Robinson experiences hard times

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas defensive end Antwain Robinson is ready to put a difficult off-season behind him and is looking forward to the fall.

The junior from Little Rock Central pleaded guilty July 11 to a misdemeanor shoplifting charge in Fayetteville District Court. He received one year’s probation, six months suspended jail time and was ordered to pay $ 405 in fines and court costs, said a spokesman in the Fayetteville city prosecutor’s office.

“It was just, everybody goes through hard times,” Robinson said at Arkansas’ media day Monday. “I guess it’s just a learning stage.”

Robinson was arrested in March and charged with shoplifting two shirts valued at $ 64 from the Dillard’s department store in the Northwest Arkansas Mall.

As part of his disciplinary action since then, Robinson toured the Washington County jail with UA student life director Rodger Hunter and did extra running and conditioning as punishment. At the jail, inmates yelled some advice to the 255-pound end, as in, he really didn’t want to wind up in there.

Robinson is listed as the starter at right defensive end. He started 13 games last season, was demoted in the spring after his arrest, then was back on the first-team defense when the postspring depth chart was released.

“He’s done what he needs to do, but it’s ongoing,” Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt said of Robinson’s status.

Robinson said he’s “put everything behind me” and looking forward to the Sept. 1 opener against Troy.

Nutt said redshirt freshman defensive end Donnell Sanders, who received three misdemeanors after an incident of public intoxication in late June, has “still has got a few more things to do.” Cat or Hog ?

Offensive coordinator David Lee wants to start a campaign to rename the popular Wildcat package.

“A guy from Searcy said we’re the Wild Hogs, not the Kentucky Wildcats,” Lee said. “From a public relations standpoint, it’s the Wild Hog.”

Running back Darren McFadden exploited the Wildcat last year with big plays in high-visibility games like Tennessee, LSU and South Carolina and in the SEC Championship Game, throwing for three touchdowns and racking up big rushing yardage. Top gunners

Covering punts has been an Arkansas strength in recent years with speedy outside gunners such as Ahmad Carroll, Tom Crowder, Chris Houston, John Johnson and Anthony Brown.

“We’ve been known for having some of the best gunners in the SEC,” special teams coach James Shibest said. “We want to keep that going.”

The only returning player with significant time as a gunner is senior cornerback Michael Grant, and he’s coming off major knee surgery.

Grant is among several players, along with cornerbacks Ramon Broadway, Jamar Love, Shedrick Johnson, Issac Madison and wide receivers London Crawford and Reggie Fish competing for the gunner spots.

Fish is the smallest player on the team at 5-7 and 156 pounds, but Shibest said his speed and quickness make him an intriguing gunner prospect.

“I’m excited about Reggie Fish,” Shibest said. “I don’t know if they can block that little joker.

“ Now, can he go down and make the tackle is another question. But if he can get in front of that returner, that’s the critical issue.

“ Hopefully, he can go down there and be able to bite them in the ankles and make the tackle.” Tejada focused

Freshman Alex Tejada is competing for the top job at place-kicker, and Coach Houston Nutt said he loves “how he’s focused and I love how he concentrates.”

Nutt then related a story about how during the first practice on Saturday, Tejada hit his first couple of field-goal attempts and was told “nice job” by assistant coach Chris Vaughn.

“We were not done kicking yet, and Alex Tejada looked right through him like he wasn’t there,” Nutt said. “A lot of freshmen would have acknowledged a college coach to say, ‘Thank you very much,’ but Alex Tejada didn’t.

“ He had that Tiger Woods focus, which is what I love and what you need to have, especially as a kicker. I’m excited about Alex.” Center of attention

Junior tailback Darren McFadden naturally was in demand at media day after finishing second in the Heisman Trophy voting last season to Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith. McFadden did nonstop

1 interviews for about 3 / 2 hours, so it would be understandable if he felt more worn out than if he had faced the LSU defense. But McFadden was still smiling when he met with newspaper reporters at the end of his long morning. “It’s not bad at all,” McFadden said. “All the media attention will force you to open up. You can’t just sit here and be quiet and give one-word answers. You have to open up a little bit.” Fresh impact

Arkansas coaches were understandably judicious about declaring impact freshmen before pads go on, but some of the new names appear to be rising.

In addition to place-kicker Alex Tejada, a rare scholarship recipient as a special-teamer, cornerback Isaac Madison, tight end D. J. Williams, linebacker Jermaine Love, safety Bret Harris and receiver Crosby Tuck have received mentions.

Madison is already in the battle to be the nickel or dime defensive back.

“He might squeeze into a starting spot as a nickel-dime,” defensive coordinator Reggie Herring said. “Because right now, he’s really shown us some good hips and quickness and cover skills. He’s really catching our eye right now and working hard.” Crossland at guard

Redsihrt freshman Joey Crossland, listed at backup center on the preseason depth chart behind junior All-American Jonathan Luigs, has moved to guard.

The backup centers include senior Mike Moffit and true freshmen Grant Cook and Seth Oxner.

In case of emergency, offensive line coach Mike Markuson said, senior Robert Felton could move to center. Felton has played at both guard and tackle spots for the Razorbacks and worked some at center in the spring.