Hogs’ offensive linemen jockeying for jobs

Arkansas' Brey Cook gets set on the line of scrimmage Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013, during the first quarter of the game against South Carolina at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

Arkansas' Brey Cook gets set on the line of scrimmage Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013, during the first quarter of the game against South Carolina at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas' offensive line passed Coach Bret Bielema's eye test when the team opened practice Monday.

The Razorbacks won't go in full pads until Friday, but Bielema liked what he saw from the group he calls "the big uglies" during the first practice.

UA position glance

Offensive line

RETURNING STARTERS T Brey Cook, G Denver Kirkland, T Dan Skipper.

KEY LOSSES C Travis Swanson, T David Hurd

WHO’S BACK C Mitch Smothers, G Luke Charpentier, T Grady Ollison, T Austin Beck, G Johnathan McClure, T Chris Stringer, G Reeve Koehler, G Marcus Danenhauer, C Adam Deacon

WHO’S NEW G Cameron Jefferson, C Frank Ragnow, G Sebastian Tretola, T Brian Wallace.

WALK-ONS Johnny Gibson, Jackson Hannah

ANALYSIS Despite the loss of Swanson, a four-year starter, the line probably is stronger with the recruiting done by assistant coach Sam Pittman, who has signed national recruits in Kirkland (from Florida), Skipper (from Colorado) and Ragnow (from Minnesota). Cook has taken over as the group’s leader and is entrenched at tackle after starting at guard the first part of last season. Kirkland has lost 20 pounds, Skipper has gained 25, and both should be much improved after being thrown into the starting lineup as true freshmen. Ragnow will challenge Smothers at center and Jefferson, a three-year starter at UNLV, will challenge Charpentier at guard.

"I tell you, it's just fun to look at them," Bielema said. "It sounds crazy, you know, but when they come out, they're beginning to look like an offensive line that I know can play the style of football we want to play.

"From left tackle to right tackle and everywhere in between, you've got some guys that have some size. They have some length. They're not obese. They can move. They're athletic. It's just impressive."

Senior tackle Brey Cook has become the line's leader with the loss of All-SEC center Travis Swanson, a rookie with the Detroit Lions.

"That group don't move unless Brey says it's OK," Bielema said.

Cook and sophomores Denver Kirkland and Dan Skipper are returning starters and appear to be entrenched at right tackle, right guard and left tackle, where Skipper moved after starting at left guard last season.

Senior Luke Charpentier and junior Mitch Smothers are working at the left guard and center spots, but they're expected to get plenty of competition in fall camp.

True freshman Frank Ragnow is working at second-team center and two transfers -- Cameron Jefferson and Sebastian Tretola -- are working as second-team guards. Juniors Grady Ollison and Austin Beck are the second-team tackles.

Jefferson started 33 games the previous three seasons at UNLV and transferred with immediate eligibility because of the Rebels' NCAA-imposed bowl ban for having a low Academic Progress Rate score.

Last season Jefferson started 13 games at left guard, where Charpentier was among four players to get first-team reps last spring.

Arkansas offensive line coach Sam Pittman called Jefferson in the summer, offering a scholarship.

"What goes through your head is you really have to up your game," Charpentier said. "They're bringing in guys to try to beat you out."

Pittman said he's been pleased with how Charpentier and Smothers have responded.

"They've accepted these guys in the room, they're helping them with the plays," Pittman said. "But they're sure fighting like crazy to keep their jobs, and thus far they have.

"Whether they keep their jobs, whether somebody beats them out, that's not for me to decide. That's for the kids to decide, and they're all working really hard."

Kirkland said the offensive line will be a team strength whether protecting quarterback Brandon Allen or opening holes for tailbacks Jonathan Williams, Alex Collins and Korliss Marshall.

"The line as a whole, people have got trouble coming at 'em," Kirkland said.

Kirkland and Skipper started the final eight games last season -- all losses against SEC teams.

"This year I think we'll be more comfortable," Skipper said. "We'll know the offense and have a higher football IQ.

"We've been there in the SEC, but we're 0-8 as starters. That's not exactly a good feeling. So I think the two of us especially are hungrier than we've ever been."

Jefferson and Tretola, from Iowa Western Community College, didn't arrive at Arkansas until last week.

"Both of them move a lot better than I could ever imagine on film," Bielema said.

Ragnow is making the move to center from tackle, where he starred at Chanhassen (Minn.) High School and drew scholarship offers from Florida State and Ohio State.

"He's a competitor, he's smart and he is a football junkie," Pittman said. "He's just something that every program should have."

Skipper said the most important thing for the newcomers is learning the offense.

"So you can play fast," Skipper said. "Nothing you do is slow on the field. It's the SEC. You can't move slow, or you're just going to get whooped."

Pittman said he has no doubt Jefferson, an honorable mention All-Mountain West pick last season, can play in the SEC.

"Oh yeah, he can play at this level," Pittman said. "There won't be a problem with that."

Charpentier has played in 17 games the past three seasons, but his only start came two years ago against Rutgers.

"I want a starting job," Charpentier said. "I've been here for five years."

Skipper said the competition created by the newcomers is good for all the linemen.

"Knowing that there's able-bodied guys two and three deep just drives you to be that much better in everything you do," he said. "Knowing that all summer everyone is trying to make their push just adds competition to everything, and competition brings out the best in people."

There could be reshuffling when the Razorbacks begin practicing in full pads. The team's first scrimmage is Saturday.

"We've always loved our kids, but it's nice to get a little better athletically and a little bigger, and a little stronger," Pittman said. "We're not done. We've just begun on that."

Sports on 08/07/2014