Razorbacks Spring Football Report

— Arkansas has Davis on move

Arkansas sophomore Adrian Davis has moved from linebacker to defensive end and is working at a second-team spot to help a line thinned by injuries.

Senior tackle Marcus Harrison is out after tearing knee ligaments and will undergo surgery next week and junior end Antwain Robinson has been sidelined by a hip injury.

The first-team defensive line for now consists of junior tackle Ernest Mitchell, sophomore end Malcolm Sheppard, senior end Chris Wade and senior tackle Fred Bledsoe.

Defensive coordinator Reggie Herring said Davis seems to be adjusting well to playing end.

"He looks very natural," Herring said after Thursday's practice. "He's bought into it and it looks like it's going to be a good move for our future."

Bledsoe, who has frustrated coaches with his lack of consistency throughout his Razorbacks career, has been offering some encouraging signs that he finally might be ready to fulfill his potential.

Herring noted that the starting job is still Harrison's, but it's not certain when he'll be able to play next fall.

"We don't know when he's going to get back, but for rightnow, we're trying to get Fred to be consistent," Herring said.

"It's day to day with him, but so far it looks as if he'll continue [practicing as he has], it will be a good thing for our defense.

"That remains to be seen, but we are excited about what's going on so far. For [Bledsoe] to do anything consistently for a straight week is really good for us and him.

"He knows his weaknesses, we know them. We're together on this. It's a challenge to him to help this team, and we'vejust got to hope and pray that he continues to sacrifice and continues to improve. Right now it looks like he's doing OK, so we'll keep our fingers crossed." Nice catch

Thursday's practice was highlighted by a pass from Nathan Emert to Marcus Monk for about a 50-yard gain.

Monk was double-covered by cornerback Shedrick Johnson and safety DesmondWilliams, but Emert did a nice job of placing the ball where only the 6-6 Monk could catch it, and Monk made an over-theshoulder grab.

"In the huddle, I just told [Emert] to throw it up and I'd try my hardest to make a play on it," Monk said. "Catching it is the easy part. What he has to do is really the hard part, so I just try to make his job as easy possible." Saturday scrimmage

The Razorbacks will be off today, then will scrimmage on Saturday at about 11 a.m.

Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt said he'll be looking for better execution on offense after the defense had nine sacks in last week's scrimmage.

"I want to eliminate the foolish penalties and jumping offsides," Nutt said. "I want to play full speed and know what to do. I'm hoping we'll look smoother with better execution."

Defensive coordinator Reggie Herring said he'll be focusing on whether the players know their assignments and play with great effort.

This and that

Several players missed Thursday's practice because of class projects they were working on for extra credit, Nutt said, including fullbacks Peyton Hillis and Farod Jackson and receivers Robert Johnson and Rod Coleman. ... Running backs coach Danny Nutt and guard Mitch Petrus missed practice because of a stomach virus. ... Quarterback Casey Dick, who injured his ankle Tuesday, practiced Thursday with no apparent problems.

Sports, Pages 27 on 04/06/2007

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