Freshmen going at it full speed

FAYETTEVILLE — The door of opportunity has opened wide for several freshmen, most notably Jelani Smith and Khiry Battle, who split time with the top defense at weakside linebacker in Monday’s practice.

With senior Elston Forte, the presumed starter and team captain, and Ryan Powers sidelined by injuries or other issues, Smith and Battle have impressed coaches with their energy, if not their total command of the schemes.

“They’re in there,” Coach Bobby Petrino said. “They’re battling. They’re doing as much as they can learning on the job.”

Smith, a 6-0, 205-pounder out of Abbeville, La., had been battling a summer hamstring injury through the first two weeks of camp and hadn’t made much of an impression before being thrust in with the first team.

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“Working with the ones, it’s faster than working with the threes, but I’m adjusting to it,” Smith said. “I’m small, but I’m physical enough for it.”

Smith said he found out about getting his shot at first-team reps Monday morning.

“I was told to get ready this week, and I was like, ‘All right, there’s something on my plate, I’ve got to eat it. ’”

The details surrounding Forte’s knee injury and absences from practice and Powers’ hamstring — though he has been at practice — have been sparse.

“Hopefully we’ll get Elston back toward the end of the week,” Petrino said. “I don’t know what Powers’ situation is, when he’ll ever be back. “ I tell you what, I don’t mind having [Battle and Smith ] in there. They’re eager, they’ll hit, they’ll run, they’ll try to do everything you coach them to do. But they are young, so they did make some mistakes. At least they were full-speed mistakes.” Petrino said Friday that Powers was running well behind. “That’s unfortunate because we came out of spring very impressed with how he was doing,” he said.

Personnel report A pair of freshmen, running back De’Anthony Curtis and linebacker Tenarius Wright, were dressed out but were unable to run through team drills Monday. Curtis, who had been taking a big load at tailback behind Michael Smith, suffered a sprained knee last Wednesday and had not been back at practice since then. “He’s out here but not able to do a whole lot,” Coach Bobby Petrino said. “Hopefully by the middle to late part of the week he’ll be running and doing things full speed.” Wright was getting some firstteam work at middle linebacker before suffering a high ankle sprain during the first week of camp. He’s still not at full speed. Petrino said free safety Matt Harris had a strong scrimmage Saturday, adding “he ran and tackled and played tough, and I’m sure he led us in tackles in the secondary and did a great job.” Freshman free safety Elton Ford missed practice Monday to attend a freshman orientation. Wade pleads guilty Receiver Marques Wade pled guilty Monday in Fayetteville District Court to charges of driving while intoxicated and reckless driving. District Court Judge Rudy Moore Jr. accepted Wade’s guilty plea, which waived his right to a hearing, after asking Wade if he was sure of his decision. “I’m just trying to get it all behind me,” Wade said. Wade, 19, agreed to undergo screening Wednesday for an alcohol safety course, which is available to first-time DWI offenders. Moore did not announce Wade’s fines or any other punishment. The sophomore out of Ellenwood, Ga., who was supported at the court appearance by his mother, Sharon, revealed he had a dislocated right wrist that caused him to sign a court document left-handed. Wade came out of a strong spring listed as a starter at receiver, but he has been suspended for the first two games by Coach Bobby Petrino. Wade was arrested by University of Arkansas police July 27 after he was observed speeding through a parking lot and sliding to a stop at a stop sign, where he nearly struck a police officer, according to the police report. The report also stated Wade failed a battery of field tests and was taken to Washington County Detention Center, where he blew a. 110 on a breath alcohol test. The legal limit in Arkansas is. 08 for adults and. 02 for minors under the age of 21.

Dream day Having a break from practice Sunday was almost too good to be true for the Arkansas Razorbacks. “I woke up at like 2 o’clock and I thought I was late for a meeting,” tailback Michael Smith said. “But then I realized I had nothing to do, and I went right back to sleep.” Tight end D. J. Williams said he also caught up on his sleep Sunday, the first off day for the Razorbacks since practice began Aug. 4. “I went home and didn’t even know what to do because I was so used to practicing,” Williams said. “I pretty much slept all day, got a nice little nap in here and there, and I watched a little bit of Michael Phelps, so I’m ready to go.” Coach Bobby Petrino said it might take the rest of the week for the Razorbacks to fully get their legs back before Friday night’s scrimmage, but players said they felt a little fresher Monday. “Everybody moved around a little bit faster,” Williams said. Smith said the break did more for him mentally than physically. “It helped just to be able to be away from it for a day,” he said. “This camp has been the most intensive camp I’ve ever partaken in.”