Hogs calls

Hogs make smart move at linebacker

Arkansas linebacker Brooks Ellis tackles Texas quarterback Tyrone Swoopes during the Texas Bowl on Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Arkansas linebacker Brooks Ellis tackles Texas quarterback Tyrone Swoopes during the Texas Bowl on Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, at NRG Stadium in Houston.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Head football coaches usually make personnel position switches in consultation with their assistants.

However, Arkansas' decision to switch junior two-year starting middle linebacker Brooks Ellis to starting weakside linebacker seems to solely stem from the head coach himself and his own experiences.

Before serving as head coach at Wisconsin (2006-2012) and Arkansas, Bret Bielema coached linebackers at Iowa from 1996-2001 and continued to coach linebackers from 2002-2005 while coordinating defenses at Kansas State and Wisconsin.

"I've coached linebackers my entire career," Bielema said. "I've kind of always had, I think, a pretty good insight into where a kid might fit."

Bielema inherited an Arkansas program in 2013 so bereft of proven linebackers that Ellis, straight out of Fayetteville High, was almost instantly inserted on the second team in the preseason and practices at all three linebacker positions -- middle (Mike), strongside (Sam) and weakside (Will).

He ultimately ended up at middle linebacker, where he started the last four games of 2013 and started every game last year while making 72 tackles, forcing 2 fumbles and intercepting 2 passes.

"We played Brooksie at Mike the last two years really out of necessity because we really didn't have anybody at that spot," Bielema said. "But I've always thought really he's kind of more of an edge player, a Will or a Sam."

Bielema certainly had an edge last season at weakside linebacker, where Martrell Spaight led the SEC in tackles as a senior All-SEC first-teamer.

Now Spaight is NFL bound and Bielema has willed the Will to Ellis.

Ellis turned in Spaight-like stats in last week's scrimmage with10 tackles, including a 10-yard sack.

That's just what defensive coordinator Robb Smith hoped for following the loss of Spaight.

"The only way you can simulate that obviously is in a scrimmage," Smith said. "I'm very pleased with what Brooks was able to do."

New linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves calls Ellis, 6-2, 237, a natural weakside linebacker.

"He's great," Hargreaves said. "I thought he played extremely well. I am looking forward to seeing him better than he was a year ago."

Although occasionally interchanged inside-out with Spaight last year, Ellis never realized his edge on the edge until this spring.

"I'm a fan of the Will spot," Ellis said. "I kind of like it better. More freedom. Out in space a little more. I like that."

Bielema believes Ellis is suited to operate in space.

"Brooksie is pre-med," Bielema said. "He's going to be operating on us some day. He understands the game and really bought into what Will is."

The defense, Hargreaves said, looks to Ellis.

"He leads the defense on what to do," Hargreaves said.

The youngest linebacker just two autumns ago is the oldest linebacker now.

"I am the old guy, so I have got to keep them all in line" Ellis said. "I have to take over Spaight's role as a leader. We are different people. I have to step it up a little bit, but they are doing a good job."

Sports on 04/11/2015

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