Harris averages pick a day
FAYETTEVILLE — One University of Arkansas defender has interceptions each of the last three days of camp, and it’s not freshman safety Jalen Catalon, who has two pick-sixes in that span.
The interception man is senior linebacker De’Jon “Scoota” Harris, who picked off Ben Hicks on Tuesday, then Nick Starkel on Wednesday and Thursday.
“Scoota is leading the team in picks right now,” defensive end Dorian Gerald said.
Harris said his pass drops and coverage were a point of emphasis when his draft evaluation came back for the NFL Draft advisory board last winter and defensive coordinator John “Chief” Chavis has stressed it to him.
“That’s one of the things me and Chief came together after the season and tried to focus on, just doing a better job in the passing game,” Harris said. “So I’ve been trying to get out early [in coverage] and just had a couple of tipped balls to me from the D-line, just at the right place at the right time.”
Harris said he caught a tipped pass in Thursday’s work.
“My first two were just me in my right spot, just playing the ball,” Harris said.
The defense notched several more takeaways on Thursday, with Gerald saying the first unit accounted for two turnovers and other units combining for two more.
Harris said the takeaway count is not troubling for the Razorback offense.
“It doesn’t give me concerns at all,” he said. “We have players on both sides, who have scholarships on both sides of the ball. … It was good throws, I was just in the right place at the right time.”
TD makers
Based on clips shared on social media by the UA, there were several touchdowns scored on Thursday.
Starkel scored from short yardage on fourth down on a naked bootleg, Hicks threw an in-cut 7-yard touchdown pass to Koilan Jackson in front of LaDarrius Bishop, and tight end Blake Kern caught a touchdown pass from intermediate yardage.
Personnel report
Defensive back Micahh Smith, defensive tackle Nick Fulwider and offensive lineman Ricky Stromberg were not spotted during the opening four periods of the workout.
Others not in attendance, including tight end Hudson Henry, defensive end Eric Gregory, defensive tack
le Isaiah Nichols and receiver Daulton Hyatt, have previously missed time. Gregory was wearing a walking boot on his left foot on Thursday.
Coming up
The Razorbacks will hold a closed session for practice No. 7 of camp today. The workout is expected to be in helmets and shorts as a light session.
Practice No. 8 will be the first full-scale scrimmage of camp, and it will also be closed to the media and public.
QB battle
Junior receiver De’Vion Warren likes what he’s seeing in the battle for the starting quarterback job between grad transfers Hicks and Starkel.
“It’s interesting to see two people battle,” Warren said. “Like we battle in the receiving room, but to see it from a different position like that is amazing.
“Like you see them battle, but you also see them critique each other, which is a good thing. Which means they know how to battle but they also know how to help each other out.”
I’m not fat!
Gerald said he weighs 260 pounds — down from 283 last season — and not 293.
He said he’s heard several people quote the 293 figure as his weight.
“I look fat to y’all?” Gerald said Thursday. “I look that big?”
Gerald, a junior college transfer who arrived on campus the third day of preseason practice last year, looks to be in good shape physically and said he feels better at the lighter weight.
“I feel a lot faster. I feel how I’m supposed to feel,” he said. “Last year, I came in, I was too sluggish. I couldn’t go 10 plays. Now I can go 10 plays. Last year, I couldn’t go more than four or five. I can tell a big difference.”
RT work
The coaching staff has given numerous players work at right tackle behind first teamer Dalton Wagner and his top backup Ryan Winkel since redshirt freshman Noah Gatlin was lost for the year to a knee injury.
First-team right guard Shane Clenin said he’s among the players who have cross trained there.
“Myron Cunningham will go out there a little bit when he’s not doing left tackle,” Clenin said on Tuesday. “I’ll do a couple reps just to give some people a break. Kirby [Adcock] did a couple, Ty [Clary] did a couple. Dylan Rathcke is kind of like the third right tackle right now, so he’s been doing a pretty good job.”
Praise for Soli
Gerald said freshman Mataio Soli has been standing out in practice among the young players.
“Honestly, Soli is what you look for in a D-end,” Gerald said. “He’s very twitchy. He’s a big dude. He’s fast.
“Soli’s just got to keep getting better every day. As long as Soli keeps coming and gets better like he does, Soli’s going to be one of the best defensive ends to come through, in my opinion.”
Gerald brought up Soli when asked who has done a good job of pressuring the quarterbacks.
“You’re going to ask me that? I’m going to say me,” Gerald said. “I mean, I like everybody. But me personally, Soli stands out to me. I know I speak high on him, but Soli is going to be a really good player.”
Attack drill
The Razorbacks mostly surround the four combatants in the “Attack” drill that opened period 1 on both Tuesday and Thursday.
However, there was a brief window to glimpse an all-receivers drill on Thursday that pitted Mike Woods against Jordan Jones, Tyson Morris and Warren. Woods was able to fight through his position mates, who are staggered in a roughly 10 to 15-yard section of grass, to reach the goal area.
The UA posted a nice clash between freshmen defensive tackles Enoch Jackson and Marcus Miller and another one between Miller and freshman Taurean Carter on its social media accounts on Thursday.
Aggressive D
Defensive tackle Jonathan Marshall said familiarity with the scheme in coordinator John Chavis’ second season has resulted in forcing more turnovers in practice.
“Honestly, we’re being more aggressive on defense than we were last year,” Marshall said. ‘Last year we were playing a little timid because we were new to the system.”
Better together
Gerald said he goes against offensive tackle Wagner in practice almost exclusively.
“He gets better every day,” Gerald said. “He gets me better, and I get him better every day.”
Keep it on
Marshall said his weight got as low as 275 or 280 pounds last season.
Marshall said he’s at 304 pounds now and hopes to stay at that weight throughout this season.
“Oh yeah,” Marshall said. “I’ve got to maintain it a lot better. I’ve switched up my eating habits and all that. So I’m doing a lot better.”