For Razorbacks, help wanted, options many

Backup QB Mitchell among large cast auditioning at WR

Arkansas quarterback Brandon Mitchell is seeing work at wide receiver.
Arkansas quarterback Brandon Mitchell is seeing work at wide receiver.

— Arkansas coaches have taken an open-minded approach to restocking a wide-receiver position depleted by the loss of three fourth-round NFL draft picks.

It seems to be working.

They are inspecting, as expected, incoming talent - junior-college transfer Demitrious Wilson and four freshmen - as well as existing talent, third-year receivers Javontee Herndon and Julian Horton, and sophomore Keante Minor.

But thanks to a suggestion made by quarterback Tyler Wilson, they are also trying out existing talent from other positions, most notably backup quarterback Brandon Mitchell, in attempt to find complementary parts for returning pass catchers Cobi Hamilton and Chris Gragg.

Mitchell’s impact at wide receiver has been one of the most positive developments during the first four days of camp. He has made lots of receptions, including diving catches in each of the past few days, and has maintained a heavy presence in the rotation. The 6-4, 230-pound junior warmed up with the quarterbacks Sunday, but spent most of the practice as a receiver.

Asked Sunday how the Mitchell experiment has gone, Coach John L. Smith said: “Really well,” with a big grin while placing emphasis on really.

“He’s really going to give us some help catching the ball. It’s a big, big target. He’s very athletic and is just, it’s hard to fight through that big body.”

Mitchell said he and Tyler Wilson “joked” about him trying receiver after the spring game, and Wilson went to offensive coordinator Paul Petrino about it in mid-June and got a thumbs up.

“We always used to throw together in warmups and [Wilson] would say, ‘Hey, soft hands,’” Mitchell said.

“I sit next to him in the quarterback room every day, and I’ve got confidence in him that he’s going to compete and be there for me.”

Mitchell, who was a reserve on the Razorbacks basketball team last year, ranks third in receptions thus far in camp, behind Hamilton and Gragg.

“He’s got great hands and he plays two sports at a high level, a Division-I level,” receivers coach Kris Cinkovich said. “What I’m really happy about is he’s not afraid to stick his nose on guys.”

The pass-catching of running backs Ronnie Wingo and Dennis Johnson, and tight end Gragg’s ability to split wide, are also getting a long look for the evolving Arkansas offense.

Wingo and Johnson, who have been productive grabbing passes out of the backfield in their careers, have both caught several passes while split wide in camp.

“It just kind of went, ‘OK, where are we going to get some of the big plays that Joe Adams makes? Where are we going to get some of the plays that Childs and Jarius make?’” Petrino said. “Let’s try to find some other athletes that we know are real good athletes and competitors and come up with some personnel groups, move them around, still the same offense.”

Arkansas coaches said they are expecting Wilson to contribute this season, while they expect at least a couple from the freshman class of Keon Hatcher, D’Arthur Cowan, Eric Hawkins and Mekale McKay to play this fall.

Wilson has taken the coaches’ proclamations to heart.

“I need to be ready for the start of the season because they need some kind of help and I could be the one to help them out,” he said.

Receivers glance

RETURNING STARTERS WR Cobi Hamilton KEY LOSSES Joe Adams, Greg Childs, Jarius Wright, Marquel Wade (dismissed) PROJECTED STARTERS Hamilton, Javontee Herndon, Julian Horton IN THE MIX Keante Minor, Demetrius Wilson, Brandon Mitchell, Ryan Farr, Keon Hatcher, D’Arthur Cowan, Eric Hawkins, Mekale McKay and TE Chris Gragg, who is expected to work from a split position at times.

SUDDEN IMPACT Mitchell has impressed with great athleticism; Wilson and Hatcher are newcomers most likely to contribute.

PLUSES Perhaps better hands than the just-departed seniors; Hamilton has separation speed and deep-ball skills.

MINUSES Lack of big-game experience outside the first few players, breakaway ability.

SUMMARY The Razorbacks have to dig deep into the depth chart at receiver because of their multiple-receiver sets. The group will have to be better down-field blockers. Arkansas will miss the breakaway ability of the departed seniors and Marquel Wade, who was dismissed after his arrest on felony burglary charges.

Sports, Pages 15 on 08/06/2012

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