Freshmen backups get expanded role while Rafe Peavey sits out second scrimmage

Arkansas quarterback Cole Kelley participates in a drill during practice Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016, at the football practice field on the university campus in Fayetteville. Visit nwadg.com/photos to see more photographs from the day's practice.
Arkansas quarterback Cole Kelley participates in a drill during practice Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016, at the football practice field on the university campus in Fayetteville. Visit nwadg.com/photos to see more photographs from the day's practice.

— Arkansas coaches held Rafe Peavey out of the final preseason scrimmage Saturday, but head coach Bret Bielema said redshirt sophomore is not out of contention as the team's No. 2 quarterback.

Peavey was held out in order for redshirt freshman Ty Storey and true freshman Cole Kelley to get more snaps with the backup offense, Bielema said. Coaches did not want Peavey working with the developmental team.

Saturday scrimmage links

http://www.wholehog…">Freshmen QBs get work in Peavey's absence

http://www.wholehog…">Injured players get light day

http://www.wholehog…">Offensive line taking shape

http://www.wholehog…">Observations and notes

http://www.wholehog…">Unofficial stats

http://www.wholehog…">Depth chart

"Rafe has been here a little longer than those guys, who continue to come on," Bielema said. "I wanted to see (how they would react) with a heavy workload today."

Bielema said coaches have had three springs and three falls to evaluate Peavey, a redshirt sophomore. He indicated that a back injury suffered lifting weights during the off-season has slowed Peavey's progress some.

"He does everything right," Bielema said. "He asks all the right questions. He puts in as much work as anybody, if not more. He's playing with an injured back. He's doing all the things we ask him to do, but the bottom line is performance and where we are, and I needed to see those other two guys to see if they could be beyond him.

"We have a lot of guys in the program who do everything right, but that doesn't automatically guarantee them a spot in the two-deep. We've got to earn it."

Kelley performed well in Peavey's absence. The 6-foot-7 Louisiana native showed off his big arm with several deep passes and finished the scrimmage 8 of 15 for 125 yards against the second-team defense.

He threw a 26-yard touchdown on a back shoulder throw to LaMichael Pettway on the final play of the scrimmage, which was moved indoors about midway through because of heavy rains. Kelley was also intercepted once during the outdoors portion when Byron Keaton deflected a ball that was intended for D'Vone McClure. Safety DeAndre Coley caught the ball and returned it about 40 yards before the play was blown dead.

Kelley looked more comfortable than during the team's first scrimmage last Saturday, in particular with his footwork and under-center snaps. Kelley played mostly from the shotgun in high school.

"I was very pleased with Cole, in particular," Bielema said. "I think he is continuing to get better every day. He's been here three weeks and he's moving guys who have been here for two years around, putting them in motion, training them in where they're supposed to be. I think his upside is really, really good.

"Every day, especially his positional coach, but all the offensive coaches just see steady improvement He is very competitive and has a very good football mind. I think the kids respond to him. I love getting in the huddle and hearing him give directions and seeing the way people respond."

Kelley out-played Storey among the backup quarterbacks. Storey struggled some Saturday and finished 2 of 9 for 24 yards.

Kelley completed two passes of greater than 20 yards, including the touchdown to Pettway came on a fourth-and-2. He also had a 24-yard pass to McClure during the outdoor portion.

"He has a very live arm," Bielema said. "You can ask all our quarterbacks what they think of Cole Kelley's arm and I think they would all agree that it's very, very, very strong, very accurate and he's got a nice touch on the ball, too. He threw two deep balls that I thought showed excellent composure and velocity, and distance."

Bielema stopped short of naming anyone the No. 2 quarterback and said coaches are eager to watch Saturday's film to assess personnel. He also declined to say whether Kelley would redshirt, something every other quarterback on the roster has done as a freshman.

Bielema hinted that Kelley may travel with the team even if he redshirts, like Peavey did in 2014. Bielema said traveling helps quarterbacks gain a better understanding of what they must do on the road in the SEC.

"I think there's a little bit of give and take," Bielema said of Kelley potentially redshirting, seeing where he is now and where he can be later in two or three more weeks of practice, as well as the season."

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