FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas receivers Jojo Robinson and Kendrick Edwards are enjoying strong starts in fall camp after being suspended by Coach Bret Bielema in the spring for undisclosed disciplinary reasons.
Edwards, a sophomore who had four receptions for 70 yards last season, missed all of spring practice. Robinson, a redshirt freshman, spent part of the spring on suspension.
"I love where they are," receivers coach Michael Smith said. "I'm proud of them. They've made tremendous progress and have put themselves in position to compete for a job."
Smith said Robinson, who is working primarily in the slot with Jared Cornelius, has been especially impressive.
"Jojo is doing some really, really good things from his route running to the way he's catching the ball," Smith said. "I really don't think anyone can cover him right now.
"He's been lighting it up. If I had to give out a guy that's really turned heads this camp so far ... it would definitely be Jojo. He's all over the place. He's doing what we wanted him to do when he first got here, but that goes back to a guy that's just matured. He's learning how to be a man."
Smith said Edwards is also showing a higher maturity level.
"I think it humbled him a lot because he didn't go through spring ball," Smith said. "He's been given a second chance to be around the guys and be in the meetings and to play football.
"He's handled it very well. Now you see him taking notes and trying to learn and put himself in a situation where he can play."
Collins' tip
Defensive coordinator Robb Smith provided a little more detail on defensive end Tevin Beanum's interception on a deflection in Tuesday's practice against Brandon Allen, the first interception thrown by the starting quarterback in a team period this season.
"Jared Collins tipped it," Smith said. "There was some excitement out there.
"It was a little curl route and Jared did a great job with his eyes at the top of the route and was able to get a hand on it. A lot of credit really goes to Tevin for just running down the field and finishing the play and swarming to our standard and expectation."
50-50 at 260
Running back Kody Walker, who said he's practicing well at a new high weight of 260 pounds, is splitting reps at tailback and fullback roughly in half through the first week of camp.
"I'm still trying to get the little ins and outs of the fullback position because I really haven't played it that much, but that'll just come with repetition," he said. "I'm feeling more and more comfortable with it every day."
Walker said coaches told him to get to a weight he felt comfortable at over the summer.
"I was just playing around, trying to get to 240, see how that felt, then see if I could get to 260, see if I could run with it," Walker said. "I felt great with it when I had it on, so I was like, man, I might as well keep it on."
Dre's play
True freshman Dre Greenlaw has been taking second-team snaps at weak side linebacker behind former Fayetteville High School teammate Brooks Ellis the past couple of days.
"He's caught on to what we're trying to do defensively," defensive coordinator Robb Smith said. "We've always been really impressed with his athletic ability, and now we're getting a chance to see him do it against some really good competition."
Greenlaw has added 15 pounds since enrolling, moving up to 229 pounds.
" I threw him out there the other day and I just told him go run around," linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves said. "I know you're not 100 percent on what's going on, but I was excited about it to say the least. ... He's almost 230 pounds and runs well, and he's kind of what you're looking for."
Old freshman
Freshman cornerback Ryan Pulley has run the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds according to recruiting services, but his walk isn't so fast according to Coach Bret Bielema.
"I call him 'Old Man,' " Bielema said. "Nothing against older men. He just kind of walks with this gait like he's 50 years old."
Team theme?
A reporter asked Bret Bielema on Sunday whether he had a theme to promote this fall.
Bielema thought for a moment.
"My wife has 'Living the dream in 2015.' I like that one," Bielema said. "No, we don't have any themes."
14 from Florida
The Razorbacks' 14 players who hail from Florida posed Sunday during media day for a picture taken from a high angle with the tagline "Straight Outta Florida" under it.
Receiver Kendrick Edwards, who is one of the 14, posted the picture on his Twitter account.
The Hogs' two most successful players from Florida, tailback Alex Collins and tackle Denver Kirkland, are front and center in the photo, surrounded by veterans Anthony Brown, De'Andre Coley, Edwards, Cornelius Floyd, Jeremiah Ledbetter, Ke'Tyrus Marks, Jojo Robinson and Josh Williams and true freshmen Josh Allen, Derrick Graham, Jalen Merrick and Ryan Pulley.
Ledbetter went to high school in Orlando, Fla., before transferring to Gainesville, Ga., for his senior year.
Florida ranks third among the home states of players on the Razorbacks' 105-man roster, trailing Arkansas (38) and Texas (16). The Hogs have seven players each from Louisiana and Oklahoma and five from Missouri.
Backup plan
Redshirt sophomore Austin Allen and redshirt freshman Rafe Peavy continue to compete for the backup quarterback position behind established starter Brandon Allen.
"Austin and Rafe both have done some good things," offensive coordinator Dan Enos said. "There's obviously some consistency things we want to see both of them improve on, but I've been pleased with them."
Enos said true freshman Ty Storey, who enrolled in January and went through spring practice, also is progressing.
"You can tell he's really taken a step from spring to now to be very diligent in his preparation," Enos said. "I think he's getting a very good feel for what we're doing."
Nickel reps
Henre Toliver is the leading candidate to replace Tevin Mitchel as the top nickel back covering slot receivers. Sophomores Kevin Richardson and Cornelius Floyd and true freshman Ryan Pulley are also working there.
"We've got some answers there," defensive coordinator Robb Smith said. "Henre we feel really good about. The other guys, we'll probably train a guy that week based on what the matchup is in the slot."
Sports on 08/13/2015