Arkansas went through its 15th practice of the preseason on Monday, again splitting time in the indoor facility and on the grass field outdoors. The turf field outdoors has essentially been designated for kickers, punters and specialists.
Here are some notes and observations from the 20-minutes open to the media:
• Players in green no-contact tops: TJ Hammonds, Trelon Smith, Jalen Catalon, Blake Kern, AJ Green, Ty Clary, De’Vion Warren, JT Towers, Jermaine Hamilton-Jordan and Kevin Compton. Kern went through the Fastball Start in a standard offensive top then flipped to green for position drills.
Monday was the first time we had seen Smith and Hammonds since before the first scrimmage of the preseason. Smith was the first-team tailback in the quick start. He ran but did not look full go. It was good to see him running around with the team again.
Ricky Stromberg came out of his green jersey and was in a standard offense top. That is good news.
• Warren was not wearing a brace on his previously injured knee. He tore his ACL in Arkansas’ loss at Florida last season and had been wearing the brace all preseason. Sam Pittman said over the weekend that he is now dealing with a hamstring issue.
• Tre Williams, one of the standouts of camp, I would say, on the defensive side of the ball, came up a bit gimpy after a rep in the Fastball Start. He ran with the first team, as he has much of the last two weeks.
• Here is how the depth shook out 1-3 in the early team work:
OFFENSE
QB
KJ Jefferson
Malik Hornsby
John Stephen Jones
RB
Trelon Smith
Raheim Sanders
Dominique Johnson
TE
Blake Kern
Hudson Henry
Nathan Bax
WR1
Ketron Jackson
Kendall Catalon
John David White
WR2
Jaquayln Crawford
Bryce Stephens
Harper Cole
WR3
Tyson Morris
Warren Thompson
Jaedon Wilson
LT
Myron Cunningham
Jalen St. John
Devon Manuel
LG
Brady Latham
Luke Jones
Cole Carson
C
Ricky Stromberg
Shane Clenin
Austin Nix
RG
Beaux Limmer
Drew Vest
Terry Wells
RT
Dalton Wagner
Ty’Kieast Crawford
Marcus Henderson
Notes: The first-team offense ran Trelon Smith on play No. 1 and he was stopped at the line. KJ Jefferson then completed a play-action pass to Blake Kern in the right flat, then Jefferson had a pass dropped by Smith. Jefferson again targeted Smith on a check down for a decent gain on the left side.
Raheim Sanders had a carry for a short gain to begin the second-team reps, Malik Hornsby then kept twice for short gains then a pass intended for Kendall Catalon was broken up.
Dominique Johnson ran twice up the middle, Harper Cole carried right for a minimal gain then John Stephen Jones threw the ball away facing pressure. White had perhaps the wow moment of the third team’s reps, wiping out linebacker Jackson Woodard with a big block.
DEFENSE
DE
Dorian Gerald
Jashaud Stewart
Eric Thomas
DT
Markell Utsey
Isaiah Nichols
Marcus Miller
DT
John Ridgeway
Eric Gregory
Taurean Carter
DE
Tre Williams
Zach Williams
Mataio Soli
LB
Grant Morgan
Andrew Parker
Jackson Woodard
LB
Hayden Henry
Bumper Pool
Deon Edwards
CB
LaDarrius Bishop
Devin Bush
Nick Turner
CB
Montaric Brown
Hudson Clark
Khari Johnson
Nickel
Greg Brooks
Trent Gordon/Myles Slusher
Jacorrei Turner
S
Jalen Catalon
Simeon Blair
Malik Chavis
S
Joe Foucha
Trent Gordon/Myles Slusher
Jayden Johnson
Notes: Devin Bush had one of the top plays for the defense in the Fastball Start. He broke up the Hornsby pass that was intended for Catalon. Bush has consistently run with the second team at corner the last couple of weeks. I think he’s found a home there and has a chance to get some meaningful snaps this season.
