Razorback Report

Arkansas wants best of Auburn

Arkansas safety Alan Turner speaks to the media at the Southeastern Conference NCAA college football media days, Wednesday, July 16, 2014, in Hoover, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Arkansas safety Alan Turner speaks to the media at the Southeastern Conference NCAA college football media days, Wednesday, July 16, 2014, in Hoover, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

HOOVER, Ala. -- Arkansas defensive players Trey Flowers and Alan Turner said they hope Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall isn't suspended for their season opener Aug. 30 at Auburn.

Marshall was cited for marijuana possession last week. Tigers Coach Gus Malzahn hasn't announced a punishment, but it could include a suspension.

" I hope he plays, because we want to play their best," Turner said Wednesday at SEC media days. "He's a great player, and we're going to prepare expecting him to play."

Marshall helped Auburn to a 35-17 victory at Arkansas last season when he completed 7 of 8 passes for 118 yards -- with an 88-yard touchdown to Sammie Coats -- and rushed 9 times for 59 yards.

"What I remember about him, he's a fast guy," Flowers said. "He's smart with his decision-making. As far as him being able to play, we want their best shot."

Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said he had great respect for how Marshall grew from game to game last season and he predicted Marshall would play against the Hogs.

"Knowing what I know as a head coach, Nick will be there," Bielema said.

Jersey guy

Arkansas defensive end Trey Flowers showed his humorous side Monday evening when he Tweeted out a picture of new jerseys in red and white with his number 86 on them.

"This a humbling site for me," Flowers wrote on his Twitter post. "Either get em, or GET 86'd!! Found at a local bookstore near you. Lol."

Flowers said the jersey fulfilled a dream.

"When I was growing up, I always wanted my family to be able to wear my jersey -- my jersey from a store," Flowers said. "It's a very good honor."

Flowers said he stumbled across the jerseys in a UA bookstore while shopping for a tie, which wound up being a bow tie with miniature Hogs on it. Flowers wore the tie at media days Wednesday.

The matchmaker

Bret Bielema has known Robb Smith for a long time, since the late 1990s when both were at Iowa, but that's not why he hired him as the Razorbacks' defensive coordinator.

"I knew what he was, what he stood for," Bielema said. "The reason I hired Robb wasn't because we shared an apartment for three months, not because I knew his wife, set him up. He still owes me money on that. It's because everywhere he went, he got promoted."

Who's here

Bret Bielema said he heard backlash about not bringing any offensive skill players to Hoover, like quarterback Brandon Allen or running backs Jonathan Williams or Alex Collins.

He defended his choice of seniors Trey Flowers, Brey Cook and Alan Turner, two linemen and a safety.

"I didn't bring the flashiest, sexiest, cutest," Bielema said. "Everybody wants me to bring the quarterback, the pretty boys, the ones that are always popular. I brought three seniors that represent what Hog football is all about. They represent all of the things on and off the field. They represent everything I want in my program."

Close ties

All three Razorbacks at SEC media days sported bow ties with red in them, and defensive end Trey Flowers' tie was adorned by small Razorbacks.

"We were all at the store together, and Trey had picked out a bow tie and I said, 'Hey, I'd kind of like to wear a bow tie, too.' So we decided to all wear one," safety Alan Turner said.

"There's like 10 videos on the GoPro [camera] of me trying to tie that this morning," offensive tackle Brey Cook said. "I had to tie on Turner's for him. These are tough."

Cook also sported cuff links with the Superman logo on them, which he said was mandated by his grandmother.

"She's always right," he said. "I'm not going to question her. You don't question memaw or mother."

Extra points

• The Razorbacks will hold their first practice Monday, Aug. 4. Their opener is Aug. 30 at Auburn.

• Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said only offensive line transfers Cameron Jefferson and Sebastian Tretola have yet to report to campus.

• Bret Bielema said the Razorbacks had no "targeting" penalties last season, and he said he believes it helped that he showed clips every week of players who were flagged in the first year of the new rule.

Sports on 07/17/2014

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