Arkansas' Bell leaves practice with injury.
FAYETTEVILLE - Arkansas' preseason so deep defensive end positions seem to be draining as Saturday's 3 p.m. SEC Network televised preseason opener at Reynolds Razorback Stadium against Eastern Illinois approaches.
Junior defensive end Jamario Bell of Junction City, not listed in the two-deep but in the six-man defensive ends rotation that defensive coordinator John Chavis projected to play Saturday, hobbled out of the first 20 minutes of Wednesday's practice that media viewed.
Presumably the extent of his injury will be ascertained by today.
Bell was about to be firstteam on last year's Razorbacks defense when he broke his foot during the August preseason.
He didn't return to active duty until playing on special teams the final two games of the 2017 season against Mississippi State and Missouri.
Senior Randy Ramsey, a projected starter since last spring and posted on the first team on this week's practice, has been limited in practices because of hamstring issues.
Junior Gabe Richardson, first team most of the preseason, likely will start if Ramsey doesn't.
Senior Michael Taylor is listed first team at the other defensive flank with junior college transfer Dorian Gerald in reserve.
Starting junior defensive tackle and Hope High grad McTelvin "Sosa" Agim played defensive end all last season and has been schemed to play both end and tackle this season.
Before Wednesday's practice, coach Chad Morris was asked about the availability of Ramsey and reserve tight ends Jeremy Patton and Grayson Gunter, also recently limited by injuries.
"A lot will be dependent on how today goes, tomorrow and they worked out yesterday," Morris said. "Getting better every day. We'll wait and see as it gets closer to the game on that."
After announcing Monday that third-year sophomore Cole Kelley will start at quarterback but that fourth-year junior quarterback Ty Storey of Charleston definitely also will play, Morris was asked Wednesday if he was going by feel when to put in Storey or already had a definite
plan.
"We’ll have a plan for it," Morris said. "We’ll make sure with that plan that they’re ready to go with it. The guys will be excited about the opportunity. I’m excited for Cole. I’m excited for Ty and just where we’re going to get this thing started off."
Is this approached like quarterbacks auditioning? "No, not really," Morris said. "We're just excited about Cole is gonna start and Ty is gonna play. He's gonna play early. They're gonna have their opportunities. That's kinda where we're at."
For Game One, Morris named linebackers Dre Greenlaw, a senior from Fayetteville, junior De'Jon "Scoota" Harris, senior safety Santos Ramirez, senior receiver Jared Cornelius and senior center Hjalte Froholdt as captains.
Captains will change game to game, Morris said before he names permanent captains.
Arkansas fans long accustomed to seeing their Razorbacks in red jerseys at home and white jerseys on the road have a white-out coming Saturday.
Morris said the Hogs will open the season clad in white jerseys and white pants topped by white helmets.
"I'm excited about it," Morris said. "It's something we've talked about and plan to do. It will be a great way to start the season off."
The new coach says he's stayed well apprised of old game day traditions, including leading the team presume "running through the A" formed by the spirit groups.
He said tight ends coach Barry Lunney, Arkansas' quarterback from 1992-95, and Bobby Allen, at Arkansas since 1998 as either a defensive coach or in administration, especially kept him apprised.
"Yeah, actually we have watched film of it," Morris said. "We’ve talked about it, we’ve talked about it with coach Lunney and coach Allen and just the tradition of running through A and how special that moment’s going to be for not just me and our coaching staff, but for these players as well. We just want to make sure that we’re representing Razorbacks of the past, the present and the future."
Morris also was asked if he's reflected on Saturday's game-day start to his Arkansas career.
"I'm just excited," Morris said. "I'm excited for these players. Excited for our staff. Excited for our state. It's not about me. It's about all these guys that are putting in all the time and effort. I will be excited to be on the sidelines with these guys as we kick this journey off."
BASEBALL SCHEDULE FINALIZED
The national runner-up Arkansas Razorbacks baseball program breaks University of Arkansas scheduling protocol in Fayetteville and announced Wednesday a 2019 schedule that includes instate schools UALR (University of Arkansas-Little Rock) and UAPB (the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
On April 2 at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville the Razorbacks host UALR and host UAPB on April 16 at Baum.
UALR and UAPB and the UA's Fayetteville campus all are in the University of Arkansas system.
Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn brought up the schedule that was approved.
“It’s exciting to have Little Rock and Arkansas-Pine Bluff as part of our 2019 non-conference schedule,” Van Horn said.
“It’s going to be great for the game of baseball in our state. Baseball has improved so much at the high school level in the state of Arkansas. I continue to see it every year when we’re recruiting. We see more Arkansas kids coming out of the state and they’re a big part of our program. I think this will help grow baseball.
“The fan interest is there and it’ll be big. I know after talking to (UALR) Coach (Chris) Curry and (UAPB) Coach (Carlos) James, they’re both very excited to have the opportunity to play at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville. It’ll be good for all our teams to play in that type of environment.”
The Razorbacks play 35 home games, one on April 30 against Grambling State at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock, and the rest at Baum.
SEC visitors to Baum include Missouri, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Tennessee and LSU.