Razorbacks report

Bielema: QB Allen is starter

Austin Allen (8) of Arkansas celebrates a touchdown pass with Jared Cornelius (left) and Hunter Henry (right) against UT-Martin Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015, during the fourth quarter at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.
Austin Allen (8) of Arkansas celebrates a touchdown pass with Jared Cornelius (left) and Hunter Henry (right) against UT-Martin Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015, during the fourth quarter at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema went public Thursday evening with his decision to name junior Austin Allen as the team's starting quarterback.

Allen has been working exclusively with the first unit and has routinely been pointed out by Bielema and offensive coordinator Dan Enos as doing the best work among the quarterbacks.

Allen has completed 17 of 24 passes for 228 passes and 3 touchdowns in two scrimmages.

Allen, Rafe Peavey, Ty Storey and Ricky Town are vying to replace three-year starter Brandon Allen at quarterback in 2016. Austin Allen is the younger brother of Brandon Allen.

"The fifth Arkansas edge is we EARN EVERYTHING," Bielema said in a UA release announcing the decision. "That is why today I announced to the team that Austin Allen is our starting quarterback."

Agim is here

McTelvin Agim couldn't have announced himself more boldly if he had a megaphone.

In his first full-scale scrimmage as a collegian Saturday, the Razorbacks' coveted defensive end signee had a disagreement with guard Hjalte Froholdt that boiled over after a play and led to shoving by both parties.

When offensive tackle Dan Skipper waded into the situation, Agim hauled off with a right cross into the heavily padded senior.

The aggression would have led to a game-day ejection, but in practice Agim's move made a statement.

The 6-3, 288-pound Agim said he didn't think twice about firing a shot at the 6-10, 326-pound Skipper.

"Not at all. You've got to be a savage," Agim said Thursday in his first media interview of the spring. "You've got to be ready for anything.

"I really wasn't going at Skip, but you know Skip intervened so it was like [everything] goes. But it happens. It happens everywhere. There's still love. If a fight breaks out, I'm going to make sure I'm with Skip and we're going to protect each other."

Agim said several teammates echoed Coach Bret Bielema's remarks that Agim has to play smarter.

"I know I've got to have more control in the game," he said. "I understand that."

Wise words

Defensive end Deatrich Wise has earned a status bestowed by Coach Bret Bielema on key seniors who have proven themselves, as he and linebacker Brooks Ellis were held out of the second half of last week's scrimmage.

"The spring's really gone well," Wise said. "I'm just really enhancing everything, playing faster, doing more studying, listening better. I'm just really fine-tuning everything."

Back to D

Kendrick Jackson answered a need at fullback as a true freshmen in 2015, but he's happy to be back on the defensive side as a sophomore.

"I like linebacker better. It's my natural position," Jackson said. "I just have to learn the defense.

"Fullback, it was straight. I just did what the team needed. Fullback was a lot of banging and that really helped me out at linebacker."

Walker' wheels

Injured running back Kody Walker wasted no time returning to practice. Walker, who had surgery Wednesday to repair a broken bone in his right foot, wheeled on a scooter to his teammates during the team's stretch period.

Walker, a sixth-year senior, injured his foot while planting to make a cut on a pass route Tuesday, Coach Bret Bielema said.

"It was rough," defensive end Deatrich Wise said. "He's been through so much, and now for him to get hurt again, I just told him to keep his head up. He'll be back with us this summer."

Offensive touts

Safety Josh Liddell, asked about the foot injury suffered by running back Kody Walker on Tuesday, said he's confident Walker will return in good shape, but in the meantime players such as Damon "Duwop" Mitchell, Denzell Evans and Juan Day are doing well at the spot.

"And as far as the offense, they looked good today," Liddell said. "They didn't miss a beat. Guys know what the situation was and they really got going. It was a good practice for them. Duwop looks really good."

10 down

The Razorbacks completed spring practice No. 10 on Thursday in sunny and cool conditions on the outdoor practice fields. The third week of spring will conclude with what Coach Bret Bielema has described as a half-practice, half-scrimmage Saturday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium that is closed to the public.

SI draft Hogs

This week's Sports Illustrated contains the magazine's NFL Draft preview, and four former Razorbacks are mentioned.

Hunter Henry is rated the No. 1 tight end and is projected to be taken by the Baltimore Ravens with the No. 36 pick early in the second round.

Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams are rated fifth and ninth among the running backs, and Brandon Allen is 10th in the quarterback breakdown.

Former Louisiana Tech star Kenneth Dixon, from Strong, is listed third among the running backs behind Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott and Alabama's Derrick Henry.

Extra points

• A nice group of former Razorbacks attended Thursday's practice, including Chris Gragg, Hunter Henry, Davyon McKinney and Sebastian Tretola.

• Jacksonville State defensive coordinator David Blackwell was a guest at practice. Coach Bret Bielema had a brief discussion with Blackwell, who has assisted at Clemson, Pittsburgh, South Florida and his alma mater East Carolina, during an early group drill period.

Sports on 04/15/2016

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