FAYETTEVILLE - Arkansas assistant coach Randy Shannon ducked and dodged depth chart questions at linebacker for a minute or two Tuesday before finally allowing that “it’s anybody’s job at every position” with a big laugh.
Shannon and defensive coordinator Chris Ash seemed reluctant to delve too deeply into the progress of any of the linebackers who will enter 2013 as one of the most anonymous position groups of any SEC team. After all, they said, the Razorbacks were only three days into camp and weren’t even in full pads yet.
“It’s a starting point, fellas,” Shannon said. “I know that everybody wants a first team and a second team, but we haven’t had a first scrimmage yet. Until we get in a scrimmage - full, live-action, bullets flying - you really don’t know, but I’m pleased because they’re working hard.”
This much is certain: Senior Jarrett Lake and juniors Braylon Mitchell and Daunte Carr exited spring practice atop the depth chart. Lake and Mitchell have mostly maintained their spots so far at the outside linebacker positions, according to defensive coaches.
“Right now, I’d say probably Braylon Mitchell and Jarrett Lake are clear favorites at the No. 1 position at sam [strong side] and will [weak side],” Ash said.
“You know, Jarrett Lake has really stepped his game up a lot,” Shannon said. “He’s making a lot of plays in practice and he’s doing a lot of great things for us, and Braylon is also.”
Carr has been challenged by versatile senior Austin Jones at the middle (mike) linebacker spot, with Robert Atiga and true freshman Brooks Ellis also in the running.
Sophomores Otha Peters (hip) and A.J. Turner (hand) have bounced back from injuries from the spring after pulling down starting time last season and are battling to make the main rotation on the outside. So are junior college transfers Martrell Spaight and Myke Tavarres.
Whoever emerges to take on the most snaps in what Shannon hopes will become a six- or seven-man rotation will have doubters. The unit was ranked 12th out of 14 SEC teams by Athlon Sports and ESPN.com this summer, and No. 13 by SB Nation.
“We take that kind of personal,” Peters said. “We know we’re young and a lot of people don’t know anything about us, but that’s a good thing that nobody knows about us. When we step on that field and they see what’s happening, they don’t see it coming at all.”
Arkansas struggled under former coach Bobby Petrino to field big-time playmakers at linebacker and to fill the corps with depth.
Ironically, injuries to starters Alonzo Highsmith and Tenarius Wright last season might serve to propel the current group of linebackers beyond its recent predecessors because it gave Peters and Turner the chance to start the final three and six games, respectively, in the Hogs’ 4-8 season. Both true freshmen, along with safety Rohan Gaines, made the freshman All-SEC team.
Peters and Turner lost ground with the new staff in the spring but are healthy again and trying to make it up.
“It’s great to see because as a coach you want every kid to get an opportunity to play and help the football team,” Shannon said. “Those guys did well for us last year. Now this year is a different situation. They came into spring kind of nicked up, was limited in what they were doing, but now they’re back.
“They’re competing and having fun.”
Coach Bret Bielema pointed out repeatedly after national signing day that he thought Spaight and Ellis, who did not go through spring drills, could make a quick impact because of their athleticism and physical skills. Bielema praised Spaight for staying at Coffeyville (Kan.) College last winter to clear up classwork that would make him eligible at Arkansas.
“That meant the most to me,” said Spaight, a two-time junior college All-American who played at North Little Rock High. “I mean, growing up in my household, we’re all Arkansas fans. … I just have to come out every day and try to give them my all.”
Spaight said he has lost a few pounds and is down to 225 since his arrival, but he hoped to be at 230 pounds to open the season. He and Ellis will have to battle their way up from the third-team to earn playing time.
“Building depth on the football team is always valuable, and the more that they can learn, the more they can help the team,” Shannon said.
As strange as it sounds, Arkansas’ rotation at linebacker this fall has a chance to be deeper than it has been in years. Finding big-time playmakers, who can play fast, smart and physical and make a difference, is the underlying challenge for the coaches.
“I think it’s going to be a great linebacker corp,” Spaight said. “I think we’re going to make a lot of plays.”
Like other personnel groups, the linebackers came back stronger following an off-season with strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert and his staff.
“Coach Herb has been doing a great job with us and worked on speed and strength and just being smart off the field too,” said Jones, who gained 10 pounds to reach 238 this summer.
“Everybody’s put on weight,” Shannon said. “J. Lake is 228 pounds, compared to 213. Daunte’s put on weight. Otha has put on weight. Everybody’s put on maybe eight to 15 pounds, which is good, and they kept their speed up, which is excellent.”Position glance LINEBACKERS RETURNING STARTERS Otha Peters, A.J. Turner KEY LOSSES Alonzo Highsmith, Terrell Williams, Tenarius Wright WHO’S BACK Daunte Carr, Jarrett Lake, Braylon Mitchell, Austin Jones, Robert Atiga WHO’S NEW Brooks Ellis, Martrell Spaight, Myke Tavarres# WALK-ONS Matt Reynolds, Nicholas Thomas-Smith ANALYSIS Lake has seemingly done the most to win a starting job, with Mitchell not far behind. Linebackers coach Randy Shannon is cross-training multiple players, including Jones, to work at different positions and defining some roles based on different packages, so the sorting at the three spots is likely to stretch into the season. Finding playmakers who are quick in the schemes and arrive at the ball with impact will be an interesting charge for the defensive coaches.
*Injured for spring 2013 and not listed as starters #Participated in spring practice
Sports, Pages 17 on 08/09/2013