FAYETTEVILLE — You don’t find more commonly named freshmen than Smith and Jones.
So these Smith and Jones freshmen must be uncommonly good. Because of all the University of Arkansas football freshmen discussed by the Razorbacks coaches with media last Thursday, Chris Smith and Byran Jones unquestionably were most often named as the rookies most likely to play right away.
The Razorbacks’ defense, ranked 12th the past two years in the 12-team SEC, needs help.
Defensive end Smith, 6-3, 230 pounds, of Mount Ulla, N.C., and defensive tackle Jones, 6-2, 310, of Junction City, might provide some of it, according to Coach Bobby Petrino and defensive assistants Willy Robinson, Bobby Allen and Steve Caldwell.
Especially with strength coach Jason Veltkamp informing the staff of Smith and Jones’ summer workout habits heading into Thursday’s official start of preseason practice.
“Some of the young guys we are excited about are Chris Smith and Byran Jones,” Petrino said. “Those guys stepped in and didn’t miss a beat. They moved up working with the vets quicker than guys we have had in the past.”
In the recent past, these guys might have been named starters already.
Graduation, injuries and lack of manpower didn’t leave much for Petrino and defensive coordinator Robinson to work with when they started coaching the Hogs in 2008.
They feel better about the current defensive depth with returnees Jake Bequette, an All-SEC candidate, Damario Ambrose and Tenarius Wright on the flanks and returnees Zach Stadther, Patrick Jones, D.D. Jones, Lavunce Askew and Alfred Davis at the tackles. So the rookies really should open apprenticing, but ...
“We have more depth in the defensive front,” Robinson said. “We have more experienced guys and a couple of really talented kids in Byran Jones and Chris Smith. We can’t wait to get rolling.”
Neither can defensive line coaches Allen (tackles) and Caldwell (ends). Both talk veteran depth but in the same breath tout Smith and Jones.
“Physically, I think they are going to be ready to play,” Allen said. “We recruited them to come in and have the opportunity, and we are going to give them every opportunity to do that.”
Allen did add a qualifier that these are rookies, albeit talented ones.
“Like any freshmen coming in,”Allen said, “you’ve got to let them have a natural maturity going from high school to major college level.”
However, speed and strength naturally can accelerate the maturation process.
Special teams coach John L. Smith salivates about having Smith’s speed “on all those special teams.”
Upperclassmen marvel about Jones coming out of Junction City High bench pressing 420 pounds.
“What I saw on film, and what the strength coaches staff has told me, Chris Smith’s speed is unbelievable,” Caldwell said. “That’s what we are looking for. And Chris has decent size. So that’s going to be exciting.
“Then Byran Jones ... they tell me in the weight room he’s an animal. Kids that have worked with him tell me that. I’ve talked to Jake [Bequette], and Jake says they both look like really good prospects.
“When the veteran guys feel great about your young guys, that is a really exciting time.”
Sports, Pages 20 on 07/31/2010