FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas seniors Alonzo Highsmith and Tenarius “Tank” Wright finally got some consistent practice reps lining up together as linebackers this week for Saturday night’s opener against Jacksonville (Ala.) State.
Highsmith is a returning starter at weakside linebacker, but he missed all of spring practice — when Wright moved to middle linebacker from defensive end — because of a pectoral injury.
Highsmith and Wright had just two full practices together when fall camp opened before Highsmith was sidelined by a hamstring injury on Aug. 4. Wright then was injured during a collision during an inside running drill on Aug. 6. Arkansas Coach John L. Smith said Wright suffered “a little bit of a head injury,” though Wright said it wasn’t a concussion.
“I took a hit, they brought me back, evaluated me, wanted to take everything slow, since there was a period of time where we were doing a lot of banging, a lot of hitting,” Wright said. “So it was take precautions and just keep me safe.”
Highsmith and Wright were held out of several practices or did limited work until this week, when defensive coordinator Paul Haynes said they haven’t missed a rep.
“They’ve been out there getting their wind back a little bit,” Haynes said. “It’s been a good week for them.”
Highsmith said it was frustrating to miss so many practices, but that it was good for the training staff and coaches to take a careful approach.
“My hamstring is doing good,” he said. “When it happened, I could have come back, but they wanted to make sure everything was all right. They didn’t want me to come back too fast ... and then it would be a season-long nagging injury.”
Haynes said Highsmith and Wright are developing a good feel for playing together.
“They communicate very well together, which is good to see,” Haynes said. “They’re always talking. They’re always pointing. That’s what you want out of that linebacker spot, making sure they’re on the same page.”
Highsmith noted it’s not as though he and Wright hadn’t met before this fall, and they’ve made it a point to spend time together talking, watching film and going through the playbook.
“We’ve pretty much got a feel for how each other plays, so the transition hasn’t been hard at all,” Highsmith said. “It’s actually been easy.
“I’m comfortable enough with Tank that I know if I mess up, he’s got my back. And if he messes up, I’ve got his back.
“That’s the biggest thing, the trust issue, and I trust him 100 percent.”
Junior safety Eric Bennett, who also is practicing this week after being slowed by a hamstring injury, said he’s glad to have Highsmith and Wright playing in front of him.
“When they’re in the game, it helps me because I don’t have to worry about coming downhill so fast because they are real aggressive and they’re physical,” Bennett said. “They’re runstoppers.”
Highsmith and Wright are the only linebackers on Arkansas’ roster who have started more than two games on defense.
“We need those guys, and we need them to stay healthy,” Smith said.
Sports, Pages 17 on 08/30/2012