FAYETTEVILLE -- Khalia Hackett's rapid rise from a non-factor on Arkansas' 2014 defense to a potential starting linebacker over the course of one winter can be attributed to two key points that have nothing to do with his athletic ability.
Most importantly, Hackett has a desire to excel.
Secondly, as a freshman last season he fell under the wing of Martrell Spaight, who became the Razorbacks' poster boy in 2014 for turning intensive film study into game-day excellence.
Hackett, 6-2, 232 pounds, opened spring drills atop the depth chart at strong-side linebacker alongside juniors Brooks Ellis and Josh Williams. When the Razorbacks add an extra defensive back for their nickel package, Hackett has stayed on the field with Ellis as the tandem inside linebackers.
"I'm not going to say I wasn't surprised," Hackett said of opening spring with the starting defensive unit. "I was more expecting it because I knew the standards I set for myself, standards that were higher than the coaches'. Whether I was starter or fifth-string, I knew where I wanted to hit at the end of spring."
It won't be easy for Hackett to keep his starting job with sophomore Randy Ramsey, a 6-4, 220-pound sophomore, on his heels. Hackett worked almost exclusively at the middle linebacker spot Tuesday as Williams took work on the outside.
Ramsey, who showed flashes of potential during camp last fall before running into injuries and other issues during the season, had a big impact in last Saturday's scrimmage.
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said he expected Ramsey, who was ahead of Hackett on the depth chart last year, to fight for playing time at the position.
"Hackett went ahead of him and Randy played his tail off today," Bielema said after Saturday's scrimmage. "I couldn't be happier for Randy Ramsey, and hopefully that's more of what's going to come."
Bielema also is pleased with Hackett, who said he "didn't play a down at linebacker" as a freshman last season while tying Jeremy Sprinkle for the team lead with 10 special teams tackles.
"From last fall to now, he's been the biggest surprise," Bielema said.
"That really kind of jumped out to us during Hoganese," defensive coordinator Robb Smith said, referencing Bielema's name for the study of the program's terminology.
Spaight's fanatic tape study rubbed off on Hackett, who prepped at South Paulding High School in Douglasville, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta.
Bielema told the story of Spaight coming up to the Smith Football Center for a workout on a Saturday evening and seeing Hackett putting in extra work.
"He's immersed himself," Bielema said. "He's very physical and very intelligent. The sky is the limit for him."
Hackett is quick to recognize Spaight's influence on him.
"Martrell Spaight was really big for me as a freshman coming into fall camp," Hackett said. "I was good at it physically, but mentally I wasn't into it. I was always in trouble and stuff.
"Martrell Spaight pulled me aside. He already knew I could play, and he would just talk to me. Sitting behind him in meeting rooms and stuff and him asking questions and I'm listening and seeing how much effort he put into it.
"I really studied. He's always sitting in the meeting room with the coaches, going over the plays. He was always in the film room watching, and I'm trying to take that approach because all that time he put into it, he produced on the field every game."
Ellis said Hackett's leap in maturity over the course of one year has been impressive.
"In the summer he would miss meetings and he was just all over the place, and now he's pretty stable," Ellis said. "He knows what he's doing. It's exciting to see him grow and mature and be the linebacker that we need."
Smith said Tuesday's move would help in Hackett's development.
"He's a big, physical linebacker and he's fast, too, so he can do a lot of things," Ellis said. "It'll be fun to see where he goes."
Linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves said Hackett was "spinning" a little Tuesday with the reps at middle linebacker.
"It's just some different stuff and he just needs time," Hargreaves said. "I thought he did a great job in the first six practices where he was. With that being said, we wanted to try him at another spot and see if he might be able to work out there.
"We'll see where that goes. I like what he's bringing right now."
Sports on 04/08/2015