LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas’ football team will make its first appearance of fall camp at Reynolds Razorback Stadium this morning for the first of two major scrimmages before the Sept. 1 season opener against Jacksonville State.
The Razorbacks will open today’s 9 a.m. workout with stretching and a few individual drills before beginning what is expected to be a lengthy scrimmage.
“The scrimmage is going to be fun. It’s going to be physical,” center Travis Swanson said. “It’s going to pretty long. We want all the fans to come out and have a lot of fun.”
Quarterback Tyler Wilson and the passing game have been clicking in camp, with Wilson finding a rhythm behind a mostly veteran line and making frequent connections with Cobi Hamilton, Chris Gragg and slot receiver Brandon Mitchell.
The running game hasn’t been as smooth.
Tailback Knile Davis did not participate in an 81-play scrimmage Tuesday, nor in 25 snaps of live tackling Wednesday. Senior tailback Dennis Johnson also missed the Wednesday work with an excused absence.
Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said the line has protected well.
“I think people are getting ... a little worried about running the ball, but right now they’re packing everyone up at the line of scrimmage and running all those line games,” he said. “If they keep doing that, we’re going to keep throwing it.
We’re not going to just ram our head in the wall.”
New defensive coordinator Paul Haynes attributed the big passing numbers to a mixture of inexperience, injuries to key defensive personnel like Alonzo Highsmith, Tenarius Wright and Eric Bennett, and biting on play-action fakes.
Linebackers coach Taver Johnson said it will be interesting to see how the players react today with the coaches not being on the field for constant instruction.
“This is going to be a big, big test for us,” Johnson said.
“During this time at camp ... you’re coaching them up on the run. [Today] we have to let them play. We’ll really find out who can step up and who can play the position, who understands.”
The scrimmage is open to fans. University officials have asked that all visitors enter through gate 12 and sit in the east stands.
Double duty
Senior Kiero Small is a returning starter at fullback, but he also has been getting work at linebacker this fall.
He ended Friday’s practice wearing a red jersey for offense that covered the white jersey he wore for defense.
Small said he may wear both colors again in today’s scrimmage.
“It’s a lot more timeconsuming, but I’m having a good time,” Small said.
Linebackers coach Taver Johnson said he anticipates having Small on defense for at least part of the scrimmage, but the final say belongs to Coach John L.
Smith.
“I’m kind of on a need-toknow basis,” Johnson said.
“When Coach Smith comes over and he says, ‘Hey, you’vegot him,’ I’m jumping for joy, and when he says I don’t, it’s OK.
“We’ll see, but I’m sure with the work that he’s had we’ll get him some.”
Small got a little bit of work at linebacker in the spring, and Johnson said his coverage skills have improved since then.
“He’s moving a lot better,” Johnson said. “As we were doing some drills in the spring, with his cover skills you were going, ‘Ahhh, I just don’t know.’ But he’s done a much better job when it comes to that, just understanding where he needs to be.” Hogs 11th
Yet another preseason poll is out, and the Razorbacks rank 11th in it.
ESPN.com’s preseason rankings are topped by Southern California, which is off its two-year postseason ban and eligible for a bowl berth this fall.
Other SEC teams in the ESPN.com poll are No. 2 LSU, No. 3 Alabama, No. 6 Georgia and No. 10 South Carolina, meaning all five SEC teams in the poll are in its top 11.
OT victory
The starters beat the second-teamers in an “overtime” period late in practice, highlighted by firstplay touchdowns for the first offense.
Both offensive units scored touchdowns on their first series, with Tyler Wilson passing to Cobi Hamilton for a touchdown behind cornerback Will Hines, and Brandon Allen connecting with Keon Hatcher for a 17-yard scoring pass on second down against the defensive starters.
In the second overtime, the defense forced an Allen pass out of the end zone on third down to halt the series.
Wilson passed to Julian Horton over the middle on the next snap to finish off the period.
Lake placid
Junior linebacker Jarrett Lake, who missed out on last season’s Cotton Bowl trip because of grade issues, sounds like a man who is at peace with why he’s on campus.
Lake, who has moved to the “star” position on defense from weakside linebacker, has been an early standout in scrimmages.
“I’m feeling real good,” Lake said. “I’ve been here for two years and you could basically say I finally got my head straight. I’m ready to play. Got my grades right, so I’m just trying to keep on climbing, keep moving up the hill.”
Personnel report
Linebacker Alonzo Highsmith and safety Eric Bennett were in street clothes again Friday, putting their availability for this morning’s scrimmage in doubt. Middle linebacker Tenarius Wright wore a yellow (no contact) jersey for the second consecutive day, but he did some drills.
Linebackers coach Taver Johnson said he’s not sure if Wright, who went to the sideline Monday night after a collision with tailback Knile Davis, will scrimmage today.
“I’ve got to check with the trainers on that one,” Johnson said. “They give us a day-by-day deal. He was moving around and looked a lot better today. It was just a matter of what they say.”
Tailback Dennis Johnson, receiver Javontee Herndon and tight end Brett Weir did not practice.
Worth noting
Arkansas’ video board is up and functional with new LED panels and a greatly expanded screen.
Defensive end Deatrich Wise intercepted a Tyler Wilson pass that had been batted in the air at the line of scrimmage, causing a quick correction from offensive line coach Chris Klenakis.
Sports, Pages 23 on 08/11/2012