Hogs break camp full of confidence

FAYETTEVILLE — There is no empirical evidence to say Arkansas will be a vastly improved football team in 2009.

However, the Razorbacks are measurably bigger and stronger and appear to be deeper than they were last year when they went 5-7.

Fall camp concluded Saturday with a 190-play scrimmage that lasted nearly three hours, leaving coaches and players believing they are in position to catapult Arkansas into a successful season.

"As a team, we're feeling good right now," said linebacker Freddy Burton, one of a few defensive players who never lost his starting position during a competitive camp.

"We're really getting better," said receiver Carlton Salters, who caught eight passes for 119 yards in Saturday's scrimmage. "I really like the way our team's been coming out here, compared to last year when we really didn't know what to expect.

"This year, we knew what was coming, and I like the way guys have gone out every day and tried to get better."

Saturday's lengthy scrimmage provided an example of the progress Arkansas has made in a year. A large percentage of Saturday's practice was up-tempo, rather dragging near the end.

"We still have some things to work on, but we've come a long way," senior tailback Michael Smith said. "We're proud about that."

The Razorbacks did not practice Sunday and will not practice today, which is the first day of classes. The full roster is scheduled to report for Tuesday's afternoon practice, which will take place 11 days before the Hogs open the season against Missouri State in Little Rock.

Arkansas' camp was not entirely positive.

The Razorbacks lost cornerback Isaac Madison, a second-year starter, to season-ending knee surgery and sophomore tight end Chris Gragg, who was moved from wide receiver in the spring, to season-ending ankle surgery.

Greg Gatson moved into Madison's starting role. Gatson has not distinguished himself yet, pushing freshmen David Gordon and Darius Winston closer to the field in a secondary that looks more talented and deeper, but has tremendous room for improvement from last season.

"The spot is wide open right now," defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said. "Greg Gatson is working with our No. 1 unit, and we're trying to bring David Gordon and Darius Winston along."

Junior college transfer Rudell Crim could also move from boundary corner (behind Ramon Broadway) to the field corner spot.

Returning players who are more physically mature and newcomers have seemed to bolster every position on an Arkansas defense that was statistically the worst in the SEC last year.

"Fall camp went great for us," defensive tackle and team captain Malcolm Sheppard said. "I think we got a lot done. Everybody came out and got better at their positions. I'm ready for the first game tomorrow."

Arkansas' offense holds plenty of promise behind new starting quarterback Ryan Mallett, a more experienced line and a large collection of running backs and receivers, including freshman tailback Ronnie Wingo, who showed he might be ready for the SEC right now.

Wingo wasn't at camp last fall, but he's gotten a good feel for the improvement the Hogs appear to have made.

"From what all my teammates and the coaches have been saying, we're way better than last year," Wingo said.

Sophomore receiver Joe Adams agreed.

"We've made a great improvement from the first day we started camp," Adams said. "We've still got a couple of things to work on, but we're going to be a real good team this year."