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Arkansas Football: Breaking down Razorbacks’ 2019 QB battle

By Steven Hamner

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - OCTOBER 27: Head Coach Chad Morris of the Arkansas Razorbacks yells to the officials in the first half of a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Razorback Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Commodores defeated the Razorbacks 45-31. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR - OCTOBER 27: Head Coach Chad Morris of the Arkansas Razorbacks yells to the officials in the first half of a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Razorback Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Commodores defeated the Razorbacks 45-31. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MI – SEPTEMBER 15: Ben Hicks #8 of the Southern Methodist Mustangs throws a first half pass while playing the Michigan Wolverines on September 15, 2018 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – SEPTEMBER 15: Ben Hicks #8 of the Southern Methodist Mustangs throws a first half pass while playing the Michigan Wolverines on September 15, 2018 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Ben Hicks has experience in Chad Morris’ offense

Ben Hicks has played a lot of football at the college level as he has spent the majority of the past three seasons starting for SMU.

It has been well stated that Hicks is Chad Morris’ former quarterback at SMU and that he should come in and know the offense well. He started in the AAC, and while the competition is not what it will be in the SEC, he still put up impressive numbers as he has thrown for right over 9,000 yards and had 71 passing touchdowns over the last three years.

Hicks was able to participate in spring practice, which will be in his favor, as Nick Starkel wasn’t able to get with the team until this summer.

What Hicks brings as the starter

  • Three years experience starting at the FBS level
  • Experience in Chad Morris’ offense
  • Moves well in pocket, does a good job keeping eyes downfield
  • Good enough athlete to avoid pressure
  • When he struggles he tends to force whats not there, which leads to incompletions. Take what the defense gives you even when down in the game. SMU lost seven games last year and only one of those losses was Hicks’ completion percentage at least 60 or above. When SMU won last year, Hicks’ completion percentage was above 65 in all but one of the wins. Completions keep drives alive.

The clip below may look simple, but it’s a perfect example of what Coach Morris’ offense looks like when ran efficiently and successfully. Hicks has the option to hand the ball off to the running back, you can tell it was a run-pass option by the left guard pulling and the right tackle blocking several yards down field. Hicks sees the corner playing off coverage, the inside linebacker bites on the run, which leaves the slant route wide open. This may look simple, but can cause lots of problems for the defense when it’s run correctly.

The experience Hicks has running this offense effectively will go a long way for him in the quarterback competition. However, the competition he will now be facing will be the best conference in college football.

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