Arkansas moving pieces on offensive line
FAYETTEVILLE - Anybody formulating a Razorbacks depth chart should write in the offensive line in faint pencil with an arsenal of erasers.
Tuesday’s offensive line first team had only sophomore left guard Hjalte Froholdt in place when preseason drills began last Thursday.
Tuesday’s practice, the first in full pads after two totally non-contact and two in shoulder pads, was first conducted inside the Walker Pavilion because of potential rain, then moved outside to the practice field when it didn’t rain, but moved back inside when lightning and rain briefly prevailed.
The first-team O-line opened with University of Texas graduate transfer Jake Raulerson at center, Frank Ragnow at right guard, Dan Skipper at left tackle and Brian Wallace at right tackle.
The preceding practices, other than a slew of right guards including Raulerson, sophomore Zach Rogers and Wallace, had senior three-year starter Skipper at right tackle, redshirt freshman Colton Jackson of Conway at left tackle and Ragnow at center.
Any offensive alignment at any time during the preseason seems possible as Bielema and offensive line coach Kurt Anderson said they will keep mixing and matching to “find their best five.”
Whether Ragnow is a center or a guard, or Skipper is a right tackle, left tackle or a guard, they know they are starting somewhere and played before where they have started each practice.
“We just kind of show up every day and it’s a new front,” Ragnow said. “You’ve just got to kind of handle adversity and deal with it. I mean, it’s fun. It’s fun seeing guys step up at new positions … It’s been good.”
Does he have a guard (his position as a starter last year) or center (his position as a backup in 2014) preference?
“I feel comfortable at both,” Ragnow said. “But I like center a lot. I learned to love it a lot. There’s a lot more there mentally. You’re kind of the head guy up front. But I like football the most.”
Ragnow was asked if he frets redshirt freshman Jackson will take a confidence jolt practicing on the second team for the first time since advancing at left tackle during spring drills.
“No … I think last year I would have worried about it,” Ragnow said. “But this, Colton, he’s grown up so much more and developed so much more confidence and swagger. I’m not worried about him.”
Froholdt, the Denmark native behind in football nuances by birth and then moved from the defensive line to the offensive line last spring, figured there’s a reason why he has been the only firstteam lineman practicing in the same spot.
“I think they are just trying to make sure I am comfortable where I am at,” Froholdt said. “I think I have been down OK so far.”
Difficult to have so many different guys practicing to the left and right of him?
“The different guys are extremely good players and have played the offensive line for a lot longer than I have,” Froholdt said. “So I feel extremely comfortable.”
The Razorbacks took comfort