FAYETTEVILLE — Sixteen true freshmen earned playing time for the Arkansas Razorbacks in Coach Bobby Petrino's first season, a total that tied for second-most in the nation.
Don't look for Arkansas to play that many rookies this season, but expect to see a sizable number of players from one of the most decorated classes in school history get in games.
"There'll be a number of them that will play this year," Petrino said. "It won't be 16, I can tell you that."
Arkansas coaches tell all their signees to prepare as if they'll play during their true freshman season, but obviously they all can't.
Unofficially, nine true freshmen look to be headed for red-shirt seasons - offensive linemen Colby Berna and Travis Swanson, quarterback Brandon Mitchell, receivers Lance Ray and Neal Barlow, tight end Austin Tate, linebacker Ryan Calender and defensive backs Jerry Mitchell and Ross Rasner.
That leaves 11 with a chance to participate.
Receiver Cobi Hamilton, defensive lineman D.D. Jones, running back Ronnie Wingo, linebacker Terrell Williams, cornerback David Gordon, and possibly fellow corner Darius Winston, appear targeted for playing time. Tailback Knile Davis could figure in on special teams, while offensive linemen Alvin Bailey and Anthony Oden have been on the two-deep chart occasionally and have the chance to play. Linebacker Austin Moss and tight end Colton Nash would seem to have a shot though they're not among the top two at their positions on the Hogs' depth chart.
Jones has moved into the rotation on the defensive interior, and Williams vaulted to the first team at weakside linebacker last week.
Hamilton and Wingo possess talent that put them near the top of the class, even if the Razorbacks are stacked at receiver and tailback.
"A lot of us have been stepping up to the plate to the expectations of us coming in," said Wingo, who rooms with Hamilton and Williams. "We were supposed to have one of the best recruiting classes in Arkansas history, so we all just want to play up to the expectations everyone has."
Wingo and Hamilton bonded.
"That's the thing me and Ronnie were talking about ever since we committed, was we wanted to come in and play right away," Hamilton said. "So we've been working hard this summer and been getting to know the playbook a lot better so hopefully we can do good."
Gordon looks to be in the mix for second-team action at cornerback and could be a special teams starter as well. Winston has not gotten as much second-team work as Gordon, but the top-ranked in-state recruit, from Helena-West Helena Central, has shown he'll be a good college player.
Defensive coordinator Willy Robinson mentioned earlier in camp that Gordon and Winston have to get stronger.
"Are they going to be able to handle those bigger receivers?" Robinson said. "Are they going to be able to run support, which we ask our corners to do? We're going to have to find out."
Sports, Pages 23, 33 on 08/30/2009