Freshmen lace Hogs' depth chart

Posted: September 1, 2009 at 5:03 a.m.

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FAYETTEVILLE — Nine scholarship true freshmen and a walk-on freshman are listed on the Razorbacks' depth chart released Monday for Saturday night's season-opener against Missouri State in Little Rock.

Pinch-hitting for head coach Bobby Petrino while the elder Petrino brother addressed the Little Rock Touchdown Club, offensive coordinator/receivers coach Paul Petrino told media in Fayetteville Monday afternoon he's presuming all 10 will play rather than be on a wait-and-see redshirt basis for 2009.

Paul Petrino also acknowledged some true freshmen not on the depth chart for Saturday's 6 p.m. game at War Memorial Stadium might still at some point figure in the Razorbacks' 2009 game plan rather than mothball their freshman eligibility for 2010.

"I think everybody on the depth chart right now," Paul Petrino said, "we are planning on playing. There might be one or two we are still looking at and preparing to play but, if no injuries occur, they will be able to redshirt. But it something happens they are prepared to come in and play."

The nine scholarship true freshmen on the depth chart include second-team receiver Cobi Hamilton, weakside offensive tackle Anthony Oden, listed as an either or second-teamer with sophomore Grant Freeman behind junior Ray Dominguez, second offensive strongside guard Alvin Bailey; reserve running backs Ronnie Wingo and Knile Davis.

On defense, true freshman Terrell Williams and swing linebacker Jerry Franklin, the sophomore from Marion, are listed as either-or starters at weakside Will linebacker with Franklin also either-or Mike at middle linebacker with senior Wendel Davis.

True freshman D.D. Jones is listed at backup tackle behind senior Malcolm Sheppard, and true freshman David Gordon is listed as the either-or second-team field cornerback with sophomore Greg Gatson behind junior college transfer first-teamer Rudell Crim.

A walk-on freshman, Dylan Breeding, is listed as the either-or punter with Briton Forester, a junior college transfer and former punter for the University of Hawaii.

Cornerback Darius Winston of Helena-West Helena Central and tight ends Austin Tate of Harrison and Colton Nash and receiver Lance Ray are among the true freshmen who logged extensive varsity preseason practice time that the UA staff prefer to redshirt if possible.

The depth chart revealed changes following the staff evaluations of last Friday night's scrimmage that was closed to the public and to media.

Most notably, seniorMatt Harris, the No. 1 free safety throughout preseason until supplanted last week by Jerell Norton, is back at No. 1 with JC transfer Anthony Leon, No. 2.

Norton isn't listed on the safety chart but is listed with Michael Smith and Cobi Hamilton as either-or punt returners behind Joe Adams.

Offensively, the most interesting "or's in the Arkansas depth chart water included sophomore Greg Childs and senior London Crawford listed either-or starters at wide receiver, and three running backs, sophomores Dennis Johnson and Broderick Green and freshman Wingo, listed either-or second-teamers behind senior All-SEC first-team starter Michael Smith.

With those four tailbacks plus Knile Davis, sophomore tailback De'Anthony Curtis of Camden Fairview now is listed as the second-team fullback behind junior Van Stumon.

Regarding Crawford and Childs, Paul Petrino said, "Those two have been battling all camp. Greg had a real good camp and was ahead of him. This last scrimmage, London played a little bit better. So this week will determine who steps on the field first. They both are going to play a bunch any way and keep each other fresh."

Curtis has shown too well in a crowded tailback field not to be tried to somewhere else and has apprenticed some in a running back tandem with Smith.

"De'Anthony has done a nice job at fullback this fall camp," Paul Petrino said. "We have a couple of different personnel groups where he lines up at tailback but we have a couple of personnel groups that he has been playing fullback. We just haven't been listing him in the depth chart there but he has been playing there."

Dominguez, the incumbent offensive tackle, won his first-spot back after injuries put him behind Grant Freeman.

Most positions, including starting quarterback Ryan Mallett and backup Tyler Wilson, had the same one-two personnel rankings for Monday night's practice that were in vogue prior to Friday night's scrimmage.

Sports, Pages 9, 10 on 09/01/2009

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