Moving no issue for Ellis

Arkansas linebacker Brooks Ellis returns an interception during a game against Ole Miss on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014 at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas' linebacker corps enjoyed a revival last season, but now its only returning starter, junior Brooks Ellis, is on the move as the position undergoes an overhaul.

Assistant coach Vernon Hargreaves has taken over from Randy Shannon, who left for Florida, and Ellis is now working mostly on the weak side (Will) manned by Martrell Spaight last year.

An 11-game starter at middle linebacker (Mike) last season, Ellis jumped at the opportunity when defensive coordinator Robb Smith asked him if he wanted to make the move.

"When Coach Smith asked me if I wanted to be a Will to replace Spaight, I was like, 'Let's do it. I'm all for it.,' " Ellis said Tuesday after the Razorbacks' second spring practice in shoulder pads and shorts. "I kind of like Mike, but Will's a pretty attractive position for all the tackles Spaight made last year, so I was excited for it."

Spaight led the SEC with 128 tackles last season, while the 6-2, 237-pound Ellis was second on the team with 72.

The weak side and middle linebacker spots for the Razorbacks, particularly in their standard 4-2-5 alignment, aren't drastically different in their alignment, although the middle linebacker goes to the opposite side of the offensive line's strong side.

Ellis said the switch requires playing out in space a bit more and making more plays.

"Obviously Spaight took advantage of that and made all the plays he should have," said Ellis, who played at Fayetteville High School. "That's why I like it."

Hargreaves liked the idea of Ellis sliding over to the weak side.

"That position, that guy has to be active, that guy has to be productive," Hargreaves said. "That's a good place for Brooks to be. He's played a lot of football for us already, so he has an idea of what it takes. To have a veteran guy to take that thing over is going to be really big for our defense."

Ellis' switch gives junior Josh Williams, 6-1, 243, a shot at starting in the middle, where he made two starts last season while Ellis was hurt.

"He has a lot of potential," Ellis said.

Smith, whose leadership helped the Razorbacks improve 66 spots to No. 10 in total defense, said Ellis saw how the weak-side linebacker has been productive in the defensive system.

"I think Brooks is a smart football player," Smith said before the start of spring drills. "The fact that he has a whole year under his belt as the Mike linebacker in this system, he would be able to come back and do whatever he needs to do there ... but I am excited to go see what he can do at the Will linebacker spot."

Ellis described Hargreaves as a more "in your face" coach than Shannon.

"That's a little bit of a change of pace but, I mean, it's getting us right," he said. "We're getting better, and it's fun to be around him."

Arkansas also improved 66 spots in run defense, moving up to No. 12 by allowing 114.6 rushing yards per game. Spaight and Ellis played a huge role in that improvement.

"It was kind of like a snowball effect," Ellis said. "It kept rolling and rolling and we just kept getting better and better each week. It felt good to actually get some production and get some wins under our belt."

Ellis said Smith's presence will help the linebacker corps stay on an upward trajectory despite the personnel changes.

"We're just building off last year and getting better," he said.

Sophomores Khalia Hackett, Randy Ramsey and Nicholas Thomas-Smith are competing for playing time at the strong side linebacker spot, which got most of its work last year against heavy run teams.

The Razorbacks will finish up the first week of spring practice with a practice Thursday and then take off for spring break until March 31.

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Sports on 03/18/2015