Arkansas went through its first practice of game week Monday afternoon, splitting time between the indoor facility and the grass field outside Walker Pavilion. Here are a few notes and observations from the 20-minute period open to reporters:
• Sam Pittman said at his 12 p.m. press conference that the Razorbacks are a little more beat up than he would like less than a week out from game day. There were plenty of guys in green, but no real surprises: DB Zach Zimos, S Jalen Catalon, DB Myles Slusher, DB Kevin Compton, DB Jermaine Hamilton-Jordan, OL Ryan Winkel and TE Blake Kern.
• Did not see linebacker Hayden Henry at practice. He has been getting a lot of reps as the first-teamer alongside Grant Morgan in the Fastball Start work we’ve seen, and Henry is listed as an OR with Bumper Pool to start against Rice. John Ridgeway, as expected, was not present.
• Scouts or reps from the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers were in attendance today. Teams represented at practice at some point in August is at least 16.
• Arkansas went through its Fastball Start again today. Here is how the top two units shook out for this segment:
OFFENSE
QB
KJ Jefferson
Malik Hornsby
RB
Trelon Smith
Raheim Sanders
TE
Did not play a tight end with the No. 1 offense
Blake Kern
WR1
Ketron Jackson
Kendall Catalon
WR2
De’Vion Warren AND Jaquayln Crawford
John David White
WR3
Tyson Morris
Warren Thompson
LT
Myron Cunningham
Jalen St. John
LG
Brady Latham
Luke Jones
C
Ricky Stromberg
Shane Clenin
RG
Ty Clary
Beaux Limmer
RT
Dalton Wagner
Ty’Kieast Crawford
Notes: In the Fastball Start, Jefferson had a productive couple of throws, completing one to Morris for a good gain. On the third and final rep, he hit Warren along the right sideline for what would have been a 20-25 yard gain, I believe. Warren is moving well on the knee he injured last season. Smith had a carry in-between the throws, picking up decent yardage running to his left.
Hornsby kept the ball and got to the left edge on his first rep, Sanders then carried and ran into traffic moving to his left, and Hornsby dropped back on his final snap but opted to tuck the ball and run left.
DEFENSE
DE
Markell Utsey
Eric Gregory
DT
Isaiah Nichols
Taurean Carter
DE
Zach Williams
Jashaud Stewart
LB
Grant Morgan
Andrew Parker
LB
Bumper Pool
Deon Edwards
CB
LaDarrius Bishop
Devin Bush
CB
Montaric Brown
Hudson Clark
S
Jalen Catalon
Nathan Parodi
S
Joe Foucha
Malik Chavis
S
Simeon Blair
Jayden Johnson
Nickel
Greg Brooks
Jacorrei Turner
Notes: Tre Williams and Dorian Gerald, two guys who are expected to factor heavily into the rotation on the defensive line, were present today but did not go through the Fastball Start. Pittman said Monday, too, that Carter and Nichols are two solid options at tackle this weekend if Ridgeway is not able to go. I did not see Trent Gordon, the transfer defensive back from Penn State, in the quick start. He’s a guy who I think can factor in at safety.