FAYETTEVILLE - The race is underway for Arkansas’ true freshman offensive linemen Denver Kirkland, Reeve Koehler and Dan Skipper to show they can get in the mix this fall.
Offensive line coach Sam Pittman said Thursday he’d like to find a backup center, guard and tackle for a core group of eight to build around this season. As of now, senior center Travis Swanson and senior left tackle David Hurd would seemingly be in line to win starting jobs. Guards Brey Cook and Mitch Smothers and right tackle Grady Ollison were targeted as first-year starters coming out of spring. That leaves three positions in Pittman’s group of eight.
“Obviously we’re addressing the freshman guys,” he said. “We haven’t given them too many reps to this point, but we gave them some more today. So we’re trying to find out if they’re going to be able to help us this year or not.”
Koehler is working with Luke Charpentier behind Swanson, Kirkland has the potential to play guard or tackle, and Skipper, 6-10, is a tackle.
Backs up
Running backs coach Joel Thomas said he has given a wide array of players first-team reps: Jonathan Williams, Kody Walker, Alex Collins and Nate Holmes at tailback, and Kiero Small and Patrick Arinze at fullback.
“They’re a crew that has been running their tails off,” Thomas said. “I really appreciate the effort and the work they’re putting into it.
It’s a competitive group, as I’m finding out here in day four.” Full pads
The Razorbacks will work in full pads today for the first time in camp.
“We’re all excited to get in full pads.” guard Mitch Smothers said. “Even though we have been hitting, we’re ready for full-contact hitting.” Otha OK
Sophomore linebacker Otha Peters, who was limited in spring practice by a hip injury, said he’s back to full speed.
“It was very difficult being banged up with my hip and everything,” Peters said. “It was kind of hard to catch on and everything, but camp is going very great for me. I’m 100 percent and the defense is coming down pretty easy to me.”
Peters, who had 32 tackles in 10 games with 3 starts last season, said he doesn’t believe he’s playing catch-up.
“Not at all,” he said. “The coaches know what I can do from last year’s tape. They knew I was injured. So I’m just out there doing what I do to get better and get this defense better.” Act naturally
Sophomore tailback Jonathan Williams said the new offensive personality at Arkansas suits him perfectly.
The Razorbacks have made no secret they plan to be a physical running team, first and foremost, after four years of a pass-centered attack.
“I feel like I’m more of a downhill runner,” Williams said. “It’s not how I was used last year, but I feel like naturally I’m more of a downhill runner, so I like the power running game.
Tough Taver
Cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson, the second-year assistant who handled linebackers last year and served as acting head coach for two weeks in the spring of 2012, has the longest standing relationship with the players on the staff.
“I like having him as our coach,” sophomore Will Hines said. “He’s very hard on us, and that’s just going to bring the best out of us.
He’s just as hard on us off the field as he is on the field.
“That’s going to make us strive after football, because football doesn’t last that long. He’s making us better men as well as better players.” Cajun check
Arkansas coaches have made reference to the degree of difficulty in their season opener, which is against Louisiana-Lafayette on Aug. 31, and for good reason.
The Cajuns, coming off a 9-4 season, have been picked to win the Sun Belt by 11 of 15 outlets that have made predictions, including the Sun Belt itself, USA Today, CBSsports.com and Athlon Sports.
“With success comes expectations,” Louisiana-Lafayette Coach Mark Hudspeth said.
Cajuns quarterback Terrance Broadway was one of 30 quarterbacks named to the Manning Award watch list last week. Broadway, a transfer from Houston after the 2010 season, accounted for 3,611 total yards and 26 touchdowns - 17 passing and 9 rushing - last year after starting the season as a backup to Blaine Gautier.
Worth noting
Freshman receiver Melvinson Hartfield has made it to the practice field after the Razorbacks waited a couple of days to get his paperwork and NCAA clearance.
Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said tailback Nate Holmes lost a fumble after taking a big hit, and that an unnamed quarterback threw an interception Wednesday.
Linebacker Daunte Carr has switched from jersey No. 24 to No. 52.
The Razorbacks have worked on the outside practice fields each of the first four days of camp.
Sports, Pages 20 on 08/09/2013