FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas sophomore defensive end Tevin Beanum has begun distancing himself from his winter arrest for drinking and driving by distinguishing himself on and off the field.
Beanum has taken work with the first-team defense at rush end and has shown flashes of a big upside with strong play in both scrimmages held so far in spring drills. The 6-4, 271-pounder is also determined to stay on the right path after his arrest in February for DWI and being a minor in possession.
"My biggest goal point, I've just learned to be a little bit more responsible, partly because of my personal decisions and partly just because of growing up in the program," Beanum said Tuesday while conducting his first media interviews since the arrest.
Coach Bret Bielema received permission from Beanum's mother, Sandra Angelucci, to suspend Beanum's from driving, other than certain on-campus responsibilities, for a period of time in the winter and Beanum said he has earned his driving privileges back.
"I've been following the court guidelines the right way, handling business as far as Coach Bielema goes and taking care of what he wants me to take care of in regards to that," he said. "He didn't stress to me that I was in the dog house. He just said that, you know, I know you made a mistake.
"He sympathized with me and he told me that he just wanted me to continue on the path that I was on. This spring I think has been my biggest period of growth since I've been here."
Beanum and Deatrich Wise Jr. are expected to give Arkansas a solid two deep at the rush end in the fall.
Long kicks
Adam McFain and Cole Hedlund each made 52-yard field goals at the end of kicking work in an early period of Tuesday's practice.
McFain also connected on a 50-yarder. McFain, Hedlund and Lane Sailing are all in competition for the place-kicking and kickoff duties.
"We've got a lot of good kickers here," said McFain, who took over place-kicking duties in the fifth week last season as a walk-on sophomore.
Personnel report
Tailback Alex Collins, who twisted an ankle in Saturday's scrimmage, was going through rehab and allowed to rest the ankle Tuesday. Tailback Denzel Evans returned to practice after missing last week recovering from a mild groin injury.
Offensive line coach Sam Pittman was not at practice while dealing with a family related issue.
Daytrieon Dean made his practice debut after being held out while recovering from shoulder surgery.
Scoring zone
After working the first 14 periods inside Walker Pavilion, the Razorbacks moved outside in a light drizzle for the final third of practice Tuesday and got in some good scoring zone work.
On the first play of the period, Brandon Allen found Jared Cornelius for a touchdown pass on a post route. Cornelius later made a sliding touchdown catch on a pass from Allen.
Tight end Jeremy Sprinkle continued what has been a strong spring with a touchdown on a crossing throw from Allen in outdoor work. Earlier, the same two hooked up on a deep throw down the middle for what would have been a touchdown.
Jojo Robinson hauled in a scoring pass from Austin Allen on the right sideline, shaking loose from Jared Collins' coverage.
De'Andre Coley came down with a tipped pass interception in the end zone off Brandon Allen, but it appeared cornerback Reid Miller would have been flagged for defensive interference for bumping tight end Hunter Henry before the ball's arrival and the tip.
Top catches
Eric Hawkins made an all-hands catch on the sideline on a pass from Austin Allen for one of Tuesday's best catches, and Keon Hatcher added an equally impressive deep catch down the left sideline with a good toe tap to stay inbounds.
Drew Morgan caught a deep pass down the right sideline in good coverage on a throw from Allen.
Defensive gems
Linebacker Khalia Hackett delivered the day's hardest lick, a big collision with running back Kody Walker during thud work.
Safety Rohan Gaines broke up a pass in the end zone intended for Jojo Robinson from Austin Allen in team work in the scoring zone outdoors.
Indoors, cornerback Jared Collins notched a pass breakup on a deep post for Robinson from Brandon Allen.
Defensive tackle Armon Watts broke through to stop Connor McPherson in the backfield on an off-tackle handoff in team work.
Hjalte Froholdt and Josh Harris posted tackles for loss in thud work in the red zone.
Henre Toliver had an interception on a route over the middle during scout-team work.
All good
Offensive coordinator Dan Enos said he likes his position meetings with the quarterbacks to be fun and interactive with the players doing plenty of talking.
"I like to keep them engaged in the meetings," Enos said. "I don't like to lecture. I don't like guys just sitting around, so I call them out. I'll ask them what they think."
Enos said he tries to relate experiences and asks about their lives.
"Did they play other sports? Were they any good? Of course they're all very good at everything, according to the quarterbacks," Enos said. "We're going to spend a lot of time together, so we try to make it light and fun."
Sports on 04/15/2015