FAYETTEVILLE — The Razorbacks' Tuesday post-practice media session is structured to be offensively oriented, but this Tuesday things got pretty defensive.

The re-emergence of senior Matt Harris at first-team free safety was a topic head coach Bobby Petrino was asked to discuss. And the either-or starting situations at the two inside linebacker positions were questions posed to linebackers coach Reggie Johnson after Arkansas' hard practice prepping for Saturday's 6 p.m., pay-per-view televised season opener against the Missouri State Bears in Little Rock.

Fifth-year senior Harris had been running first-team free safety since preseason drills began until he was demoted last week behind Jerell Norton, shortly before last Friday's finale preseason scrimmage that was closed to media and the public.

Harris was back on the first team Monday with junior transfer Anthony Leon listed second. Harris is expected to start against Missouri State.

Petrino explained why, after Tuesday's practice.

"Matt came out last Friday and ran all around the field and made all kinds of tackles," Petrino said. "I think he had 10 solo tackles, a couple of assists, played real hard and physical. I was impressed with him."

The inside linebacker spots of Will weakside and Mike in the middle have a triangle going. Sophomore Jerry Franklin of Marion, a 12-game starter shuttling between Mike and Will 'backer last year, is an either-or at both positions - contestingwith senior incumbent Wendel Davis at Mike and true freshman Terrell Williams at Will.

"It's a daily deal," linebackers coach Reggie Johnson said of sorting a starting two-some from the trio. "Those guys have to go compete and show they want to be out there for that first snap. They are working hard. I would be comfortable with any of those guys having to go in there and play."

Anybody stepping up at Will or Mike behind those three?

Johnson paused like the late Paul Harvey in his broadcasting prime.

"Yes, and no," Johnson finally said. "You can come out tomorrow after we watch the video tonight and see a different combination out there. We are constantly evaluating. We'll see how it shakes out here at the end of the week."

At one of Arkansas' three receiver spots, senior London Crawford and sophomore Greg Childs are listed either-or starters.

The way wideouts shuttle in and out, who starts likely won't be a big deal to either like it might at some other positions.

"Not really," Crawford said if it matters to him. "Both of us are going to have to play anyway so it doesn't even matter. I honestly just want to play and help out my team."

Crawford certainly helped out his team the last time he played at War Memorial Stadium. He closed the 2008 season catching the fourth-down, 21-yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds left in that upset LSU, 31-30.

Crawford said the catch has "given me a lot of motivation" for 2009, and a mental head start to the new season even without a bowl game to prepare for in December.

"In my mind," Crawford said of prepping for Saturday's season-opener, "we have been going through this thing the day after the LSU game. We should have worked out the kinks and do whatever we want to do."

Tuesday is traditionally the hardest game-week practice.

"That's what you expect," Petrino said. "Go out and work hard and grind. We did good inside run drill and good run, play-action period. It was a good, hard, physical practice."

Wide receiver/punt returner Joe Adams practiced for the second straight day since missing drills late last week with a sore hamstring.

"He looked better today than he did last night," Petrino said. "He changed directions and showed he's got his quickness back. I'm still a little concerned with the deep ball and striding out to go get the ball when it's in the air. He's got to be able to show that by Thursday that he's ready to go."

Sports, Pages 8, 9 on 09/02/2009