FAYETTEVILLE — Childs rises to occasion
Arkansas offensive coordinator Garrick McGee had a question for Greg Childs before the Razorbacks scrimmaged Thursday night.
Actually, it was more of a challenge for the junior wide receiver from Warren.
“Coach McGee was like, ‘Is 85 going to be ready to go tonight and doing what we know he can be doing every single play?’ ” Childs said. “So I told him, “Yeah,’ and I’m a man of my word. I couldn’t back down from it.”
Childs starred in Thursday night’s scrimmage, catching 5 passes for 175 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The touchdown plays from quarterback Ryan Mallett covered 64, 34 and 63 yards, and Childs broke wide open in the secondary on all of them.
Mallett said the scrimmage was “by far” the best Childs has played since fall camp opened Aug. 5.
“We came out here tonight like it wasn’t just a regular scrimmage,” Childs said. “We had the game situations going, we had the clock going, we had the lights on. The atmosphere was different.”
Childs is looking to build on last season, when he had 48 receptions for 894 yards and 7 touchdowns.
“He told me he was going to have a big night when we were at lunch earlier today,” McGee said. “He said he was fresh, he was fast, he was really into it and wanted to have a big night.” Leon catching on
Senior Anthony Leon,off an option play, had a 79-yarder for a score Thursday night.
It appeared the play was going to be called back when an official threw a flag against the offense for an illegal formation - not enough men on the line of scrimmage - but he was overruled by another official and Mitchell’s touchdown stood.
Center competition
Redshirt freshman Travis Swanson got the start at center with the first-team offense and split series with junior Seth Oxner, last season’s starter, throughout the scrimmage.
The rest of the first-team line was senior tackleswho on Monday moved from safety to linebacker, intercepted a Brandon Mitchell pass after it was tipped by Elton Ford during the scrimmage.
Defensive coordinator Willy Robinson noted that Leon was on the other side of the field, but broke well on the ball.
“I think it’s great for him to have success there [at a new position],” Robinson said. “The more success he has, the more confident he’s going to get at the position.” Mitchell takes off
Redshirt freshman quarterback Brandon Mitchell, who had an 88-yard touchdown run in last spring’s Red-White game DeMarcus Love and Ray Dominguez, senior guard Wade Grayson and redshirt freshman guard Alvin Bailey.
Personnel update
Defensive tackle Patrick Jones did not dress as he continues to rehabilitate a sprained knee.
Freshman offensive lineman Denton Simek has not suited out for about the last week with an undisclosed issue.
Lunch break
The Razorbacks aren’t practicing today, but will attend a kickoff luncheon at the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center in Springdale.
Sports, Pages 23 on 08/20/2010