Razorbacks roll into final week before fall semester
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas plans to work some of the players held out of Saturday’s scrimmage in the upcoming week, the final full week of preseason practices before the university’s fall semester classes begin on Aug. 20.
Proven senior first-teamers Brian Wallace, right offensive tackle, and defensive end Randy Ramsey were among players withheld from the scrimmage that head coach Chad Morris presumed would practice today. The scrimmage was closed to the media and the public.
Others withheld included sophomore running back Chase Hayden, reserve linebackers Dee Walker and Alexy Jean-Baptiste, graduate transfer receiver Chase Harrell and redshirt freshman Jordon Curtis. Morris said reserve defensive lineman Briston Guidry, injured before the preseason, can now practice on a limited basis. Center Dylan Hays worked after missing most of preseason drills with an ailing back and falling to backup behind senior Hjalte Froholdt.
Stats from the closed scrimmage were not released to media, but offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Joe Craddock said he believed fourth-year junior quarterback Ty Storey was “somewhere around 9 of 12 passing” and third-year sophomore quarterback Cole Kelley “was about 13 of 26.”
Craddock said both quarterbacks were hampered by “about five drops,” that should have been catches by their intended receivers. Among the receivers Craddock touted were freshman Michael Woods, atoning for a drop with a catch of what Craddock called “a 50-50 ball” battling with a defender. He also touted a couple of unheralded surprises, receivers Gary Cross, of Fordyce, and Tobias Enlow, of North Little Rock.
“I tell you one thing, Gary Cross is fast,” Craddock said. “He’s gotten by some DBs in fall camp thus far. We’re just trying to find out what all he can do. He’s really come a long way. I love what he’s done to make himself better and to work on his
craft this summer. He’s actually learning the plays, which was kind of his biggest thing in the spring. He just didn’t know what to do. But man, he’s really come a long way. Tobias is doing a great job as well. Those two are really good guys that are competing for a job.”
Both Morris and Craddock cited junior running back Devwah Whaley as the scrimmage’s top rusher.
Veteran defensive coordinator John Chavis is not prone to lavishing public praise on rookies until they’ve played in real games, but freshman reserve weakside Will linebacker Bumper Pool merited Chavis’ attention on Saturday.
“I feel real good about Bumper Pool,” Chavis said. “He’s having a heck of a fall camp. He’s doing well. He’s playing the position well. He’s smart, he learns and he’s got some instincts.”
A 6-2, 223, December graduate who first committed to former coach Bret Bielema and stayed with then brand new Arkansas coach Morris to sign in December, Pool joined the Razorbacks for the 2018 spring semester but was quickly pulled from spring practice because of mononucleosis.
“I didn’t have enough opportunities
PGA Championship in the spring to see that, but I’m seeing it now,” Chavis said after Saturday’s scrimmage. “And I’m pretty excited about it … He’s working at Will most of the time right now and he’ll work some at Mike (middle linebacker).”
Among his veterans, Chavis praised junior middle linebacker Scoota Harris, senior weakside linebacker Dre Greenlaw and senior free safety Santos Ramirez.
“Santos for sure is a leader on our football team,” Chavis said. “There’s no question about that. He’s a guy that you’d love to have with the same demeanor on every position on defense.”