FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas completed its third and last two-a-day session Wednesday, passing over a big milestone in its preparation for the 2011 season.
“This is the week that’s hardest and you’ve got to push,” Coach Bobby Petrino said. “We had the two twoa-days, getting up in the morning and having to work hard. There were times we didn’t do as well as we needed to.
“But you know what showed up was leadership within the team, which is what you’re looking for.
When things aren’t easy, we need ourplayers to push each other, and I really feel like we got that Monday and today.”
Linebacker Jerry Franklin, a defensive captain, said the mantra of one practice at a time holds true this time of year.
“We started two-a-days last week, so you kind of feel it in your legs a little bit,” Franklin said. “It’s grind time.”
For seniors like Franklin and defensive end Jake Bequette, Wednesday marked the last two-a-days of their college career.
So were there any bittersweet feelings?
“No, that’s a happy feeling,” Bequette said with a smile. “It might be bittersweet in a few months, but right now I’m happy.”
The Razorbacks will scrimmage during tonight’s closed practice.
Knile’s work
Bobby Petrino said injured tailback Knile Davis was already in the Arkansas weight room Tuesday, doing upper body lifting while his ankle heals.
Davis had surgery last Thursday after sustaining a broken ankle in the Razorbacks’ first live scrimmage work of camp.
“We see Knile every day,” Petrino said. “He’s still down. How could you not be? It’s something he worked extremely hard toget his body into position to have a great year. It’s hard on him.” O-line update
Freshman Mitch Smothers remained at quick tackle opposite Grant Freeman on the first-team offensive line for a second consecutive day.
“He’s just a great technician,” Coach Bobby Petrino said, pointing out that a few assignment errors by the rookie have been balanced by his strong technical work.
Chris Stringer, a junior college offensive tackle, has begun taking a few snaps at guard as the coaches continue to sort strengths on the unit.
Big paw
Colton Miles-Nash could prove to be a big asset as a kick blocker, as he did with his punt block late in January’s Sugar Bowl.
The 6-6 tight end jumped high behind the line to block back-to-back 35-yard fieldgoal attempts by backup kicker Cameron Bryan during special teams work Wednesday afternoon.
A&M chatter
Coach Bobby Petrino said he hasn’t paid a lot of attention to the rumors that Texas A&M might soon join the SEC.
“Actually, what we do is worry about ourselves and everyday coaching,” he said.
“I have no idea what the talk is and whether it means anything or it’s just talk.” Tip pick
For the second consecutive day, safetyEric Bennett rushed up to a receiver and grabbed a tipped interception. This time, Joe Adams couldn’t bring in a ball off his back shoulder and Bennett made the interception in stride headed toward the end zone. Tap the head
In demonstrating an attack drill on a standup blocking dummy, linebackers coach Reggie Johnson blasted the dummy, drawing raves from the players, who showed their appreciation by tapping Johnson’s bald head like the team’s “tap the hat” response to big plays on defense. Johnson got a kick out of the linebackers’ enthusiasm.
Personnel report
Tailbacks Ronnie Wingo and Dennis Johnson went through Wednesday’s practices after missing time Tuesday, when Wingo was ill and Johnson was slowed by a minor hamstring injury.
Johnson got a medical redshirt last season because of a bowel injury he suffered on a kickoff return.
“Dennis has been a little bit tweaked up and hasn’t been full speed yet, mainly leg things, just getting used to the grind,” Coach Bobby Petrino said. “I think that’s the thing he’s finding out, the grind is all new again.”
Freshman defensive end Lonnie Gosha dressed out and participated in individual drills Wednesday. Gosha appeared to injure an ankle in an Aug. 7 practice at Walker Pavilion.
“It’s great to have him back, but he’s obviouslybehind from missing all these reps,” defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell said. “We do a lot of things, so you need a lot of reps. He’s got some catching up to do.” Dry spell
Tyler Wilson threw incompletions on his first five passes, with one interception, to open a team period in Wednesday’s morning work, a very rare occurrence for the Hogs.
Two of the passes were dropped - by Javontee Herndon and Maudrecus Humphrey - and safety Tramain Thomas stepped in front of his fifth attempt for an interception on a pass down the left sideline for Cobi Hamilton.
Wilson finished the segment 2 of 8, but bounced back in his next turn to hit four passes in a row to Joe Adams, Greg Childs, Herndon and Ronnie Wingo. Return group
Dennis Johnson figures to be the Razorbacks’ main kickoff returner, assuming coaches decide to keep him in that role rather than replace him because of depth concerns at tailback with the loss of Knile Davis and Broderick Green to season-ending injuries.
Johnson and Ronnie Wingo, both juniors, are the team’s only experienced tailbacks.
For now Johnson, whose 2,104 career kickoff return yards are a school record, is continuing to return kickoffs in practice, but there are other candidates.
Freshman wide receiver Marquel Wade was back deep with Johnson during Wednesday morning’s practice. Other return tandems where Wade and freshman tailback Kelvin Fisher, Fisher and sophomore receiver Maudrecus Humphrey and Humphrey and freshman receiver Keante Minor.
Up next
Arkansas’ practice tonight will be closed to the public and media.
The team won’t practice Friday, when Arkansas will hold its annual kickoff luncheon at noon at John Q.
Hammons Center in Rogers.
The luncheon is a sellout, but for those with tickets the doors will open at 11:15 a.m.
Friday.
Arkansas will hold its Fan Day on Saturday.
Practice will be open from 9 a.m.-noon, then Fan Day activities will be held from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. at Walton Arena.
Sports, Pages 18 on 08/18/2011