UA making gains under Veltkamp

Arkansas strength and conditioning coach Jason Veltkamp says the Razorbacks made progress during the offseason. Six offensive linemen and six defensive linemen maxed out at more than 400 pounds on the bench press.
Arkansas strength and conditioning coach Jason Veltkamp says the Razorbacks made progress during the offseason. Six offensive linemen and six defensive linemen maxed out at more than 400 pounds on the bench press.

— The formula for playing winning SEC football certainly includes recruiting great talent, creating workable schemes and quality coaching, but there is also the element of fitness.

Arkansas has gotten progressively stronger and faster the past several seasons, but this might be the best conditioned Razorbacks team yet, strength and conditioning coach Jason Veltkamp said.

“I think it’s definitely our strongest team,” Veltkamp said during media day. “It’s our best running team.”

The Razorbacks also should have a more formidable physical presence on the defensive front.

“I believe Coach Veltkamp and our strength staff did a great job getting them definitely ready to go,” Arkansas Coach John L. Smith said. “Our players have done a great job over the summertime preparing themselves, demanding from each other.”

Veltkamp said six offensive linemen and six defensive linemen maxed out on the bench press with more than 400 pounds. The team’s summer bench press champion was defensive tackle Alfred Davis with 460 pounds, followed by offensive lineman Alvin Bailey.

Davis is one of three defensive captains and a second-teamer behind Byran Jones, while All-SEC guard Bailey has been in a battle through the spring and fall with Luke Charpentier and Tyler Deacon.

Jones was among the players who earned Veltkamp’s highest praise for their summer work.

“Byran Jones had a huge summer,” Veltkamp said, listing Jones’ squat at more than 600 pounds and his bench press at 430. “I believe he had the biggest [combined weightlifting] gain, and we’re talking about a guy who’s been on campus for a while.”

Bailey typified the offseason aim for Arkansas’ offensive linemen: Get stronger and more mobile.

“We talked about it with Alvin, that we thought he was playing too heavy last year,” said offensive line coach Chris Klenakis, who noted that Bailey opened camp at the preferred weight.

The Razorbacks want their linemen to be more agile this season for screens and pull plays.

“I got my guys back stronger, more flexible and with great endurance, especially the flexibility standpoint,” Klenakis said. “Our strength staff is the best in the country, in my opinion.”

Veltkamp said he witnessed strong leadership over the summer from guys like linebackers Alonzo Highsmith and Tenarius Wright, quarterback Tyler Wilson and fullback Kiero Small.

Another top summer performer was tailback Knile Davis.

“Knile Davis squatted 600 pounds almost effortlessly,” Veltkamp said. “He could have gone more, but we want to make sure we take care of him.”

Veltkamp said defensive linemen Davis, Trey Flowers and Chris Smith joined Jones by having terrific offseason workouts.

Five Arkansas defensive ends have a fingertip-to-fingertip reach of 6-10 or better, and three of them have wingspans of 7-feet plus, including new ends Deatrich Wise and JaMichael Winston.

Veltkamp is particularly enthusiastic about the Razorbacks’ newcomers.

“This is our best freshman class,” he said, adding that a body of full-contact work would be needed to fully assess the group. “We haven’t brought in a freshman class that was as prepared when they stepped in with me, or that competed as well with the vets, looked the part, moved the weights and get out and run and compete with the vets every day.

“We haven’t brought in a class like the one we just brought in. I’m excited about them.”

Sports, Pages 19 on 08/08/2012

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