FAYETTEVILLE -- Coach Bret Bielema asserted on Sunday that sophomore quarterback Austin Allen has turned a corner from a developmental standpoint, and Allen, the second-teamer behind his brother Brandon, stamped his agreement on those comments after Monday's workout.
"I had to cut a few things out of my life that I knew just weren't helping me to get how good I could get," Allen said, referencing an improved diet and a stronger commitment to working out.
Bielema said he was in the Fred Smith Football Center early on a Saturday morning in the summer and saw Allen doing a "pretty heavy training exercise" on his own.
"It kind of made a statement to me," Bielema said. "He didn't know I was going to be in there or anything.
"Just through the first three days, his huddle presence, his accuracy, and he's added about another 10 yards to his deep ball. He had a really nice deep ball on Day 2."
Allen chuckled and thanked new offensive coordinator Dan Enos when asked about adding 10 yards.
"I don't know about 10 yards, but I really feel like I have a lot more zip on the ball, and just throwing post routes and deep balls ... it's really helped me out.
"I credit that to Coach Enos. He gave us a little workout to do four times a week throughout the summer. We did it, and you can see it with all the quarterbacks out there ... throwing the deep ball right now farther than we've ever thrown it before."
Big Bobbie
Former Arkansas offensive lineman Bobbie Williams, who played in the NFL from 2000 to 2012, spoke to the Razorbacks' linemen after practice.
"Thirteen years in the league, that's pretty darn good," guard Frank Ragnow said. "He was talking to us about when you're out there representing the Hogs, you've got to flip a switch.
"He talked about how you can be a big ol' Hog, but you've got to have the footwork."
Williams, an All-SEC tackle for the Razorbacks in 1999, played guard in the NFL for Philadelphia, Cincinnati and Baltimore. He was on the Baltimore team that beat San Francisco to win Super Bowl XVLII in his final season.
Williams was in town from his home in New Jersey to help his daughter, Tiana, move in to start classes at Arkansas.
Few drops
Senior Keon Hatcher called Monday a high-performance day for the receiving corps.
"I like what I saw today," Hatcher said. "There weren't many dropped balls at all. I think there might have only been one today."
'Pretty dang cool'
Offensive guard Frank Ragnow, who is pictured with line mates Denver Kirkland, Mitch Smothers, Dan Skipper and Sebastian Tretola on the Arkansas media guide cover, is believed to be one of a handful of Razorbacks sophomores who have made the front of the guide.
Ragnow, the only new starter on the line, has come a long way from the high school ranks in Chanhassen, Minn., two years ago.
"It's pretty cool," Ragnow said. "Especially back home with all my friends texting me about it.
"It's really exciting to get that buzz, especially being an offensive linemen, you know. You don't really get that ever, anywhere, no matter what age you are, so it's pretty dang cool."
Heat break
The Razorbacks caught a break on Monday with temperatures staying in the mid 80s after working out in temperatures approaching 100 degrees with a heat indexes as high as 109 and 105 through the first three days.
"Today it wasn't really that bad," receiver Keon Hatcher said. "There was a nice little breeze to it and the sun really wasn't out. I feel like we had a pretty good practice."
Said running back Kody Walker, "Today wasn't that bad. The first couple of days it was pretty hot, but you know we just keep going, keep pushing, then get breaks."
Quarterback Austin Allen said the Razorbacks' perseverance through the heat improved last year.
"We've gone in there and really embraced the heat," he said. "Trey Flowers really instilled in us last year to not think about the heat and just go work every day."
Heart happy
Coach Bret Bielema said he likes the position of Arkansas' open date on the calendar. The open Saturday comes on Oct. 17, exactly halfway through the schedule. The Razorbacks play Auburn on Oct. 24 to kick off their final six games of the season.
"It comes right on the heels of three straight road games against A&M, Tennessee and Alabama," Bielema said. "One would tell you it's probably a good time to have a bye week right there. We play very well out of bye weeks, and to play Auburn that week makes my heart smile."
Miner news
Texas-El Paso starting linebacker Alvin Jones wore a neck brace at Sunday's practice after sustaining what was originally treated as a shoulder injury on Saturday.
The Miners are holding camp in the resort town of Ruidoso, N.M., a drive of about 2 hours and 15 minutes north of El Paso, through Sunday.
Coach Sean Kugler declined to speculate to the El Paso Times on the severity of the injury. Senior Trey Brown took starting reps on Sunday for Jones, who was sent back to El Paso for an MRI on Monday, according to the Times.
Defensive back Natanael Rodriguez was immobilized and carted off in an ambulance on Monday, though he was showing movement in his extremities after being knocked out on a tackling dummy, according to the Times.
Former Razorback defensive back Kelvin Fisher Jr., a senior for the Miners, posted six tackles and a fumble recovery last season.
Swap talk
Freshmen defenders Jamario Bell and Derrick Graham both sounded encouraged about their position switches early in camp. Bell signed as a defensive end and is now taking reps at the strong-side "Sam" linebacker spot, while Graham went the other direction, from linebacker to end.
"It feels kind of funny standing up," Bell said. "I really like it though."
Bell said he played a 9-technique, with hands off the ground, at Junction City but had no pass-coverage responsibilities in that set.
Graham said he's played with his hand in the dirt before.
"It's fine with me," Graham said. "It's really not a switch. It's me being a hybrid. They recruited me as a hybrid. I just love defense. As long as I'm hitting somebody, aiming for the quarterback, I'm good."
Day and Marks
Running back Juan Day and defensive tackle Ke'Tyrus Marks, the two scholarship players not on Arkansas' 105-man camp roster, are both expected to be with the team this fall.
Day, who has had two knee surgeries, is expected back about the time school starts at least in a limited role, Coach Bret Bielema said.
"K.T. Marks is in good standing with our program, and has over a 3.5 GPA," Bielema said.
Making grades
Coach Bret Bielema was happy to tout the team's academic work from the summer during Sunday's media day, saying 65 of the team's 102 players in summer classes had 3.0 grade points or better.
He mentioned several players who posted straight As from the summer, including Hjalte Froholdt, Jeremiah Ledbetter, Alex Voelzke and Armon Watts.
"There are some things away from the game that you get really excited about," Bielema said. "I believe every one of our seniors except for two has less than 12 hours [in the fall] or has already graduated."
Bielema said receiver Keon Hatcher, who never redshirted, is the only senior who will need hours beyond the fall semester to earn his degree.
Big bath
Workmen using extension buckets power cleaned on the outside of Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Monday as the university continued its preparations for the Sept. 5 season opener against Texas-El Paso.
Sports on 08/11/2015