Hog Calls

UA hopes numbers add up to success

Arkansas offensive linemen Frank Ragnow (72), Mitch Smothers (65) and Sebastian Tretola (73) block while quarterback Brandon Allen runs a play during practice Saturday, April 4, 2015, at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- The Razorbacks return the bulk of their bulky offensive line.

Arkansas' media guide cover covers all that in bulk. Five starters, all well over 300 pounds but none you would call fat, cover the cover.

Two seniors, center Mitch Smothers and guard Sebastian Tretola, started last year.

Two others have started the past two years. Junior Dan Skipper moved from left to right tackle, and junior Denver Kirkland moved from right guard to left tackle.

Numerically replacing graduated three-year starting tackle Brey Cook, sophomore Frank Ragnow -- last year's backup center as a true freshman -- will start at right guard. Ragnow frees up Kirkland to move to left tackle and Skipper to move to Cook's old right tackle spot.

They were the biggest offensive line in college football last year and even would have been the biggest line in the NFL.

All are part of the reason that Razorbacks running backs Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins adorn the Doak Walker Award and Maxwell Award watch lists. Their pass protection also is part of the reason coaches expected bigger things from senior quarterback Brandon Allen, senior receiver Keon Hatcher and Mackey Award candidate tight end Hunter Henry.

Individually, Kirkland and Tretola adorn the Outland Trophy watch list. Smothers is on the Rimington Trophy watch list.

Skipper (2013) and Ragnow (2014) were recognized on All-SEC freshman teams.

Yet, overall, this isn't Arkansas' most improved line, Coach Bret Bielema told media at last week's SEC media days in Hoover, Ala.

"By far the biggest improvement on our roster is the depth at defensive line," Bielema said.

That likely raised eyebrows. Arkansas' top three defensive players from 2014, including end Trey Flowers and tackle Darius Philon, will soon report to NFL camps.

No Arkansas defensive lineman will start 2015 remotely heralded like Flowers and Philon were at the end of the 2014 season.

However, with the return of veteran defensive ends Brandon Lewis and Mitchell Loewen from the injured list and the additions of freshman tackle Hjalte Froholdt and junior college transfer end Jeremiah Ledbetter, it seems the Hogs will start August drills with at least a dozen players capable of covering up and down the defensive line with more rookies to evaluate.

Rotating throughout, like Mississippi State's 1A and 1B defense last year, should create fresher fourth-quarter defenses up front.

"That's probably going to be the number one reason we have success," Bielema said. "It's not the play of guys individually, it's the success of our depth overall."

An example: Previously unused for two years, undersized defensive end Taiwan Johnson was a surprising success last season. Bielema played a hunch capitalizing on Johnson's quickness and starting him every game at defensive tackle. Johnson played bigger and better in the spring and should play even better playing a little less in the fall, Bielema believes. Quality time over quantity time will help all, Bielema asserts.

"The biggest thing that is going to help Taiwan is the depth we have around him," Bielema said.

Sports on 07/20/2015