FAYETTEVILLE -- The first day of spring practice went about as well as the Arkansas Razorbacks could hope with new coordinator Dan Enos calling the offensive shots on an afternoon full of sunshine on the outdoor practice fields Monday.
"I feel like everybody's understanding the terminology and we're out there playing pretty fast for it to be the first day," senior receiver Keon Hatcher said.
Quarterback Brandon Allen, hustling to make his graduate-level class after practice, called out to a reporter's question about the opening day, "So far it's good. Everything's all good."
Running back Jonathan Williams said coaches have blended what the Hogs called things under Jim Chaney into Enos' system.
"It's not too difficult to learn, but the terminology is completely different," Williams said.
The Razorbacks should be in position to adapt and advance on offense with a veteran roster loaded with returning talent, including nine starters.
Among the standouts are Williams, an 1,190-yard rusher, and Alex Collins, who ran for 1,100 yards, as well as four offensive line starters, Hatcher and tight end Hunter Henry, and Allen, who could become a third-year starter in the fall.
Williams got excited talking about one of the first-day highlights, a pass to tight end Jeremy Sprinkle from Allen, at the closed practice in helmets and shorts.
"Brandon threw a crazy good ball today," Williams said, describing Allen's pass as a bender. "He threw it between the safety and the linebacker dropping back and it was probably one of the best balls I've seen him throw. One of the best balls I've seen thrown in college."
Sebastian Tretola, the returning right guard who said he's working at 322 pounds this year, down 40-plus pounds from his reporting weight last summer, talked about working on the left side with tackle Denver Kirkland, the spot manned by new right tackle Dan Skipper last season.
"Obviously I love Skip," Tretola said. "Skip's my boy and we did a lot of damage on that side, and Denver has come in and he's rolling right along with it. And it's going to be equally ugly, if not uglier, on that side this year, so I'm excited."
Tretola said he likes what he's seen from the new coordinator.
"Coach Enos is intense," he said. "He likes to roll in on every play and likes us moving around real fast."
Offensive play calls have been restructured, the line calls for Coach Sam Pittman's unit have remained much the same.
"It was a good mental day, especially for the offense," senior center Mitch Smothers said. "We were making all of our calls and going to the right guy, so it was a good day."
Offensive players interviewed Monday were enthusiastic about the level of talent returning on their side of the ball.
"Oh man, if we do what we're capable of doing, I can see us just going all the way," Smothers said.
"We have two great running backs, and we have a great quarterback," Hatcher said. "We have a great tight end and we have Sprinkle as well, so another good tight end. We have some good receivers, a great O-line, so I mean the sky is the limit for us."
The Razorbacks said they understand where Coach Bret Bielema was coming from when he said last year's 7-6 record was simply a launching point for where he wants the program to be headed.
"We definitely haven't arrived," Smothers said. "We've got a lot to improve on, but from where we were at the beginning of the 2013 season to where we are now, it's been a day and night improvement. We're just going to keep going up from there."
The Razorbacks are scheduled to practice today and Thursday before taking off 11 days for spring break.
Sports on 03/17/2015