Junior college standouts making strides with Razorbacks.

FAYETTEVILLE After their sixth preseason practice and second full one in full pads, Arkansas Razorbacks junior college transfers Jeremy Patton and Gabe Richardson met the media Wednesday.

Patton is a tight end where the Razorbacks are loaded with talented players, but willingly will find room for the junior college transfer deemed the No. 1 tight end recruit in the country by 24/7 Sports and ESPN among others.

Patton starred at Arizona Western Junior College from which he completed graduating during the summer.

And Richardson plays outside linebacker, now with expanded opportunities since coach Bret Bielema last winter had defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads switch the Razorbacks from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense. It’s more opportunity, but shorter on available candidates with first-team outside “Hog” backer Karl Roesler idled by a hamstring injury and previously second-team Hog backer Jamario Bell of Junction City likely out for the season having undergone surgery Monday to repair his broken foot.

So Richardson, also reporting during the summer after graduating from Hutchinson (Kan.) Junior College, currently operates at second-team Hog ‘backer behind Randy Ramsey, moved from first-team “Razor” outside linebacker to first-team “Hog” after both Roesler and Bell were sidelined.

Senior Dwayne Eugene, who has played both inside Mike middle and Will weakside linebacker positions, now operates at first-team Razor. Razor is the more strong safety/outside linebacker hybrid, while Hog is more like a defensive end playing linebacker.

“I’m just more of the Hog,” Richardson (6-3, 239) said. “Just a big body.”

A big body obviously with catching up to do after not getting to report until the summer, but in some ways ahead of the game because he actually played games last fall in the 3-4 as a freshman at Hutchinson and now practices as a UA sophomore.

“We ran the same defense,” Richardson said. “The concept is the same thing. I'm getting aligned with it, learning the playbook, getting adjusted with the guys. We're going to play fast, we're going to play hard.”

And as a junior college transfer, Richardson said it’s his job to contribute “immediately.”

“I’m coming with my hat,” Richardson said. “I’m bringing it. All year long.”

Richardson knows well from last year’s Arkansas rushing defense or lack thereof why Bielema implemented the 3-4 upon promoting Rhoads to defensive coordinator. “We're not going to sit back and just let the run hit us deep,” Richardson said. “I mean, Auburn (crushing Arkansas 56-3 last season at Auburn) ran for 500 on us. With this 3-4 defense, we're going to make sure we stuff the run and we're going to play sound with the pass.”

Patton joins a deep tight end corps headed by third-year sophomore Austin Cantrell of Roland, Okla., called by Enos “might be the best blocking tight end in college football,” and sophomore pass-catcher Cheyenne O’Grady, lettermen Jack Kraus and Grayson Gunter and heralded out of Dumas High School third-year sophomore Will Gragg.

Tight ends coach Barry Lunney insists the way Bielema employs tight ends that four tight ends can log significant snaps in the same game.

“We’ve got a good rotation going in practice,” Patton said.

And a cohesive one, he said, especially being a newcomer feeling welcomed by some whose playing time he could subtract.

“They're my brothers,” Patton said. “There's no animosity between one another. Jack Kraus is a great leader. Austin Cantrell leads by his play. We all get along well. They've helped me so much. They're telling me the right things to do and how to do it.”

With Patton having to report late into the summer, Lunney compared him to a race car trailing but catching up.

“He may be a lap behind, but I will say this, he’s got his foot on the gas pedal,” Lunney said. “He's doing his best to try to catch up and I believe he's got the car

to do it.”

As wide receiver teammates at Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College, Brandon Martin was rated more the Ferrari and Jonathan Nance more the sedan by recruiting services when both signed with Arkansas.

However, receivers coach Michael Smith says it’s Nance motoring ahead right now as Martin needs to shed weight.

“I'd like to see him be in better shape,” Smith said.“I had a concern with his weight over the summer. But he's working on that, trying to get that down. I also want him to know the playbook. I don't feel he's where he needs to be, but I have some high expectations for him, and I know he'll come around and get it done for me.”

Regarding Nance, Smith said he has been outstanding.

“Jonathan Nance has been lights out," Smith said. "He’s played very, very well. You could tell he had a really good summer, learned the playbook and is doing some really good things.”