FAYETTEVILLE -- JaMichael Winston got a chance to bloom in the spring without Flowers around.
Winston, who played opposite of two-time All-SEC defensive end Trey Flowers last season, shined as the star defensive end of the Razorbacks' April 25 Red-White spring game.
Flowers, eligibility expired, was preparing for last weekend's NFL draft. He went in the fourth round to the New England Patriots.
Winston, a fourth-year junior, recorded three quarterback sacks as the first-team Red defense stifled the second-team White offense without a first down for five consecutive possessions as spring drills concluded at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Winston, of Pritchard, Ala., registered no quarterback sacks among his 26 tackles last season and was credited with only one quarterback hurry.
Flowers posted a team-high 15.5 tackles behind the line, including a team-high six quarterback sacks and was credited with nine quarterback hurries, playing the opposite side of Winston.
Winston seized on Flowers' departure, albeit against second-teamers, to make spring game fame.
"It was a lot of fun being able to rush the passer," Winston said. "A lot of the time last year I was stopping the run. I showed I can rush the passer. It was fun to get on the edge and do that."
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said he appreciated Winston's solid run-stopping contributions last year. But with Flowers gone and defensive tackle Darius Philon (sixth round San Diego Chargers) turned pro, too, Bielema said Winston would be counted upon over and above last year's output and took a big step doing that in spring ball.
"He has taken his game to another level this spring because he kind of emerged out of the shadows of Trey and Darius a little bit," Bielema said. "I think Mike can be a special player for us."
Special for Bielema, defensive coordinator Robb Smith and defensive line coach Rory Segrest doesn't necessarily mean being the next Flowers. Just have a bigger Winston presence on the field and in the locker room will do fine.
Winston, 6-4, is playing bigger in part simply because he is bigger.
"I'm at 270," Winston said. "I put on about 20 pounds."
Winston also took over a speaking role at the spring game, providing a pregame talk previously performed by senior leaders Flowers, safety Alan Turner and All-SEC linebacker Martrell Spaight.
"I said, 'You've got that focus, just keep it and bring the intensity like we've been doing for all the 14 other practices," Winston said. "Just bring it today and show everybody what we're about."
It was a short speech no doubt appreciated by Robb Smith, the coordinator always striving for his defense to make short work of every offense on every series.
" The thing with Coach Robb, he always says, 'Get off the field! Get off the field!' Winston said. "He always preaches third down, get off the field. That's the defense you have got to play to win the SEC."
Sports on 05/06/2015