FAYETTEVILLE - Redshirt freshman Jared Collins hasn’t played a down for Arkansas, but he might be in the starting lineup when the Razorbacks open against Louisiana-Lafeyette on Aug. 31.
Collins has been working as a first-team cornerback in fall camp after finishing atop the depth chart with a strong showing in spring practice.
“It’s a big change, a lot of responsibility I didn’t have before,” Collins said. “But I’ve just taken it and run with it and tried to improve my game as much as I can, so I can help the defense improve.”
Arkansas’ pass defense has a lot of room for improvement after finishing 113th nationally in 2012, allowing an average of 285.8 passing yards per game.
It didn’t help that Tevin Mitchel - the team’s best cornerback - missed all or parts of five games because of injuries.
“It was hard on me and the team going through last season,” Mitchel said. “I’m glad that I’m healthy now. I’m 100 percent and ready to go.”
Mitchel, a junior who has played in 21 games with 14 starts, is by far Arkansas’ most experienced cornerback. The only other cornerback with playing experience is sophomore Will Hines, who played 12 games last season with starts in the last nine.
The top cornerbacks in camp have been Mitchel and Collins as the starters with Hines, junior Carroll Washington - a junior-college transfer who went through spring practice - and true freshman D.J. Dean getting work as second-reamers.
“I like our group,” cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson said. “I know we’ve got a long way to go, but the guys are definitely doing what we’re asking them to do. They’re trying to, anyway, and that’s all we can ask.
“We can use every second we can get. If we didn’t have to get some sleep at night, we’d still be in that [meeting] room.”
Johnson coached linebackers last season and is the lone holdover from last season’s staff, so he knows what the Razorbacks went through in falling from a preseason top-10 ranking to a 4-8 finish.
“We understand that we gave up way too many big plays, too many yards, and sometimes it was just because of us, it had nothing to do with our opponent,” Johnson said. “So what we’re trying to do right now is focus on our details and what we’re supposed to do with our assignments. If we do that, we’ll definitely improve.”
Collins said he gained eight pounds on his 6-0 frame over the summer - which got him all the way up to 175.
“He’s not that big, but he’s real aggressive, and he’s real fast,” strong safety Rohan Gaines said. “He has great feet and great eyes, and he’s a smart player.”
Collins, who attended Tulsa Washington High School, made the SEC academic honor roll last year and had a 4.0 grade point average in the fall semester.
“Jared knows everything,” senior defensive end Chris Smith said. “He knows what I’m doing to what the tackles are doing, to the linebackers to the safeties - everybody.
“He’s really a student of the game, and that’s surprising for a guy who’s so young. That helps him a lot.”
Mitchel said it’s important to have a smart player at cornerback, but also someone who can be physical.
“For a small guy, Jared has a big heart,” Mitchel said. “He’s not scared of making contact. He’s ready to do his job.”
Collins said it was a surprise when he closed spring practice as a starter, but he credited his competitiveness on every play.
“Even if I make a mistake, I’m still competing,” he said.
Hines said it’s a healthy competition with Collins for the starting spot opposite Mitchel.
“It just fires the competition up and brings out the best in both of us,” Hines said. “We’ve both been making really good strides. It’s better for the team, really.”
Hines said he has no hard feelings about Collins moving ahead of him on the depth chart.
“It’s all about competition,” Mitchel said. “There are not arguments. Everyone is just working.
“Jared took that spot, but Will wasn’t mad. He just knows it’s business and he’s got to compete for that spot.”
Washington also is competing and has continued to make progress in camp, Johnson said, but he had a tough play in last Saturday’s scrimmage when receiver Javontee Herndon wrestled a pass away from him and scored a touchdown.
“We have to make some plays, too,” Johnson said. ‘When we get in position, we’ve got to do it, and Carroll is starting to get himself there.
“Now, once he finishes those plays, he’ll see himself emerge and play with more confidence, because that’s what it comes down to.”
Dean got some second-team snaps in the scrimmage and he’s likely to be among the freshmen to play this season, Coach Bret Bielema said.
“We’ve got some work to do there, but D.J.’s done a nice job of learning the system,” Johnson said. “He’s a really conscientious kid, and he’s come in and studied his playbook.”Position glance CORNERBACKS RETURNING STARTERS Tevin Mitchel, Will Hines KEY LOSSES Kaelon Kelleybrew, Darius Winston WHO’S BACK Jared Collins, Ray Buchanan Jr.
WHO’S NEW Carroll Washington, D.J. Dean WALK-ON Dakota Baggett ANALYSIS Mitchel is entering into his third year as a starter and the Razorbacks need him to stay healthy to help bring along an inexperienced group. Hines, a sophomore, started the final nine games last season, but Collins - a redshirt freshman - has moved ahead of him on the depth chart with more consistent play in practice. Washington, a junior college transfer, benefitted from going through spring practice. Dean, a true freshman, has shown early in fall camp he might be ready to contribute and challenge for a backup spot. Overall, it’s a group with a lot to prove as the Razorbacks try to bounce back from ranking 113th nationally last year in pass defense.
Sports, Pages 15 on 08/13/2013