FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema gave a glowing big-picture analysis on the growth of the Razorbacks during a brief section of his post-scrimmage remarks.
"We're a good football team, no ifs, ands or buts about it," Bielema said, referencing how the Razorbacks approach practices.
"Our guys know how to practice now," he said. "This is our third year. Our coaches know what we're doing, our players know.
"It's so fun to sit back as a head coach and not have to worry about if everybody knows where they're going, where they're supposed to be, the tempo that we expect."
Ellis gets it
Brooks Ellis played strong in his first scrimmage at weakside linebacker.
Ellis, a junior from Fayetteville, had 10 tackles to lead Arkansas' first-team defense, including a sack for a 10-yard loss.
Ellis moved to the weakside spot this spring after playing middle linebacker his first two seasons.
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema, who coached linebackers at the start of his career, said Ellis is a more natural fit on the outside, but played in the middle out of necessity. Junior Josh Williams is now at first-team middle linebacker.
Bielema said Ellis has been "a nonstop bookworm" studying with new linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves and is flourishing.
Bielema said a play by Ellis that stood out Saturday was when he ducked under a block and tackled running back Alex Collins.
"Any time you show that type of versatility, it gets me pretty excited," Bielema said. "I think he's engaged with it and hopefully he's going to put himself in a great position."
Turnover-free
The Razorbacks had no fumbles and no interceptions in their 82-play scrimmage, reflecting what has been a low-turnover spring so far, Bret Bielema said.
"Our players, if they put a ball on the ground, they just take off running," Bielema said. "They know it's not an option to come back to the huddle because you let everyone down in the huddle with the 10 on the field, you let the whole sideline down. You carry the University of Arkansas in your hand when you have that ball."
Hatcher out
Keon Hatcher missed Saturday's scrimmage with a bruised knee suffered Thursday.
Bret Bielema said the injury isn't serious, but it might sideline Hatcher one to two weeks.
Tight end Alex Voelzke missed the scrimmage because of a back injury. Bielema said Voelzke could have practiced, but it was best for him to rest up and it also gave more snaps to freshmen tight ends Jack Kraus and Will Gragg.
Williams held
Tailback Jonathan Williams was held out of the scrimmage to make sure he stays healthy.
"You didn't see J-Will today, but he's playing his best football of his career," Bret Bielema said.
Before the scrimmage Williams fielded punts along with receivers Jared Cornelius and Cody Hollister.
"I won't be having J-Will fielding too many punts," Bielema said. "He's getting bored because I limit him in certain areas."
Brown suspended
Defensive end Anthony Brown has been suspended for the rest of the spring for undisclosed disciplinary reasons, Bret Bielema said.
Brown played in three games last season and came into spring practice listed as a second-teamer behind JaMichael Winston.
Bielema said Brown and sophomore receiver Kendrick Edwards, who was suspended earlier this spring, have a chance to return in the fall if they fulfill certain requirements.
"I've given them the option to pursue looking at other schools," Bielema said. "They haven't really done that. I know they want to be here, but the University of Arkansas football program is not a right, it's a privilege. Until they realize that, that privilege will be taken away."
Harris stands out
Josh Harris, a redshirt freshman linebacker from Watson Chapel, had 11 tackles while working on the second-team defense.
"I wish I had five of him," Bret Bielema said.
Bielema said Harris showed good tackling skills on the scout-team defense last fall.
"He's not as tall as you want him to be," Bielema said of Harris, listed at 5-10, 223 pounds. "He's explosive. He's got vision. I think there's a role for him on our defense and special teams. He always finds himself around the football. I'm excited to see where he goes."
Up and down
Bret Bielema, the only coach or player who does media interviews on scrimmage days, put the Razorbacks through 100 yards worth of up-downs after the workout for a specific reason: Too many penalties.
Bielema noted six penalties between the first and second units, five on offense and one on the defense.
"We cannot win if we beat ourselves," Bielema said. "We can't play a half of football with six penalties and our guys understand that. Now a couple were ticky-tacky, but I wanted it to be that way."
Sports on 04/05/2015