Hays talks moving to center
FAYETTEVILLE — Although withheld from Monday’s practice for an apparently relatively minor injury, Arkansas third-year sophomore Dylan Hays was allowed to expound on moving from last year’s reserve defensive line to starting at center for this year’s Razorbacks.
Hays, a Little Rock Christian Academy grad, played both offensive guard and defensive tackle for the Warriors and redshirted on Arkansas’ offensive line in 2016 before lettering for 10 games last year as a reserve nose guard with a fumble recovery.
If he starts the Sept. 1 season opener at center against Eastern Illinois, it will be the first time, including high school and junior high, he has played center in a game that counts.
“I’m not nervous about being out there,” Hays said, noting he’s flanked by experienced senior guards. “I’ve got Hjalte (Froholdt) on my left then got J-Gib (Dumas native Johnny Gibson) on my right. I mean, I know I’m going to be fine out there. I just have to get those snaps, just being fluid with it. Once you start thinking about it too much that just gets in your head, and you can’t be bogged down with all that stuff.”
Hays was asked about his being clad Monday in a green jersey which forbid him from contact during the third practice of the preseason after the team added shoulder pads following the two NCAA-mandated helmet-only practices.
“I’m good,” Hays said. “Just getting through some stuff, but I’ll be fine.”
Redshirt freshman Shane Clenin of Festus, Mo., moved from tackle, and sophomore Ty Clary, lettering with four starts last season at right guard, were Monday’s first and second team centers with Hays out and 2017 centers Frank Ragnow, the All-American injured during the
2017 season, graduated to the NFL and Zach Rogers, the starter when Ragnow went down, graduated.
“They were doing good,” Hays said of the understudies’ Monday practice. “We were having a little trouble with the wet ball. The first time we’ve done it (a wet ball drill) since spring, so that’s going to happen. But they were out there blocking very good and staying heavy through their blocks. I thought they did pretty good.”
Hays also was asked about Dalton Wagner, the redshirt freshman moved from backup right tackle to first-team left tackle with fourth-year junior incumbent left tackle Colton Jackson idled until at least mid- season after undergoing back surgery in July.
“Colton Jackson is still here among the 110 (the maximum preseason practice roster), and he’s coaching Dalton up on everything,” Hays said. “I know Dalton is going to work hard, and we all know he can do it. We have a lot of camp left, and there’s stuff we all have to improve on. We all know he’s improving, and he’s going to be a good player.”
Aside from Hays and obviously Jackson, reserve junior offensive lineman Jalen Merrick did not practice Monday nor did reserve defensive tackle Briston Guidry or Fordyce freshman defensive lineman Billy Ferrell.
The first team defense, as seen in the first 20 minutes that media was allowed to view practice, included ends McTelvin “Sosa” Agim and Randy Ramsey, tackles T.J. Smith and Armon Watts, inside linebackers De’Jon “Scoota” Harris and Dre Greenlaw, Hayden Henry as a Sam outside linebacker interchanged with nickel back D’Von McClure and a secondary of cornerbacks Ryan Pulley and Chevin Calloway and safeties Santos Ramirez and Kamren Curl.
The second defense included ends Jamario Bell and Gabe Richardson, tackles Austin Capps and Jonathan Marshall, linebackers Grant Morgan and Giovanni LaFrance, nickel backs/ Sam linebackers Nate Dalton, Joe Foucha and Derrick Munson, cornerbacks Britto Tutt and Jarques McClellion and safeties Micahh Smith and Montaric Brown.
Junior college transfer Tutt redshirted as a 2016 junior college transfer because of a knee injury requiring surgery, and he weathered knee injuries last year though he did letter playing eight games and recording two tackles.
“I’m feeling a lot better,” Tutt said after Monday’s practice crediting strength coach Trumain Carroll and cornerbacks coach Mark Smith. “Working with coach Tru, Mark, he’s helping me with transitioning my hips, getting back good. I don’t even have any knee problems any more, so I’m looking forward to playing this fall.”