Razorbacks report

— Free safety pops pads, carries tune

Free safety Matt Harris was riding in a car with Arkansas teammates Mitch Petrus (offensive line) and John Durmon (fullback) earlier this summer when Harris began singing along with a rock song.

"They said, 'You're the new lead singer of Sledgehammer, whether you like it or not,' " Harris said with a laugh.

Sledgehammer consists of five Razorbacks: Petrus (bass), Durmon (guitar), tight end D.J. Williams (keyboard), wide receiver Lucas Miller (drums) and Harris (vocals).

Petrus said they play a variety of music, but especially hard rock from AC/DC.

Before football camp opened, Sledgehammer held jam sessions at Petrus' house.

"Mitch has a nice setup," Williams said. "You walk in there and feel like you're in a studio."

Petrus said Harris has a pretty good voice for belting out the rock hits.

"I wouldn't say Matt could go on American Idol, but he covers well," Petrus said.

Harris doesn't play an instrument. He doesn't even getto shake a tamborine.

"Durmon said if we gave Matt a tamborine, he was quitting," Petrus said.

The band would eventually like to get some gigs - after the football season ends, Petrus said.

Game week

The Razorbacks have their standard media day Monday, then resume practicing Tuesday in preparation for their opener against Missouri State on Saturday at 6 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

Arkansas has been off since Friday night's mock-game scrimmage, with players given time to get the soreness out of their legs and to study up on the game plan for opening night.

Barnett's a Hog

Senior tailback Brandon Barnett began camp behind the other backs in terms of conditioning because he was just fully recovering from the broken tibia he suffered during spring drills.

Now, he's in a battle just to get a few snaps in a verycrowded backfield, but he'll be the last guy you'll hear complaining about his situation.

"I'm a team player," said Barnett, who is often the first Razorback to congratulate a teammate after a big play.

"Whatever it takes for this team to be successful, I'm down for it."

Barnett, who had a 100-yard rushing game against North Texas as a sophomore, got in six games last season and rushed 12 times for 61 yards.

In the playbook

Arkansas has a screen pass designed for its tight ends, but Coach Bobby Petrino didn't call it last year.

"We've used it in years past," he said. "It's something that can be real good for you."

Petrino said that for the play to be effective, it might be best not to throw the screen to D.J.

Williams, the Razorbacks' All-SEC tight end.

"Last year, what happened is people started double-teaming him and understood how many balls he was going to catch," Petrino said. "So we might have to run it to Ben Cleveland,someone who they think is going to block a little bit, and then be able to slip the tackle and guard out and make some yards on it." Shaping up

Rudell Crim, who moved into the starting field cornerback slot last week, wasn't on campus until late this summer because he was finishing up academic work to make sure he'd be eligible.

"When camp started, I was like, 'Oooh, baby,' " Crim said, recalling how fatigued he felt after the early practices. "I had worked out, but it was a different workout compared to being with the team during the summer.

"But right now I can honestly say I've got my body and my legs fully back up under me. I feel like I can do a lot more." Passionate fans

Bobby Petrino was introduced to coaching in the SEC as Auburn's offensive coordinator in 2002.

Auburn shared the SEC West title that season and finished 9-4, but not every fan was pleased.

Petrino found that out one day when he stopped at a gas station.

"There was a little old lady over there, had to be in her 60s," Petrino said. "She walked right up to me and said, 'Coach, that was a bad call on third-and-3.'

"I said, 'Yes, ma'am, you're right, it certainly was a bad call.

I'll try not to ever do it again."

"But that's why I love this conference so much, because the fans really are into football, really understand it and really think they know it all." Make it quick

There's been talk that senior Michael Smith won't have to carry the ball as much as he did last season because of Arkansas' improved depth at running back. Smith led the SEC with 20.7 carries per game.

"When they say, 'taking the load off,' I hope they don't mean too much of the load," Smith said. "That's all depending on me and how much I can handle and how much Coach [Bobby] Petrino thinks I can handle.

"There will be some segments in the game where I need to come out and get a quick breather. But let's just make sure that's quick." Surprise team

Bobby Petrino said he didn't feel comfortable naming a player he believes might be the most surprising for the Razorbacks this season.

"I always have a tough time with the 'most' deal," Petrino said. "It's always a good question, but it's hard for me to answer ... because I want to surprise everyone as a team.

"Football is the ultimate team sport."

Sports, Pages 33 on 08/30/2009

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