Pine Bluff’s Simeon Blair Stepping into Leadership Role

When you want to know what defense did, just ask old guy in secondary

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas defensive back Simeon Blair didn't arrive in Fayetteville with a lot of notice.

He walked on and probably developed as much as anyone.

Now when we want to know what is going on with the defense, the fifth-year defensive back from Pine Bluff is the one you talk to ... just like after a 38-27 win over Missouri State on Saturday night that didn't start very smoothly.

Arkansas Razorbacks defensive back Simeon Blair makes a diving attempt at grabbing an interception in Saturday's 38-27 win over Missouri State at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark. (Ted McClenning / allHOGS Images)

"We started a little slow," he said about getting behind the Bears 17-0 before a recovery that was, for some, took an agonizing length of time. "On the sidelines we never had any panic."

Bryce Stephens' 82-yard punt return for a score finally put the Razorbacks over the top and they never looked back.

Blair wasn't particularly surprised.

"I have to cover him in practice," he said. "He's super fast and we'd talked about it all week in practice. We had to make sure we blocked their gunners. It was a big momentum shift that gave us a boost."

While a lot of people were complaining that, well, the Hogs should have stomped Missouri and former coach Bobby Petrino into oblivion, the players probably knew how good the Bears were for the FCS level.

Arkansas Razorbacks defensive back Simeon Blair during the 38-27 win over Missouri State on Saturday night in Razorback Stadium. (Ted McClenning / allHOGS Images)

They may have had a natural bit of over-confidence, but in the end it was a win, which is really all that matters.

"We'll celebrate this one like any win," Blair said.

Now the big test starts when the Hogs go to AT&T Stadium to meet a Texas A&M team that has more questions than answers. That game will start at 6 p.m. on ESPN and fuboTV.

HOGS FEED:

SANDERS AVOIDS RUNNING HIS WAY INTO RECORDS

DESPITE EARLY STRUGGLES, HOGS FIND WAY TO MAKE IT 'SPECIAL' IN THE END

HOGS PLAY ROLE OF ORIGINAL APOLLO CREED, AVOID ROCKY II

SEC ROUND-UP: NEGATIVES KEEP COMING IN AUBURN, GAMECOCKS FORGET TACKLING IS PART OF FOOTBALL, AND MUCH MORE

A GOOD PUNCH IN THE MOUTH SHOULD MAKE HOGS FEEL BETTER SATURDAY

HOGS' SAM PITTMAN WOULD LIKE TO MAKE WIDE RECEIVER BY COMMITTEE A LITTLE LARGER

HOW TO WATCH-LISTEN TO RAZORBACKS AGAINST MISSOURI STATE ON SATURDAY

HAS HOGS COACH SAM PITTMAN'S PLAN FOR DOMINIQUE JOHNSON WORKED LIKE HE WANTED?

TEXAS HAS LOT TO LEARN FROM ALABAMA, ARKANSAS BEFORE ENTERING SEC

BOBBY PETRINO, JASON SHELLEY PERFECT COMBO TO CAUSE HOGS PROBLEMS SATURDAY AND FANS, BUMPER POOL KNOW IT

PITTMAN DISCUSSES WHETHER DOMINIQUE JOHNSON WILL PLAY SATURDAY

SEC ROUNDUP: DAWGS, VOLS CANCEL ON OU, AUBURN HAS TEMP AD, MANNING CALLS OUT TENNESSEE, JAY-Z PROTEGE EARNS SHOE DEAL AT LSU

Return to allHogs home page.

• Want to join in on the discussion? Click here to become a member of the allHOGS message board community today!

• Follow allHOGS on Twitter and Facebook.

• View and subscribe to the allHogs YouTube Channel