FAYETTEVILLE — Bret Harris and Ross Rasner were not listed as first-team linebackers at the start of Arkansas’ spring drills.
The fact that Harris, a senior, and Rasner, a junior, have been taking plenty of snaps with middle linebacker Jerry Franklin and the starting unit the past couple of weeks speaks to a couple of points.
The Razorbacks are piling up a little depth at what had been a vulnerable position, and speed is a virtue.
“Having Ross Rasner and Bret Harris on the field in there with Jerry Franklin in our 4-3 defense, it’s gotten more speed on the field,” defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said.
Rasner has been taking first-team reps at the strongside (sam) slot when Robinson calls for the Hogs’ base 4-3 defense, while veteran Jerico Nelson takes the snaps in nickel sets at the “jack” position.
“We see speed as a big advantage,” Rasner said. “We don’t have the size that some other teams do, but we make up for it with our speed.”
Rasner said Nelson has helped push along the younger linebackers.
“He’s a good encourager to me and all the other guys who are getting reps,” he said. “He helps with everybody. Jerico’s a good guy to watch and mentor.”
Harris has practiced with the first unit at weakside (will) linebacker the past couple of weeks, ahead of Terrell Williams, Jarrett Lake and Austin Moss. Though he’s been elevated to the first team before, this has been his longest stint atop the depth chart.
“I come out every day and try to pick out one thing to get better at,” Harris said. “I’m studying film a little more.”
Harris also has gained about five pounds from his listed spring weight of 224 pounds and is pushing 230.
“I’m trying to eat a little more, trying to bulk up a little bit,” Harris said.
Rasner had a good showing in Arkansas’ first spring scrimmage, returning a fumble for a touchdown and earning more time with the first unit the following week.
“Ross is a guy who’s really earning his stripes,” Robinson said last week.
“Ross is a pretty high-effort guy,” Franklin said. “In the scrimmage he did a good job with his effort, his technique and assignment.”
Rasner, who posted a fumble recovery and two sacks last year in his first season at linebacker, is developing a ballhawk reputation. In virtually every live tackling, scrimmage and team session this spring, he’s been involved in a turnover, such as his fumble recovery at the 16-yard line in the second scrimmage and his long interception return on a Brandon Mitchell rollout pass Tuesday.
“More time in the film room has really helped me,” Rasner said. “I’m just reacting to things better now.”
Franklin, a team captainin 2010 and one of the team’s elder statesmen, sees the Arkansas defense taking strides beyond last year’s rise of 53 spots to No. 36 in total defense in the country.
“We’re really thinking we’re better than we were when we left off last year,” Franklin said. “We’ve got a lot of guys back, and in that aspect we haven’t really been surprised by what’s happened.”
And the more guys like Harris and Rasner get quality time with the first defense, the more depth and contributions the Razorbacks can expect on defense in the 2011 season.
Sports, Pages 17 on 04/14/2011