Arkansas recovering health during off week
FAYETTEVILLE Refreshing starters who have played nine games in nine consecutive weeks and maximizing time with young redshirts and reserves who won’t get December bowl practice time continued Wednesday through the Arkansas Razorbacks’ bye week.
Their no bowl fate sealed with last Saturday’s seventh loss of the season, the Razorbacks (2-7, 0-5 in the SEC) practice Monday through Thursday this open date week before regrouping Sunday to prepare for next week’s game against LSU.
Arkansas hosts the nationally No. 4 Tigers Nov. 10 in the season finale for Reynolds Razorback Stadium, then finishes Nov.17 at Mississippi State and Nov. 23 at Missouri.
First-year coach Chad Morris and the maximum assistants allowed simultaneously on the recruiting road head to high school games Thursday night and Friday before getting a rare Saturday off.
“We’ve got a chance to get some guys healthy and get their legs back underneath us going nine straight games,” Morris said for openers on Wednesday’s SEC Coaches teleconference, his lone media availability during a week of completely closed practices. “Obviously, the grind that’s taken on the team and the depth, we had a chance to come in this week and focus in on ourselves and technique and things we’ve got to get better at. And really diving into the attention of some of our younger players getting in some live work. That’s kind of been our message so we can come out of this week a little bit more healthy than what we’ve been.”
Regarding injured trying to get healthy, Morris was asked about senior starting weakside linebacker Dre Greenlaw, sidelined by an injured ankle during the first quarter of last Saturday’s 45-31 SEC loss to Vanderbilt at Reynolds Razorback Stadium. He also mentioned senior receiver Jared Cornelius (ankle) and senior nickel back Kevin Richardson (ankle).
“He (Greenlaw) has not practiced this week,” Morris said. “We anticipate him being back for next week. Cornelius will be questionable still. He has not practiced with his ankle as well. Same way with Kevin Richardson.”
Morris also was asked about junior running back Devwah Whaley, who had ankle surgery after the 37-33 SEC loss to Ole Miss on Oct. 13 in Little Rock but with hope, Morris said back then, of playing in November.
“We think right now with Devwah it's still questionable,” Morris said. “We
will wait and see on him. He ran a little bit yesterday, so we'll see how he progresses. That's kinda where we're at right now.”
Morris delved deeper into this week’s practice format.
“The starters, we've got them out there and got some good work in,” Morris said. “Then we pull them out. We get a lot of good individual kinda fall camp mentality.
“A fall camp mentality mindset for these young guys, redshirt guys, younger guys that we'll do some live work with full pads, some scrimmaging and so yesterday was a really good day. Today will be a really good day to get that done and get back in here with these guys.
“We'll continue that process the rest of the season now that there's not gonna be any bowl practice. We will continue that a little bit each day as we continue to develop these younger guys.”
With the new rule allowing players to play a maximum four games and still redshirt, Morris formulates plans for these final three games.
True freshman quarterback Connor Noland of Greenwood for instance, can play in two of these final three games and still maintain his freshman eligibility.
Some others like freshman offensive tackle Noah Gatlin of Jonesboro, an early-season starter when junior starting left tackle Colton Jackson was still rehabbing from July back surgery, and freshman defensive lineman Isaiah Nichols of Springdale can be freshmen again next year if used judiciously.
“We’ve got a few guys that still have a game, possibly two games underneath them that we would like to see get in and get some game experience,” Morris said.
“I know Isaiah Nichols has another game. Noah Gatlin has another game. So we anticipate these guys getting in and doing some playing.”
Regardless whether they play in these final games, freshman defensive back LaDarrius Bishop of Ashdown and freshman defensive end Nicholas Fulwider of Tyrone, Ga., are among the rookies that Morris mentioned getting thorough evaluations in this week’s workouts.
Though he’s not using it this week, Morris has ridden a helicopter while recruiting for the Razorbacks and said he especially will utilize a helicopter going from site to site once the state high school playoffs stretch from November into December.
“I’ve used it numerous times,” Morris said. “I’ve used it at SMU in recruiting. You know it allows you to get into some of the smaller areas and schools. It obviously cuts down on drive time. Then also just the appearance of it you know.
“Just being different. In recruiting, it’s all about being on the cutting edge and being different and putting an interest in it. We’ve used it several times.”