Arkansas’ o-line takes another hit
FAYETTEVILLE — Deion Malone is the latest in Arkansas’ 2018 offensive linemen felled by injury.
Malone, the 6-3, 293 senior who transferred from Northwest (Miss.) Community College as a junior offensive lineman redshirted by Bret Bielema’s staff in 2016, “is out and will be out the rest of the year,” first-year Arkansas coach Chad Morris said after Tuesday’s practice.
“He had season-ending surgery last night on his knee,” Morris said. “It (the injury) was in a pass-rush drill in practice.”
Although the Razorbacks don’t start practicing in full pads until today, the offensive line took a beating during the summer. Incumbent fourth-year junior left tackle Colton Jackson, of Conway, had back surgery last month that will sideline him at least until midseason, and third-year sophomore starting center Dylan Hays is idled by a back injury. Reserve junior guard Jalen Merrick (“headaches,” Morris said) appears to be under concussion protocol.
“It’s an area we are already struggling with a little bit in some depth issues,” Morris said. “But again that’s why they call it coaching. We’ll continue to bring guys along.”
Redshirt freshman Shane Clenin, previously a tackle or guard, and sophomore Ty Clary, lettering at guard last year
as a true freshman moved to center last spring, respectively have worked on the first and second units shotgun snapping in Morris’ Spread offense with Hays out.
Both were involved in a planned wet ball drill Monday and a natural one Tuesday as it rained during a portion of practice.
“We try to put them in a wet ball situation quite a bit to see how that works,” Morris said. “We have been inconsistent in snapping the ball. We’ve been good; we just haven’t had the consistency where we want it. Some are here, some are here, some are low. We want that consistent right in the numbers. We are working on that and moving guys around, but you expected that and is not really a concern of mine right now.”
Backup defensive tackle Briston Guidry (knee) also has not been practicing.
“We hope to get Jalen back hopefully in the next few days, early next week,” Morris said. “Briston is still kind of day-today right now with his knee. We anticipate he will be back, hopefully before the end of next week. As far as center right now, Dylan (strained back) is a guy that has been day-to-day as well. He started out the first few practices, and we kept him out the last two so hopefully we can get him back in and get him going the last part of this week.”
Junior receiver Deon Stewart (hamstring) also didn’t practice Tuesday.
During the first 20 minutes of practice available for media to watch, outside linebacker Derrick Munson stripped the ball from running back T.J. Hammonds, and backup safety Montaric Brown broke up a pass he nearly tabbed for what would have been a pick-six touchdown.
“He (Brown) is actually having a really good camp through four practices,” Morris said. “The play you’re referring to early on in practice just reaffirms the type of camp that he’s having. Obviously there’s things you’ve got to do to continue to get better and improve, but he’s having a good camp so far. We’ll see how it goes.”
The Razorbacks now have fulfilled their NCAA-mandated two practices in helmets and shorts and two practices in helmets and shoulder pads. Hard full-pads practices loom today and Thursday, and a tapered practice Friday will lead into Saturday’s closed scrimmage.
“We’ll get out there and see what our young guys got,” Morris said. “We know the guys that will get out there that are experienced and have played and hit. I want to see a lot of competition going on tomorrow. I want to see a lot of excitement, guys flying around. A lot of energy is really what I’m looking for.”