FAYETTEVILLE -- Hjalte Froholdt couldn't help but smile when asked how he thought Austin Allen handled his first practice working as Arkansas' No. 1 quarterback.
"How is Austin doing?" Froholdt said. "To be honest with you, I'm just trying to focus on who I'm supposed to block right now."
Froholdt's reaction was understandable, considering the sophomore from Svendborg, Denmark, is the Razorbacks' first-team left guard this spring after being a backup defensive tackle last season.
"I appreciate being wherever the coaches want to put me right now," Froholdt said. "I'm going to try to utilize every single rep to get better.
"Of course, there's a transition period, getting the plays down and the right calls."
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema's said Froholdt's inexperience at guard was evident during his first practice of spring drills when offensive line coach Kurt Anderson needed to make an alignment correction.
"Hjalte's first split was about an inch away from the center's heel," Bielema said. "I heard Kurt yell at him about splits, and really from that day forward, I haven't seen him have one bad split.
"He's just so coachable. So open-eared. It's very, very important for him to have success."
Anderson, who came to Arkansas in January after being an assistant coach with the Buffalo Bills for three seasons, said he's pleased with Froholdt through the first four practices.
"I will take as many Hjaltes as I can," Anderson said. "He's doing a great job. There's no doubt that he belongs with that first group, and he's going to only get better.
"When we put on the tape of practice 14 and compare it to day three -- the first day of pads -- he's going to be shocked at the type of growth that he's had. So he's just got to stay the course and keep working hard.
"He's got some typical growing pains of a guy that hasn't played the position, but he shows flashes of things that are really, really encouraging."
Bielema said the decision to move Froholdt (6-4, 309 pounds) from defense after last season was made because he's a "natural" offensive lineman with his size, footwork and quickness.
"I do feel more natural here on the offensive line," Froholdt said. "I'm happy to be here."
"He's one of the guys that doesn't make similar mistakes," Anderson said. "If he makes a mistake, he learns from it and he moves on."
Froholdt, who had three tackles and a fumble recovery last season, said he wasn't surprised to be moved to offense.
"I thought it could happen at some point, and I thought it was a good idea," he said. "We're very strong on the defensive line. We've got about 20 guys there right now, and there's so much talent.
"On the offensive line, we need a lot of help. Coach B told me I might be able to play there, so I want to do whatever I can to help the team."
Arkansas' defensive line is loaded with experience, including seniors Taiwan Johnson, Jeremiah Ledbetter, Deatrich Wise and JaMichael Winston, juniors Tevin Beanum, Bijhon Jackson and Karl Roesler and sophomore Armon Watts with freshman McTelvin Agim -- considered among the nation's top recruits -- added to the mix.
The offensive line lost three starters from last season, including second-team All-American guard Sebastian Tretola, the player whose spot Froholdt is working to fill.
Junior Frank Ragnow, back at center after starting at right guard last season, said he's been impressed with Froholdt's progress.
"Hjalte's transition has been phenomenal," Ragnow said. "I didn't expect I'm to pick up on playing offensive line as quick as he has.
"I mean, he's still getting bumps and bruises trying to learn everything, but that's a talented guy right there. Once he learns everything, I think he can be pretty special."
Sports on 04/05/2016