FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said NCAA might be on the brink of adding a 10th assistant coach for Football Bowl Subdivision programs, and it could happen as early as this spring.
Bielema broached the subject when he was asked about the rising salaries of assistant coaches, in particular the reported $1.8 million LSU will pay defensive coordinator Dave Aranda next season. Aranda is on track to be the highest-paid assistant in the FBS in 2017 after Texas A&M defensive coordinator John Chavis topped the list at $1.55 million this year.
Bielema, whose Razorbacks are preparing for a Dec. 29 date in the Belk Bowl against No. 22 Virginia Tech, said the latest news on adding a full-time assistant coach came via a recent SEC teleconference.
"There's a chance we may have 10 coaches next year, which would bring, I think, a strong change in college football," he said.
Bielema said a 10th assistant coach could be added on offense, defense or special teams, could be an extra coordinator or even a chief-of-staff type position.
"There's a lot of different directions you could go," he said. "It sounds like there's a very strong possibility that's going to pass. And it could be even immediate in the spring, if not for sure by next fall."
Fuente talks
On Monday, Virginia Tech Coach Justin Fuente held his first news conference since the Hokies' 42-35 loss to Clemson in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game on Dec. 3.
"Now we're settling in to our preparation for Arkansas, watching them on film," Fuente said after describing a hectic week in recruiting. "Incredibly talented. Their offense has got one of everything, in terms of an All-SEC tailback, a quarterback that's a coach's son that's prolific and accurate. Great anticipation.
"Big wide receiver, big offensive line and a big, physical defense. So I'm looking forward to kind of driving full throttle into preparation for that game and trying to give our kids the best chance to have success."
Kelley surgery
Arkansas reserve quarterback Cole Kelley underwent back surgery a couple of weeks ago to take care of what had been a nagging issue, Arkansas coaches said Monday.
Coach Bret Bielema said Kelley had "routine back surgery," and that the 6-7 freshman noticed an immediate improvement after the operation.
"The reason we did it now is we want to have him back 100 percent for when we start back in January," Bielema said.
"That's been bothering him for quite a while," offensive coordinator Dan Enos said. "You have to give him credit. He's been fighting through a lot of pain. He was wincing after a lot of throws."
Injury updates
Bret Bielema said sophomore linebacker Dre Greenlaw has "an outside chance" of playing against Virginia Tech in the Belk Bowl on Dec. 29.
On Saturday, Greenlaw went through his first no-contact practice since suffering a broken foot Oct. 8 during Arkansas' 49-30 loss to No. 1 Alabama. Bielema said he told Greenlaw he didn't want to push him into action if he isn't ready.
"If he can play he will. But if not, no big deal," Bielema said.
Running back Kody Walker has made a fast recovery from an additional foot surgery he underwent the week after the Alabama game, Bielema said, adding the sixth-year senior has an outside shot at being healthy enough to play in the bowl game.
Shameless plug
Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos got playful when a reporter asked if he was hopeful that junior center Frank Ragnow would return next season.
"C'mon back, Frank!" Enos said. "We need you buddy! Yeah, I'm pulling for him to come back. That's my shameless plug right there."
Ticket tally
Virginia Tech has sold nearly twice as many tickets as Arkansas for the Belk Bowl. The Hokies have sold about 7,700 tickets, while Arkansas has sold about 4,200, according to officials. Both programs received 8,500 tickets for the game last week.
Virginia Tech is expected to sell more tickets because of the game's location in Charlotte, N.C., which is located about 170 miles from the Tech campus in Blacksburg, Va.
Extra points
• Bret Bielema said center Frank Ragnow and receiver Jared Cornelius submitted paperwork to the NFL Draft advisory board immediately after the regular season finale, and they could hear back before the Razorbacks depart for Charlotte, N.C., on Dec. 24.
• Bret Bielema will be in Charlotte, N.C., this morning for a joint news conference with Virginia Tech Coach Justin Fuente.
-- Matt Jones of WholeHogSports.com contributed to this report
Sports on 12/13/2016