Healthier Crawford impresses FAYETTEVILLE — London Crawford was the leading receiver in Arkansas’ scrimmage on Saturday after sitting out the previous week because of a sore left hamstring.

In the Razorbacks’ scrimmage last Friday, Crawford spent time climbing stadium steps, riding a stationary bike, rolling on the turf and doing stretches.

“This was a lot more fun today, most definitely,” Crawford said after having 9 receptions for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns. “It felt good to be back on the field.” Crawford, a junior, said his hamstring isn’t feeling 100 percent, but he didn’t let that affect him on Saturday.

“Like Coach [Bobby Petrino ] says, it’s a mind thing and you push yourself through anything,” Crawford said. “There’s a difference between being hurt and being injured, and today, I felt like I came out and pushed myself to the limit.” Glasper stands tall Sophomore walk-on cornerback Darrell Glasper stands 5-8 but is continuing to make big plays.

Working with the first-team defense against the first-team offense, Glasper had two interceptions Saturday, including one he felt he would have returned a touchdown if the whistle hadn’t been blown.

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“I’m just playing ball as I’m coached,” Glasper said. “Everybody says I’m short, but you just have to show them and play ball.” Glasper also had an interception in last Friday’s scrimmage when he was working on the second-team defense. He has been working as a starter the past two practices with senior cornerback Jamar Love sidelined because of a bruised quad muscle.

“The great thing about it is it shows the guys that when you have the opportunity to step up when somebody’s injured, you’ve got to make plays,” said Arkansas assistant Lorenzo Ward, who coaches the cornerbacks. “You’ve got to come in and not have a letdown. We talked about that before [the scrimmage ], and Darrell came out and played well.” Ward said he’s not surprised by Glasper’s play.

“Darrell is a playmaker,” Ward said. “He’s a little guy that plays big. He’s getting better and better every day.” Glasper said he hasn’t surprised himself, either.

“I was given a chance by my coach and I’m just stepping up and playing,” he said. “I know I have the ability.” Arkansas wide receiver London Crawford said he’s been impressed by how Glasper is playing, especially for his size.

“You wouldn’t expect somebody that small to come and bring it every time the way he does,” Crawford said. “But he’s got a big heart. His heart is bigger than him.” Smith toughs it out Junior tailback Michael Smith said he will have hernia surgery April 28, two days after the Razorbacks end spring practice with the Red-White game.

Smith also has a sore hip, but he ran hard in practice all week, capped by Saturday’s scrimmage in which he had 21 carries for 142 yards and 3 touchdowns and caught 3 passes for 14 yards.

“It can’t get any worse than it is right now,” Smith said of practicing with a hernia. “It’s just my pain tolerance. As long as I feel I can go, then I can go.” Running backs coach Tim Horton said Smith has had a good overall spring. “I’m really proud of him for staying on the field,” Horton said. “He’s shown some grit, and that’s what this team needs.” Holding on After having five fumbles in last Friday’s scrimmage, junior tailback Brandon Barnett didn’t lose the ball once Saturday, when he caught 3 passes for 61 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown pass from Alex Mortensen, and rushed 10 times for 34 yards. “Brandon’s really not a fumbler,” running backs coach Tim Horton said. Horton said Barnett’s fumble problems in the previous scrimmage had a snowball effect. “He had one bad play and then that led to another and another,” Horton said. “Then he lost his confidence and just crashed and burned.” Saturday’s scrimmage should have helped restore some of Barnett’s confidence.

Moving on Arkansas players agree their installation and execution is better through three weeks of spring than they would have anticipated, given the new coaching regime. “We are further along than we should be for the transition of a new coach, I’ll say that,” junior tailback Michael Smith said. “We’re not where we want to be, but we’re further along than where we should be.” Sack attack Antwain Robinson appeared to be credited with two sacks Saturday, giving him six in the past two scrimmages. Malcolm Sheppard, Elston Forte, Donnell Sanders, and Robert Salinas each had one sack. If the scrimmages had been real games, Arkansas’ defenders might have registered even more sacks. Quarterbacks are off limits to contact in the spring and are declared down by a whistle. Coach Bobby Petrino, however, often gives the offense the benefit of the doubt if the play is close. “I tried to blow up more this week and let the defense know when we did have the quarterback sacked,” Petrino said with a grin. “But I think we need to improve on our pass rush. The inside guys are the area that are still bothering me.” Redshirt freshman Brandon Lampkin, battling for time at reserve defensive tackle, pounced on a fumbled snap by Alex Mortensen for a midscrimmage turnover. Shedrick Johnson and Bret Harris missed on what should have been sure interceptions.

For kicks Sophomore kicker Alex Tejada did the bulk of his work at the tail end of the scrimmage. Tejada started strong on the shorter field goals, missed three in a row from 46 yards and beyond, then made his final three from 51, 48 and 50 yards to send the Reynolds Razorback Stadium crowd home on a high note. Tejada started with makes from 20, 29 and 37 before clanging a 46-yarder off the right upright. He missed left from 46 yards then had a badly hit attempt from 51 yards before ending with the three long field goals.

Briefly Sophomore tailback Chip Gregory has missed the past two practices after returning home to attend his grandmother’s funeral.... Sophomore cornerback Isaac Madison left Saturday’s scrimmage with an apparent leg injury.