Competition paramount under new coach Morris
Arkansas’ new head football coach Chad Morris praised the Razorbacks he inherited from Bret Bielema as the team seeks to rebound from a 4-8 season.
“Our current football team is working extremely hard,” Morris said. “This has been a really good spring. While Tuesday’s practice may not have been our best practice, these guys are working hard. They are getting better every day.”
The team will hold its Red-White intrasquad game today at 1 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. The game will be televised on the SEC Network (Resort Channel 79).
Morris said the team needs to continue to improve. The Razorbacks will open the season on Sept. 1 against Eastern Illinois at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, which is currently undergoing renovations in Fayetteville.
“Every position group has got to get better,” Morris replied. “We’re a long way from where we need to be.”
Backups on the defensive line get an opportunity today to show improvement. Junior McTelvin “Sosa” Agim, the junior 2-year letterman out of Hope High School, is excused from the game because of a death in his family. Morris said Agim would have played both positions as he did during practice on Thursday.
Morris has touted inside linebackers Dre Greenlaw and Scoota Harris, as well as cornerback Ryan Pulley throughout the spring. He said Kamren Curl’s move from cornerback to strong safety has also been successful.
Arkansas returns a deep group of receivers, but Morris said none have taken command thus far.
“At the wide receiver position, Jordan Jones is a a guy that’s got great speed — elite speed — that’s got to continue to keep coming on,” Morris said. “Mike Woods has done a really good job. De’Vion’ (Warren) has done a really good job. (La’Michael) Pettway has had a good spring. He’s really kind of come on during about the last three practices. But has there been one guy that says, ‘Hey, I’m the guy. I’m the playmaker, I’m the guy, they put the ball in my hands right now?’ No, not yet.”
Morris said, in fairness to them, all have been occupied cross-training in the varied roles in the offense that taking command of any particular position has been difficult.
“We’ve been so focused on cross-training these guys and trying to let them learn the concepts,” Morris said. “But they all want the ball. We’ve just got to keep challenging them.”
Arkansas lost preseason All-American center Frank Ragnow to a season-ending ankle injury in the fall during his final year of eligibility. Zach Rogers, would have been the top returning center, graduated ahead of scheduled and decided to pursue opportunities outside of football.
Sophomores Dylan Hays and Ty Clary contest at center.
“Dylan has done a really good job there,” Morris said. “Ty’s another one that’s come in at center. Audry (Horn, a redshirt freshman walk-on from Benton via Little Rock Catholic) has played some center. We’re rotating guys around. Moving Shane (Clenin) some at the tackle position and we’re moving him into some guard today. We’re moving guys around constantly.”
Redshirt freshman running back Maleek Barkley, junior receiver Brandon Martin and sophomore defensive tackle Austin Capps will not play in today’s game, Morris said. All are recovering from various injuries.