Razorbacks moving on with Hammonds on sideline
FAYETTEVILLE - Two Arkansas position groups mourn that T.J. Hammonds will be out awhile after arthroscopic surgery to repair an injured knee.
But life goes on minus the sophomore receiver-running back as Arkansas completed a closed practice Thursday and will have a closed to media practice Friday prepping for Saturday’s scrimmage that is open to media, but closed to the public.
“It hurts and it’s kind of sad at the same time,” sophomore running back Devwah Whaley said. “But T.J. is going to get well pretty soon. He’s going to have a speedy recovery. And he’ll be back before you know it.”
Initial reports, though still unconfirmed by the UA, project it touch an go whether Hammonds of Pulaski Robinson could play in the Aug. 31 season-opener against Florida A&M in Little Rock, but could be full go by Arkansas’ Sept. 9 game against TCU in Fayetteville.
Strictly a running back last season, Hammonds has mainly been a wide receiver since spring. The receiving corps already is minus without its top returnee, senior Jared Cornelius, whose projected recovery from a back injury doesn’t have him returning to the squad until the current 105man roster expands with the Aug. 21 start of UA classes.
“It’s definitely different without T.J.’s playmaking ability,” said Deon Stewart of Hardy, currently the co-old hand of the receiving corps along with fellow third-year sophomore La’Michael Pettway of Nashville. “But this is just a chance for all the younger guys to step up and try to get in there and get some playing time. But for them to do that, they have got to get in the playbook and learn the plays. If you don’t know what you are doing, you are not going to be able to get in.”
Of the newcomers practicing for the first time as Razorbacks this preseason, freshmen Jarrod Barnes of Cabot, Koilan Jackson of Pulaski Robinson, De’Vion Warren of Monroe, La., and junior transfer Gary Cross of Fordyce via Hutchinson (Kan.) Junior College are the most advanced with the playbook, Stewart said.
Of the freshman defensive backs he’s practiced against this preseason, Stewart said cornerback Chevin Calloway of Dallas Bishop Dunne stands out.
“Chevin is pretty much the one that has really opened my eyes,” Stewart said.
Could Calloway contribute
right away?
“I believe he can,” Stewart replied.
Arkansas coach Bret Bielema and receivers coach Michael Smith have lauded redshirt freshman receiver Jordan Jones of Smackover and Jonathan Nance, a junior transfer from Gulf Coast (Miss.) Junior College who enrolled last January at the UA.
Bielema targeted Pettway for some criticism after last week’s opening three practices of preseason drills.
Pettway has responded, particularly since have the Hogs have practiced in full pads since Tuesday.
“Pettway has been making plays the past few days,” Stewart said.
“In the red zone he’s been going up and using his size and strong hands. Pettway definitely has been stepping up.”
Senior starting quarterback Austin Allen of Fayetteville concurred Thursday.
“La’Michael Pettway, I'm telling you, the last three practices he looks like a different guy,” Allen said.
“He's going out there, making contested catches, running great routes, getting open.
“His whole attitude has just been phenomenal. I can't say enough good things about how he's playing.
“He just needs to keep coming along where he can be that guy. I have all the trust in the world in him.”
David Williams, the graduate transfer running back for two years at South Carolina, met with media Thursday for the first time since practicing as a Razorback.
Williams said the transition to Fayetteville has been “awesome” as has the relationship between he and Whaley, who was elevated to starting tailback after Rawleigh Williams’ career-ending neck injury last spring.
“Me and Devwah are gonna push each other,” Williams said.
“I know he's gonna come every day at practice and bring a 100 percent. That's gonna make me go a 100 percent, so we're gonna get better together.”
Asked about departing South Carolina, Williams said, “Me and coach (Will) Muschamp just didn't see eye to eye. He didn't recruit me. I was one who coach (Steve) Spurrier recruited, so I understand it was business or whatever, but I just felt I needed a fresh start.”
Williams originally planned on transferring to Connecticut, but knew Bielema from when he tried to recruit him out of high school in Philadelphia while Bielema still coached at Wisconsin.
“We had a good relationship,” Williams said. “I think the only reason I didn't go to Wisconsin was they were taking one running back and Corey Clement just happened to commit before I did.”