Texas A&M vs Arkansas Preview: 3 key matchups in SEC West showdown

Sep 5, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Christian Kirk (3) rushes against the Arizona State Sun Devils at NRG Stadium. Aggies won 38 to 17. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Texas A&M Receivers vs. Arkansas Secondary

Having led the SEC in passing with 305.5 yards per game in 2014, and with six of the team’s top seven pass catchers returning for 2015, Texas A&M was expected to have one of the best wide receiver units in the SEC, and quite possibly, the nation. The Aggies have size with 6-foot-5 sophomore Ricky Seals-Jones and 6-foot-4 junior Josh Reynolds (who set a school record with 13 touchdown catches last year), experience with senior Sabian Holmes and junior returning starter Ed Pope, and a dynamic playmaker in sophomore Speedy Noil.

Yet the best of the bunch through the first three games of the season has been true freshman Christian Kirk, who leads the team with 16 receptions and 269 yards, and has caught two touchdown passes. Kirk has also been electric as a return man on special teams – a role Noil was expected to thrive in.

Add quarterback Kyle Allen to the mix, the sophomore that has completed 61.4 percent of his passes this season for 594 yards and nine touchdowns with two interceptions, and the Aggies have one of the personnel to be one of the most explosive passing offenses in the nation – even if they have emphasized a more balanced attack this season (260.7 passing yards and 227.0 rushing yards per contest).

The group that has been challenged to stop the Aggies’ Air Raid offense is an Arkansas secondary led by junior cornerback Jared Collins, who led the SEC with 13 pass breakups last season. Collins, who has worn a cast on his hand this season due to injury, still managed to intercept a pass last week against Texas Tech. D.J. Dean and Henre’ Toliver also have interceptions this season.

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