the game at 13 . Early in the fourth quarter , Mallett was forced to step up in the pocket and sling a pass to Greg Childs on 3rd and 17 . Childs caught the ball and outran several UF defenders to the end zone . It appeared that Childs lost the ball on the one yard line , but after review it was decided that he maintained possession on the 75 - yard scoring play . Arkansas had a 20 - 13 lead with 9 : 40 to play . Florida responded with a 67 - yard scoring drive , assisted by a 15 - yard pass interference penalty and 15 - yard personal foul penalty called consecutivley against Arkansas . The CBS broadcasting team said that the calls were both " questionable " . Top - ranked Florida tied the game at 20 . The officiating crew was suspended by the Southeastern Conference the following week , and will remain on suspension until November 14 . Florida coach Urban Meyer later said that the SEC was right by suspending the crew , and Bobby Petrino was reprimanded by the SEC for publicly criticizing the crew after the contest . Ryan Mallett later led a 56 - yard drive to the UF 21 - yard line , but Alex Tejada missed a potential game - winning field goal with 3 : 08 remaining . Tebow and company marched down the field to the Arkansas 10 yard line , finding Riley Cooper for three first downs on the drive . With thirteen seconds to play , Sturgis kicked the game - winning field goal , ending the Razorbacks ' upset bid and preserving Florida ' s homecoming . Ole Miss . The Arkansas Razorbacks traveled to Oxford , Mississippi to match up against former coach Houston Nutt . Jevan Snead opened the scoring for the Ole Miss Rebels , running in from one yard out . The University of Texas transfer also completed a 25 - yard touchdown pass to Shay Hodge to take a 14 - 0 Rebels lead . Ole Miss would also add a field goal from Joshua Shene before Arkansas would dent the scoreboard . Knile Davis rumbled in from three yards out to draw the Razorbacks within 10 . Before halftime , Snead lead what looked like a last - minute scoring drive until Arkansas defensive back Jerico Nelson intercepted a pass at the Arkansas six yard line . Andru Stewart would intercept another Snead pass early in the third quarter , leading to an Alex Tejada field goal . Ole Miss would respond when Snead hit Dexter McCluster on a screen pass that McCluster took for a 64 - yard touchdown . Arkansas would score on the ensuing possession when Ryan Mallett connected with Carlton Salters for a 58 - yard touchdown . The ball was intended for Greg Childs , but Childs and two Rebel defenders tipped the ball to an uncovered Salters for the score . The Rebels would add two more Shene field goals to make the final score 30 - 17 . McCluster rushed 22 times for 123 yards . He also caught 7 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown . Eastern Michigan . The Eastern Michigan Eagles came to Fayetteville on Halloween to play the Razorbacks on homecoming . Prior to the game , EMU was the top - ranked defense against the pass , but last against the run . The Hogs would be without Michael Smith , who had a hamstring injury , but would regain the services of WR Joe Adams . Arkansas scored on its first drive when running back Knile Davis took the ball in from six yards out . The Hogs also scored on their next possession , a Broderick Green run over right guard for a touchdown . On the ensuing possession , EMU quarterback Kyle McMahon was intercepted by Freddie Burton , who returned the ball 50 yards for a touchdown . Early in the second quarter , Ryan Mallett would find Joe Adams on a ten - yard crossing pattern for a score . Following a missed Alex Tejada field goal , Patrick Treppa would punt for EMU , leaving the Razorbacks with the ball on their own one yard line . However , on the next play , Broderick Green broke through the line and rumbled 99 yards for a touchdown . The score was the longest play in Arkansas Razorbacks history , longer than the previous record of 90 yards set by Billy Moore against Tulsa back in 1962 . Following another EMU punt , Mallet would find Adams for a 78 - yard touchdown pass , giving the Hogs a 42 - 0 lead as the teams went to halftime . The Razorback defense did not allow EMU a single first down in the first half . Following the homecoming halftime festivities , Seth Armbrust blocked an Eastern Michigan punt , and scooped it up for a touchdown . At this point , Kyle McMahon began to move the Eagles , scoring on their next two possessions , including a TD pass to Kinsman Thomas for 77 yards . Mallett would respond with a 55 - yard bomb to Cobi Hamilton , and Davis capped the drive two plays later to make it a 56 - 13 game . After another EMU score , Mallett would find Lucas Miller for a sixteen yard score . EMU would tack on another score , but the Razorbacks prevailed in a 63 - 27 rout . Mallett finished completing 14 of 16 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns . Broderick Green had 135 yards on nine rushes , including the 99 - yard record - setting score . Joe Adams had 109 yards receiving in his first game after suffering a mild stroke . Statistics . Special teams . < div style = " float : left ; width : 100 % ; " >