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Arkansas didn't know exactly what it was getting when it signed Zach Hocker.
The No. 14 Razorbacks (7-2, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) couldn't be any happier with what they've seen so far from the freshman kicker, who has developed into one of their most consistent offensive threats.
Hocker has connected on 10 of 11 field goal attempts this season, including a 51-yarder in a 41-20 win over South Carolina on Saturday - the longest field goal by a Razorbacks kicker since 1992.
The consistency in the kicking game is a far cry from last season for Arkansas, when Alex Tejada hit 16 of 22 attempts but had costly late misses in close losses at Florida and LSU. This season, Hocker's only miss came on a 49-yard attempt in a win over Texas A&M.
''His timing, his accuracy and really his confidence is what sold us on him being our field goal kicker,'' coach Bobby Petrino said. ''He's does a great job of it. He's got ice in his veins.''
Hocker played high school football at Russellville, less than two hours away from Fayetteville. He made no secret of his desire to play for the Razorbacks last year as a high school senior, but he also knew Arkansas already had a commitment from Texas prep kicker Eduardo Camara.
Russellville coach Jeff Holt said rather than bemoaning his bad luck, Hocker set out to prove his ability to schools across the country, including Arkansas. That included kicking camps in Fayetteville and at Alabama.
When the offers from bigger schools didn't come, particularly the hoped-for offer from Arkansas, Hocker verbally committed to Arkansas State. Meanwhile, he continued to prove his worth on the field, connecting on 15 field goals as a senior, including a 52-yarder.
''He's only doing now what we saw in high school,'' Holt said. ''It didn't matter if he had 100 people watching him or like now with 50,000 or more people like he's had this year. He's unshakable, mentally.''
It was the combination of Hocker's field goal and punting abilities that finally led Arkansas to offer a scholarship the day before national signing day in February. Once that offer came, Hocker did some quick soul-searching before changing his mind and eventually signing with the Razorbacks the next day.
''This is where I wanted to play, growing up, since I started kicking,'' Hocker said. ''The process was a long process, but now that I'm finally here, I'm finally getting the chance to play. There's no hard feelings.''
After he arrived at Arkansas, Hocker had to once again fight to prove himself. With Tejada and Camara battling for starting position kicking field goals, he was left to compete at punter and didn't think he had any chance of starting on field goals.
Once he was given a chance on field goals in practice in August, Hocker quickly took over the position. He started Arkansas' first game against Tennessee Tech, hitting all six of his extra-point attempts, while Tejada handled kickoff duties. The two have continued to split duties.
''We had a conversation about the competition when the offer came in late from Arkansas,'' Holt said. ''And I remember telling him, 'You just need an invite because whoever they put up against you, you're going to win that job.'
''He just needed that opportunity, and he got it.''
