Arkansas has 'most exciting' practice
FAYETTEVILLE - The Razorbacks Saturday completed what Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema believes should be their most exciting day of spring practice.
After their first two NCAA mandated practices only in helmets and shorts, the Razorbacks popped pads for the first time.
“Today was the first day in pads and I thought they should be excited,” Bielema said. “I told our coaches and players that if you aren't excited about today's practice then you don't belong here. Today has to be something that they hang their hat on, and get out there, whether you're playing wideout, corner or nose guard or offensive center, you've got to enjoy the day in pads. I thought they handled that. Guys are definitely in the right attitude, guys are flying arcound. Guys have good energy.”
Attitude and energy are wonderful but can’t always compensate for first-time not knowing what to do,
With nine scholarship newcomers spring semester enrolled in January, there was a first practice learning curve not only for the seven freshmen but even junior college transfer wide receivers Brian Martin and Jonathan Nance both of Gulfport (Miss.) Community College.
“It’s coming at them 100 miles per hour,” Bielema said. “I know they played good junior college football, but it’s a little bit different when you get to this level. That, in conjunction with all the Xs and Os and Hoganese (the unique to the team terminology the
staff teaches) that they’ve had to learn. I’ve been happy with them. You just watch them run routes, naturally, probably two of the better route runners on the team. Brandon (6-4, 215) obviously, is a big drink of water and can catch it.”
Bielema said it appeared January enrolled freshman receiver Korey Hernandez pulled up with a muscle pull Saturday but that junior tight end Jack Kraus of Bentonville was able to practice despite a recently ailing ankle.
Demoted for undisclosed reasons from first-team to doing little beyond individual drills the first two practices, junior Johnny Gibson, the walk-on from Dumas become starting right guard last season and awarded a scholarship this semester, practiced some with the second unit Saturday.
“We let Johnny Gibson work back into the lineup,” Bielema said. “He won't work the ones any time this spring, but he looked really good when he was going in there with the twos. Just a trust factor there that I have got to get on the same page with him. I gave him a scholarship and I expected to do everything we’re asking him to do on and off the field. He’s got a chance to redeem himself.”
Senior Jake Raulerson has worked at Gibson’s first-team right guard spot.
Led by senior All-American candidate Frank Ragnow, the entire first offensive line practiced well Saturday, Bielema said.
Since the winter offseason, Bielema has touted third-year sophomore left tackle Colton Jackson of Conway.
“Colton's got light feet,” Bielema said. “I think he took a step forward this winter. He's a kid that's got a lot of ability and I think he just needs confidence. Today I saw that begin to happen. But he's a guy all spring we're going to continue to press. “
Senior starting quarterback Austin Allen zipped passes, one one particular to sophomore wideout LaMichael Pettway, in midseason form.
Bielema said he sees the same late career jump that he saw in Brandon Allen, Austin’s brother and Arkansas’ 2013-2015 starting quarterback about to launch his second NFL season with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“I watched film and today made some really nice tight throws into tight windows. He definitely has a full understanding of what's out on the field,' Bielema said. “I’m excited. He's a leading returning SEC efficiency guy with what he's done. He obviously played some really good football at times last year and at times, we need to get better and I think he understands that. I couldn't be happier.
Defensively, senior strong safety De’Andre Coley netted Bielema’s praise Saturday for an interception and his hard hitting but also got tossed out of a drill for a hit that Bielema and defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads obviously believed a targeting penalty.
“We've gotta practice well with one another,” Bielema said. “The good thing is, he's a very aggressive player by nature but we've gotta make sure we can all play this game together.”
Bielema was asked, in the wake of SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey’s warning last week against a yet to be implemented new law that would have allowed fans to bring concealed firearms to Razorbacks and other Arkansas public universities games against the wishes of the university administrations, about the Arkansas House and Senate passing Thursday and Friday an exemption enabling the schools to continue banning firearms at games.
“I thought we'd probably get to a point where we are, we just had to work through it,” Bielema said. “One of the greatest things I've ever learned in life is don't worry about what you can't control. Obviously they weren't calling me and asking for my opinion or my vote, so I just sat back and watched how things unfolded. I think it put a lot of people of ease from ticket holders to players to fans to parents to moms to wives.”
With 12 of their allotted 15 practices left, the Razorbacks this week practice Tuesday and Thursday and next Saturday wage their first full-scale scrimmage.