Coaches put UA at No. 10

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas is ranked No. 10 in the USA Today coaches preseason poll released Thursday.

The Razorbacks were the fifth-highest ranked SEC team in the poll, behind No.

1 LSU, No. 2 Alabama, No. 6 Georgia and No. 9 South Carolina.

Arkansas brings back eight offensive starters, six defensive starters, kicker Zach Hocker and punter Dylan Breeding from last year’s 11-2 team, which won the Cotton Bowl and finished fifth in the coaches and Associated Press polls.

The Razorbacks open the season in the top 10 of a preseason poll for the first time since the 1989 team was ranked No. 9 in the AP poll.

The SEC, which has won the past six BCS national championships, led all conferences with seven teams in the poll, with No. 23 Florida and No. 25 Auburn joining the others.

Seven SEC coaches are on the 59-member voting panel: Auburn’s Gene Chizik, Vanderbilt’s James Franklin, LSU’s Les Miles, Kentucky’s Joker Phillips, Georgia’s Mark Richt, Alabama’s Nick Saban and South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier.

First-year Arkansas State Coach Gus Malzahn and Texas Tech Coach Tommy Tuberville (Camden) also have votes.

Sprinkle out

Arkansas Coach John L. Smith said freshman signee Jeremy Sprinkle will be out for a period of time after wrist surgery.

Sprinkle, a 6-6 tight end and receiver from White Hall, and linebacker signee Vin Ascolese were the only newcomers not at practice.

Ascolese hasn’t been ruled eligible by the NCAA clearinghouse.

Johnson on list

Running back and return specialist Dennis Johnson made the watch list Thursday for the Paul Hornung Award, which is given to the nation’s most versatile player.

Awarded since 2010, the award was won by Georgia’s Brandon Boykin last season.

Johnson, the Arkansas record holder with 2,475 kickoff return yards, needs just 244 yards to break the SEC’s career record, held by Florida’s Brandon James (2,718). He is also the SEC’s active leader in all-purpose yards with 4,104.

Tyler on target

Quarterback Tyler Wilson looked sharp in the team’s skeleton drills and team periods Thursday, connecting frequently with Cobi Hamilton, Keante Minor and fellow quarterback/slot receiver Brandon Mitchell.

“I know in skelly, about three-fourths of the way through, one of the coaches said, ‘I don’t think there’s been an incompletion yet,’” Coach John L. Smith said.

“I thought we did some good things today,” Wilson said. “A number of balls hit the ground, and some ball security things we have to take care of, but overall I thought it was a pretty good day.”