FLEDGLING HOGS get more practice time.
FAYETTEVILLE — Koilan Jackson and Connor Noland connected for a huge gain to open Sunday’s scrimmage work for the University of Arkansas football team.
The Razorbacks have been devoting live scrimmage time to their younger players over the past eight days, since a 45-31 loss to Vanderbilt dropped the Razorbacks out of bowl eligibility.
Arkansas Coach Chad Morris said the veteran players having been going through their work as normal, but practice time has been reduced to leave about 20 minutes at the end to bring along the younger set.
“Koilan Jackson caught a big pass last night for a big gain,” Morris said, while also pointing out positive work from offensive players like linemen Ryan Winkel, Shane Clenin and Silas Robinson and quarterbacks Noland and John Stephen Jones.
“Last night, I think it was the first play of the scrimmage, Connor made a good read [on a read-pass option] and was able to find Koilan Jackson for a big, big play there to start the scrimmage,” offensive coordinator Joe Craddock said.
Jackson has been working on the scout team this season as he continues his recovery from knee surgery from near the start of fall camp last year.
Defensively, Morris said safety Joe Foucha, cornerback LaDarrius Bishop, defensive lineman Isaiah Nichols, defensive back Derrick Munson and linebacker Dee Walker have been standouts in the scrimmage work.
“Derrick Munson had a good week last week and had a big scrimmage last night,” Morris said.
Defensive coordinator John Chavis touted the safeties Foucha and Myles Mason as well as Walker.
“I think the scrimmage time was good for him,” Chavis said of Walker. “He’s very, very talented. It’s a process of learning. It’s a process of getting to do the right things at the right time.
“I was pleased with his ability to come out and work hard and take advantage of this time in the open week.”