Clean pocket at Vandy: Kash Courtney SEC Offensive Lineman of Week

Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — KJ Jackson spent a lot of Saturday night at Vanderbilt doing something he hasn’t gotten to do much this fall. He stood in the pocket and threw.

Kash Courtney had plenty to do with that.

On Monday, the league named the Arkansas sophomore SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week. The honor came after the Razorbacks beat the Commodores 31-21 in Courtney’s first start of the season.

For weeks, Jackson often had to scramble just to buy himself a second. Against Vanderbilt, he had room to look downfield on snap after snap.

The Commodores came in with a sack in 10 straight games. That run started Nov. 25, 2025.

They finished Saturday with zero.

A clean pocket and a calm passer

Jackson completed 21 of 31 throws for 251 yards.

He kept it himself 11 times too, picking up 58 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

The Hogs hadn’t played a full game without giving up a sack since Sept. 13, 2025, at Ole Miss.

His night wasn’t perfect. He fumbled on a late scramble, but a penalty on Vanderbilt’s defense erased the turnover.

Still, the extra time made the passing game easier to run. Arkansas needed that once it lost its top receiver.

Chris Marshall went down on a 28-yard screen with 1:52 to go in the first half. He was in street clothes when the teams came back out.

Jordan steps in

With the score tied 14-14 at halftime, Jackson had to find somebody new.

He didn’t lock onto one target. He went wherever the coverage gave him room.

Antonio Jordan ended up leading all receivers with 74 yards on five catches.

His biggest one went for 32 yards late in the third quarter. Cam Settles ran in the go-ahead touchdown right after it.

Jackson gave Jordan credit for the work he’d put in during the week.

“Yeah, I think it’s a testament of how he works Sunday through Friday,” Jackson said. “He knows the offense. He knows where he’s supposed to be, and he had to work to get there.”

Settles finished with two rushing scores.

Running room, too

The blocking up front helped the ground game as much as the passing game.

Arkansas ran for 187 yards, its high mark this season. The last time the Razorbacks topped that was Nov. 22, 2025, when they put up 188 at Texas.

Add it all up and the Hogs had 438 total yards. They hadn’t gained that many against an SEC team all season.

The win was the program’s first in league play this fall. It was also Arkansas’ first SEC win since 2024.

Coach Ryan Silverfield was glad to see his players finally get one.

“I’m just so happy for them,” Silverfield said. “And listen, it’s hard when you’re not winning football games.”

Courtney’s place in Hogs history

Courtney is a Carthage, Texas, native in his second year with the program.

He’s just the 17th Razorbacks offensive lineman to earn an SEC weekly honor.

Fernando Carmona was the last one before him. Carmona’s award came on Oct. 7, 2024.

The Hogs went a little more than two years between winners.

The league hands the award to one offensive lineman each week.

Five guys block on every play. Only one of them gets a call like this on a Monday.

Missouri up next

The Razorbacks have this week off.

They’ll host Missouri on Oct. 31 at Razorback Stadium. Kickoff time is still to be announced.

If the line holds up like it did at Vanderbilt, Jackson should get another chance to sit back and pick his spots against the Tigers.