FAYETTEVILLE — Former Morrilton standout quarterback Jacolby Criswell has played in two games for Arkansas this season after transferring in from North Carolina.
He saw his most extensive action on Saturday night in a 48-10 loss to Auburn. His 11-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa with 14:35 remaining in the game was Arkansas' first touchdown in Razorback Stadium since the BYU game. Against BYU, running back AJ Green scored on a 7-yard run with 11:41 remaining in the third quarter.
Criswell has completed 4-of-6 passes for 47 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also has rushed seven times for 64 yards. He had a 60-yard run against Auburn Saturday night. He has impressed his teammates. Linebacker Chris "Pooh" Paul Jr. spoke highly of Criswell on Tuesday following practice.
"Just looking at Jacolby and talking with him throughout the days, you can tell that he is a natural-born leader," Paul said. "He has that factor about him that was instilled in him. First of all, he’s a great guy, any time you need to just go talk to him outside of football as well. Me and him go to tutoring sessions together, we don’t even talk about ball, it’s just catching up on each other like How are you, and where’s your headspace at? Great guy. Somebody that you can definitely lean on. Just watching him go out there and make those type of plays really made me happy. Just watching him put in the preparation for him and once his number was called for him to gout there to make such an impact so fast, and just seeing him leading around it was awesome."
Right guard Joshua Braun was among the blockers for Criswell and pleased with the quarterback's success.
"Seeing him put in the work he puts in day in and day out just in practice, him getting the opportunity and having his number called and filling in the shoes that needed to be filled," Braun said. "It was great to see as a friend of his."
Wide receiver Andrew Armstrong leads the Hogs with 48 catches for 657 yards and four touchdowns. He likes what he has seen from Criswell so far.
"Jacolby, when he’s on the field he’s very dialed in, locked in," Armstrong said. "Y’all have seen him throw the ball. He can throw the ball like no other. He’s got one of the strongest arms I’ve seen. He’s a leader. When he gets on the field, if you don’t know where you’re supposed to be at, he can help line you up. If you forget the play, you can look at him and he’ll tell you the play. He’s just fitting in and being Jacolby Criswell. Being the player that he is."
Defensive end Landon Jackson also said good things about Criswell.
"Yeah, I mean he’s a great teammate, great guy to be around," Jackson said. "Really just brings a positive mindset everyday to work. So I mean, great guy, love him to death and I mean, great quarterback."
Arkansas and FIU will kickoff at 6:30 p.m. Saturday night and televised on ESPNU.
