FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas offensive line coach Eric Mateos used the same starting five for the second consecutive practice on Monday as the Razorbacks had a third workout in a row without returning starter Patrick Kutas at left guard.
The first five consisted of left tackle Fernando Carmona, left guard Amaury Wiggins, center Addison Nichols, right guard Josh Braun and right tackle Keyshawn Blackstock. The Razorbacks worked in shells outside in their first morning practice with temperatures pushing up into the high 80s early Monday.
In their first practice with Kutas sidelined with a back issue last Friday, the Hogs went with the same five, with Wiggins at center and Nichols at left guard.
Coach Sam Pittman, as has been his trend, spent extra time with the offensive line group during individual drills early in practice.
He occasionally barked out praise for both players and Mateos, saying at one point, “Coach, that was a good drill. That’s three good (individual periods).”
Pittman made sure the entire group could hear his words of encouragement, at one point focusing on the work of redshirt sophomore tackle E-Marion Harris of Little Rock’s Joe T. Robinson High, who is backing up Carmona at left tackle.
“Gotta give ‘E’ a chance to start for us,” Pittman said. “He’s playing too good.”
Later, he touted Blackstock, shouting, “Blackstock, a ball-playing (dude)! A bad man!”
The Razorbacks are scheduled to don full pads for the first time for morning practice Tuesday.
Personnel
Defensive end Anton Juncaj and cornerback Marquise Robinson attended practice but they were not dressed out. Both players walked the perimeter of the practice fields during the media viewing portion of practice.
Left guard Patrick Kutas missed his third consecutive practice as he continues to deal with a back problem that slowed him last Thursday.
Freshman linebacker JuJu Pope, who is dealing with a hamstring problem, has not practiced yet. Nor has cornerback Jaden Allen (knee), linebacker Justin Logan (shoulder) or offensive lineman Zuri Madison.
Broden over Braxton
Jaylon Braxton was in coverage last Wednesday when 6-7 receiver Tyrone Broden hauled in a leaping one-hand catch on a deep ball for a long touchdown strike in the first set of “fastball start” plays of training camp.
“He’s going to make a lot of deep plays,” Braxton said. “He was doing that in the spring. That’s just what he does, so yeah, you expect that a lot from him.”
Going power
The Razorbacks spent time during a team period early in practice on Monday motioning tight ends into the backfield to serve as fullbacks in I-formation snaps.
That formation fits in with comments Coach Sam Pittman made on the eve of camp about the offensive philosophy under Bobby Petrino.
“I think if you look at our offense, we’re trying to get back to that physicality and that size,” Pittman said. “I think JJ (Ja’Quinden Jackson) is perfect for what we’re trying to do. … So I like where we’re at there (at tailback), but I think we just tried to get bigger so we can run the football.”
Poll position
Arkansas will play seven teams ranked in the top 20 of the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll, which was released on Monday.
The teams, in order by rank, are No. 4 Texas, No. 6 Ole Miss, No. 11 Missouri, No. 12 LSU, No. 15 Tennessee, No. 18 Oklahoma State and No. 20 Texas A&M.
The Razorbacks will host Texas, Ole Miss, LSU and Tennessee, play Missouri and Oklahoma State on the road and will take on Texas A&M at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The Razorbacks, who got no votes in the poll, will also play one team that is receiving votes in Auburn, which had 25 total points to slot in at No. 32 in the voting.
Pass pro drill
The running backs and tight ends paired up to conduct pass-protection drills against linebackers and nickel backs on Monday, with plenty of outstanding reps.
On the offensive side, tailback Ja’Quinden Jackson and Luke Hasz, a pair of likely starters, had strong showings. Jackson’s physical stop of linebacker Kaden Henley drew a big reaction from all the offensive side.
Defensively, Xavian Sorey and Anthony Switzer showed displays of speed, agility and aggressiveness to win a number of snaps. Sorey had a particularly good matchup against tailback Rashod Dubinion.
Switzer appeared to win all of his reps, including a lightning-fast inside move against tight end Var’keyes Gumms, until he squared off with Jackson, who squared him up and kept him out of the backfield.
After a winning rep from Switzer, Coach Sam Pittman complimented the move and the fast pressure, calling out “Good job.”
Key catches
Some of the top catches in camp so far have gone to mainstays Andrew Armstrong, Tyrone Broden, Isaiah Sategna, Isaac TeSlaa and Luke Hasz.
Redshirt freshman Davion Dozier turned in a doozy on Saturday, a one-handed snag with the left hand against tight coverage by Aidan McCowan on the left sideline for a touchdown.
Visitors
University of Arkansas Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek was in attendance Monday morning. Yurachek, a first-year member of the College Football Playoff selection committee, was sitting with Rodger Hunter, the former UA student-athlete development coordinator. Hunter is a North Little Rock native who received his degree from Arkansas State.
105 scholarships
Coach Sam Pittman isn’t a fan of an NCAA proposal which would increase football scholarships from 85 to 105, but cap roster sizes at 105 rather than the current 120. “Well, I really don’t like it, to be perfectly honest with you,” Pittman said. “Now, let me tell you this, you’re going to be able to chop up your scholarships, which now it’s 85 fulls.
“You’re going to be able to reward some other guys. The problem is, are we going to go 85 and 20? Nobody in the SEC wants to lose the walk-on program. Nobody.
“Hell, we got the Burlsworth Trophy. I mean, nobody.”
The Burlsworth Trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, the late All-American Arkansas guard, and the past 13 years has been presented annually to the top player who began his career as a walk-on.
The list includes two-time winner Baker Mayfield — a Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft who starts for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — as well as former Arkansas linebacker Grant Morgan.
“It’s an incredible list of kids,” Pittman said. “Imagine Grant didn’t play at the University of Arkansas because we couldn’t eventually help him. “Nowadays, every walk-on is probably going to get a little bit of money … Imagine (if) he went D-II.”
Pittman said 105 isn’t a big enough roster size.
“We can’t go out and get another player during the season like the NFL can,” he said. “And I know they start with a significantly lower number than we do, but they also can go replace a guy. We wouldn’t be able to do that.
“I don’t want to lose the walk-on status of our kids. I think it’s important, especially in our state, to have walk-ons from your state on the team.”
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Publish date : 2024-08-05 20:05:00
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