FAYETTEVILLE -- Sophomore Dwayne Eugene capitalized on a big opportunity Tuesday, playing well at weak-side linebacker with the starting unit when Brooks Ellis developed a fever shortly before practice began.
"Dwayne couldn't control himself," linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves said. "He couldn't wait to get out there and get with the first bunch."
Eugene, a 6-1, 236-pounder from Marrero, La., notched six tackles last season, mostly on special teams, while playing in all 13 games.
Hargreaves said the last-minute promotion worked out well.
"It's one thing when you know a day in advance ... or whatever and you build up to it, but it's a whole other thing when you walk into the room and all of a sudden, boom, you've got to go with the ones," he said.
Defensive coordinator Robb Smith said the day of heavy work with the starters was a good developmental moment for Eugene.
"He's a guy who has kind of quietly gotten better this entire spring," Smith said. "He jumped in there with the ones today and we didn't miss a beat. ... For Dwayne to jump in there and not have any hitches, that's a big plus for us."
Reality
The virtual reality cameras Arkansas has bought from a California company were used for the first time Tuesday, filming everything from the kickoff team to beside the quarterbacks to in front of the middle linebacker and by the safeties.
"He just said stand behind the camera, don't mess it up, it's about $100,000," linebacker Khalia Hackett said. "I was like, I'm going stand about five yards behind it then. I don't need no $100,000 fine on me.
"It was kind of fun. I'm excited to see how it works because it's supposed to help us in our technique."
Safety Rohan Gaines echoed Hackett's comments.
"It was kind of neat having it follow me around," he said. "I didn't notice them until we did the thing at the end and he actually sat it in front of me."
Headed south
A group of assistant coaches that included Clay Jennings, Rory Segrest and Vernon Hargreaves left practice a few periods early to head out on a recruiting trip to Louisiana.
"We're going to get out and hit some schools in Coach [Michael] Smith's home state, so we're pretty excited about that," Jennings said.
"It sounds like there are a lot of players down there, so we're going to see and find out what the deal is," Hargreaves said. "There are a bunch of schools and a bunch of kids that we're looking at, so we're going down there and spreading out a little bit and trying to cast the net and see what we can find."
Injury update
Tailback Alex Collins, who is rehabbing an ankle injury, watched practice from the sidelines.
Running back Kody Walker remained in a green (no-contact) jersey, and fellow back Denzell Evans expanded his duties slightly after being slowed by a groin injury earlier in the spring.
Anthony Antwine, a receiver turned tight end, was back at work with a heavy wrap on his left ankle after missing time the past couple of weeks.
Defensive gems
Nickel back Kevin Richardson made one of the day's top plays, staying focused on a pass for tight end Will Gragg over the middle that was tipped up and into his hands for what would have been a long interception return.
Richardson, who had an interception return for a touchdown in noncontact work last week, has been one of the top takeaway guys with at least three interceptions this spring.
"We think he's a guy that can provide some depth for us, if not just go ahead and win it, that spot at the nickel between he and Henre," defensive backs coach Clay Jennings said. "There's a calm when Kevin's in there because he's been in that atmosphere before."
Safety Josh Liddell had a couple of pass breakups during team periods. His best came in the end zone when he reached in to knock away a would-be touchdown for Jared Cornelius from Brandon Allen.
Defensive tackle Hjalte Froholdt broke through the line and was in position for a "sack" against Austin Allen.
Kick data
Cole Hedlund was back in the kicking competition after missing time last week with what Coach Bret Bielema said was a sore quadriceps muscle, and the redshirt freshman contributed to a 9-of-10 performance by the group early in practice.
Hedlund, Adam McFain and Lane Saling all connected on 52-yard field goals to cap the kicking period, with McFain's bouncing off the right upright and through. The only miss of the period came on McFain's 42-yarder, which hit the right post and glanced away.
Saling made kicks of 29, 40 and 52 yards. Hedlund was good from 29, 36, 42 and 52, and McFain made tries from 32 and 52.
"We're trying to back them up a little bit, get them a little more distance and trying to see if that one area separates them," assistant coach Rory Segrest said.
Guest list
Former Razorback Chris Gragg, a tight end with the Buffalo Bills, attended another practice to watch his former teammates and brother Will Gragg, an early enrollee tight end.
Duncan Workman, the head coach and offensive coordinator for the Sussex University Saxons in England, wore Razorback garb and watched practice at the invitation of Coach Bret Bielema, who tweeted out a picture of the two earlier in the day.
Bielema wrote that Workman is training with the Razorbacks this week.
Sports on 04/22/2015