Quarterback
Austin Allen, with one season as an SEC starter in the books, has shown he belongs in the upper crust of quarterbacks in the conference and country. Allen completed 245 of 401 passes for 3,430 yards, with 25 TDs and 15 INTs. A substantial reduction in interceptions and sacks taken, as well as an uptick in his 61.1 percent completions, should be expected as a senior. A projected improvement in pass protection will help. Ty Storey (1 of 4, 3 yards in 2016) and redshirt freshman Cole Kelley are the options at No. 2. Each has been given more time with the starters than in last year's camp, when every snap was critical for Allen. Freshman Daulton Hyatt seems certain to redshirt. Walk-ons Jack Lindsey and Carson Proctor had big moments in camp.
Running back
How do you adjust and move on when your returning 1,360-yard rusher is injured on the final day of spring practice and is forced to retire from football? The Razorbacks are about to find out. Rawleigh Williams averaged 5.6 yards per carry and scored 12 touchdowns to go along with the third-highest rushing total in the SEC. His injury propelled sophomore Devwah Whaley (110 carries, 602 yards, 3 TDs, 5.5 ypc) to the top of the chart. Whaley had two 100-yard games and came on strong at season's end. He's the prototype power runner for a Bielema offense. David Williams, a graduate transfer from South Carolina, looks on track to be the tandem back with Whaley. Freshman Chase Hayden has impressed in scrimmages and practice with his speed, wiggle and tackle-breaking, even on inside runs. The rookie should play a solid role. His classmate, Maleek Williams, also is off to a strong start, but he might have a reduced role because his traits are similar to Whaley and David Williams. Fullbacks Kendrick Jackson and Hayden Johnson should be key blockers in what is expected to be a more physical run game.
Receiver
This unit was light on experience even before senior Jared Cornelius was shelved a couple of days into camp with a tight back. Receivers coach Michael Smith said other people might have concerns about the group, but he doesn't. Cornelius had 32 catches for 515 yards last year, while the rest of the returning wideouts combined for 3 catches for 44 yards. Deon Stewart's knowledge of the offense made him the de facto leader with Cornelius on the sidelines. Fellow sophomore La'Michael Pettway, challenged by Bret Bielema on Aug. 1, went on a TD-scoring spree through the halfway point of camp. T.J. Hammonds looked good in the slot until his minor knee surgery. Redshirt freshman Jordan Jones got off to a big start with multiple over-the-top scores, but he drew Bielema's ire after scrimmage No. 2 for resisting coaching. Of the junior college transfers, Jonathan Nance accelerated rapidly, while a back injury slowed Brandon Martin. Jones and Koilan Jackson are the freshmen with the greatest potential to contribute now, over Kofi Boateng, Jarrod Barnes, De'Vion Warren and Maleek Barkley. Gary Cross and Tobias Enlow also could be in the mix.
Tight end
Austin Cantrell, a 5-game starter who caught 13 passes for 120 yards and 2 TDs in 2016, has the second-most catches of the returning players. He's by far the top blocker at the position, while Cheyenne O'Grady has the best hands and ball skills. The battle for the No. 3 tight end between junior college transfer Jeremy Patton, Grayson Gunter and Jack Kraus has been tight, with Will Gragg also in the mix. The Razorbacks will continue to use multiple tight end sets, so plenty of playing time is available for the players who assert themselves. Walk-on Blake Kern also strikes an impressive figure at 6-4, 245.
Offensive line
The Razorbacks believe a large leap from this group will improve production across the board, starting with a drastic reduction in the 35 sacks allowed. Other key numbers that should be better: 61 percent completions, 4.1 yards per carry and 39.8 percent on third-down conversions, which ranked 10th in the SEC. Preseason All-SEC center Frank Ragnow, guards Hjalte Froholdt and Johnny Gibson, and tackle Brian Wallace are all returning starters. They're expected to be more physical and more cohesive. Colton Jackson gets another run at left tackle, and he says he's better prepared. The top reserves will come from a group featuring Jake Raulerson, Zach Rogers, Paul Ramirez, Jalen Merrick and Deion Malone. Freshman Dalton Wagner looked ticketed for a backup tackle slot until his foot injury in camp. Much is riding on this group under second-year assistant Kurt Anderson.
Defensive line
The much-touted improvement of the front four heading into 2016 fizzled about the time Deatrich Wise suffered a broken hand on the game-clinching sack in the opener. The front performed poorly enough that position coach Rory Segrest got a pink slip and the base defense switched to a 3-4. Bijhon Jackson, Austin Capps and Dylan Hays are projected to rotate at nose guard, the pivotal piece on the front. McTelvin Agim, the emotional leader of the defense, can become a household name in the SEC under new assistant John Scott. T.J. Smith, Briston Guidry and Armon Watts are the next wave at end. Junior college signee Michael Taylor's prospects for playing time are uncertain.
Linebackers
A thin group to begin with had its camp issues as three of the four starters had minor injuries or needed recovery time, and Jamario Bell and Josh Harris were both sidelined for up to 10 weeks with foot injuries. Standout Dre Greenlaw, who is rebounding from two foot surgeries in a year, Karl Roesler and De'Jon Harris were slowed in camp. However, if those three projected starters remain healthy along with "Razor" backer Randy Ramsey, Arkansas could have a quality front line. Ramsey's versatility was one of the key reasons in the scheme shift, and the Razorbacks want to recruit many more like the long-armed 6-4, 228-pounder. Youngsters Dee Walker and Grant Morgan got plenty of run with the starters in camp, which should help. Gabe Richardson, Giovanni LaFrance, Hayden Henry and Alexy Jean-Baptiste, when he returns from foot surgery, help populate the position.
Secondary
Arkansas' solid play at cornerback went largely unnoticed last season because of run-stopping issues. Ryan Pulley, Henre Toliver and Kevin Richardson are all back at the relatively deep corner spot, and they'll be bolstered by Britto Tutt, and freshmen Kamren Curl, Chevin Calloway and Korey Hernandez. The Hogs are still thin at safety. Santos Ramirez has emerged as a starter and defensive captain, along with Richardson, while Josh Liddell and De'Andre Coley jockeyed back and forth at the other spot. Reid Miller has stayed in the two deep, ahead of redshirts Micahh Smith and Deon Edwards. An item to watch: If blue-chip signee Montaric Brown clears eligibility and makes it to campus as expected, can he break into the rotation?
Special teams
Cole Hedlund has been the on-again, off-again top kicker the past couple of years, and the same scenario could play out in 2017 as the junior parries with walk-on freshman Blake Mazza. As Hedlund rested a groin muscle during the first scrimmage, Mazza impressed. Hedlund came back in scrimmage No. 2 and went 4 for 4 on field goals, including a 48-yarder. Redshirt sophomore Blake Johnson punted very well in the spring and in camp, but then hit a few duds in the scrimmage open to fans Aug. 12. He's still the favorite to win the job. Lead punt returner Jared Cornelius' back woes might end his run as a return man, opening the door for Henre Toliver and Deon Stewart. Stewart and freshmen such as Chevin Calloway and Jarrod Barnes have worked as kickoff return men. T.J. Hammonds is an ideal kick returner, but his knee surgery -- expected to keep him out until right before the opener -- might change those plans. Arkansas has not been dynamic on returns since the tenures of Joe Adams and Dennis Johnson ended in 2012. Time will tell if a playmaker emerges this fall.
Sports on 08/27/2017