Hogs welcome Jackson back to offensive line
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas incumbent left tackle Colton Jackson, of Conway, was back on the first team during practice on Tuesday after getting his feet wet off of the bench with the second team on Saturday during the Razorbacks’ 44-17 loss to North Texas following a return from injury.
Jackson returned to practicing in full pads last week after returning from his back surgery performed in July. He was Arkansas’ starting left tackle for most of the last two seasons under former coach Bret Bielema.
Coach Chad Morris counted on the junior to start until his suddenly, increasingly ailing back required surgery. The Razorbacks (1-2, 0-0) now prepare for their 6:30 p.m. game on Saturday to open play in the Southeastern Conference West division against Auburn (2-1, 0-1). The game is scheduled to be televised by the SEC Network from the Tigers’ Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala.
Arkansas won its season opener, 55-20, against Eastern Illinois (0-3), a member of the Ohio Valley Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision. Redshirt freshman Shane Clenin started at left tackle.
Clenin injured an ankle in the opener and was replaced the last two games by true freshman Noah Gatlin, of Jonesboro. Arkansas led 27-9 in the third quarter on Sept. 8 at Colorado State’s Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Colo., before suffering a 34-27 defeat to the Mountain West Conference member. The Razorbacks were rolled, 44-17, on Saturday by North Texas (3-0), a member of
Conference USA.
Morris and offensive coordinator Joe Craddock praised Gatlin for doing the best he could as a true rookie at a position most do not master until their third college season. They now welcome Jackson’s return, even if his summer workouts were detoured by rehab from his surgery.
“He did some good things,” Morris said Monday when asked about Jackson’s play against North Texas. “You could definitely tell it was his first game. We’ll continue to bring him along. He was sore as well, but definitely he will give us some depth in our offensive line.
“I was pleased with Noah Gatlin at left tackle again for a freshman to be put in those situation the last two weeks. Hopefully, we’ll be able to get Colton back in there to help out as well.”
Craddock also was asked about Jackson at the coaches’ Monday press conference.
“Colton played and, obviously, was a little rusty and a little bit out of shape,” Craddock said. “But I think with a good week of practice and just getting back into the flow of things, he’s going to be just fine.”
“I’m getting there,” Jackson said Tuesday. “I’m game speed but I don’t know if I’m 100 percent condition. It’ll probably take these next few weeks to get my legs back.”
Jackson played 23 snaps spelling Gatlin against North Texas and said he is banking on going the distance Saturday without relief, if necessary. Morris was told in July to expect Jackson to miss at least the first six games.
Jackson has redshirted one season and said he was not about to miss the bulk of the season with just one more to spare. He spent time in the training room and worked in rehab as soon as he was cleared.
“A lot of conditioning, a lot of core work and that’s really helped me a lot to not skip a beat when I get back out there,” Jackson said.
“It’s great,” senior second-year junior college transfer tight end Jeremy Patton said Tuesday night. “Just having that guy with two years playing time behind him. Early in the year, we had guys that really hadn’t played a whole lot of football. Not that they aren’t ready, but they just haven’t experienced that yet.
“Playing at this level, it’s tough. It was tough for me last year playing at this level. So, getting a guy who is a vet and experienced is going to make all the difference at that left tackle position.”
Senior starting center Hjalte Froholdt, Arkansas’ starting left guard the last two seasons, worked some at left guard Tuesday, while sophomore starting left guard Ty Clary worked some at center. Clary was a backup center in the spring after starting four games as a true freshman in 2017.
Offensive line coach Dustin Fry has cross-trained about everybody but senior right tackle Brian Wallace trying to create depth on the injury depleted line.
Morris said Arkansas’ starting cornerback from the first two games, Chevin Calloway, missed the North Texas game, “because of some personal family issues he’s dealing with. Calloway was not spotted during the first 20 minutes of Tuesday’s practice open to the media.
Junior Britto Tutt and redshirt freshman Jarques McClellion were among the corners taking Calloway’s place opposite entrenched cornerback Ryan Pulley against North Texas. Tutt was in a green limited practice jersey Tuesday.
Junior college transfer defensive end Dorian Gerald, idled by an ankle injury last week, practiced Tuesday.