FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas running backs coach Jemal Singelton's reputation for producing groups that rarely fumble is one of the reasons Coach Bret Bielema hired him away from Oklahoma State.
Now the Razorbacks are seeing Singleton's ball-security techniques in person.
In one drill backs carry a football connected to a string, with team personnel giving it an occasional yank to simulate the arm grabs and attempted punch-outs of defenders.
Singleton also has instituted a rule regarding fumbles.
"His definition of a fumble is any ball that is not handed to the referee when the play is done," Bielema said. "I thought that was an interesting perspective, that it's not through the ball, it's not until the ball is on the ground, it's when the ball is handed to a referee."
Edwards gone
Receiver Kendrick Edwards was already in Bret Bielema's doghouse when the coach received feedback on the sophomore that led to his indefinite suspension and probable transfer the week before the start of spring drills.
"I just had a couple scenarios where it had been fed back to me that he wasn't respectful in a way that we need to with the people that we need to be on this campus," Bielema said. "He won't be with us this spring. I've given him permission to talk with other schools. I've released him to a couple other schools."
Bielema added that Edwards' punishment -- he had been withheld from a spot on the depth chart for showing up late for commitments -- had nothing to do with his talent.
Edwards, Arkansas' tallest receiver at 6-6, caught four passes for 70 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown reception against Georgia, as a freshman.
Bijhon and Taiwan
The rise of sophomore Bijhon Jackson at nose guard has allowed junior Taiwan Johnson to move to his more natural tackle spot on Arkansas' defensive line.
Jackson, listed at 6-2, 324 pounds, lost a considerable amount of weight during winter training, defensive line coach Rory Segrest said, which should help his agility and stamina in his transition to a projected starting role.
"Bijhon there toward the end of the year, he and Taiwan were splitting reps, probably about 50-50 if you were looking at it," Segrest said. "He just really made a lot of progress."
Johnson had a breakout season as a sophomore with 26 tackles, 4 1/2 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries, including one for a touchdown in the Texas Bowl.
Getting kicks
Bret Bielema said punter Toby Baker has hit the ball well in the first week of spring drills, and kickers Adam McFain, Cole Hedlund and Lane Sailing are involved in good competition for the place-kicking job.
McFain took over from senior John Henson about halfway through last season and finished 20 of 20 on extra points and 7 of 10 on field goals while Hedlund was redshirting.
McFain, of Greenwood, finished fourth on the team in scoring with 41 points, behind Jonathan Williams (84), Alex Collins (72) and Keon Hatcher (42).
Hedlund, a 5-10, 170-pounder from Argyle, Texas, arrived last summer as a scholarship player and a Parade All-American.
"He's a little bigger, a little stronger," Bielema said. "I think he'll make a very strong case. If he's not the starting kicker, it will be surprising to me."
Bielema said he wouldn't be opposed to traveling with three kickers if that is what it takes to identify a kickoff man, a long-distance field-goal kicker and a short-distance kicker.
Jersey moves
All practices were closed last week so the changing of jersey numbers hasn't been confirmed, but several players have made switches based on Arkansas' online roster.
Among prominent players, jersey changes appear to have been made by Dan Skipper (70, from 63), Henre Toliver (5, from 15), Josh Williams (21, from 42) and Khalia Hackett (27, from 44).
The jersey numbers worn by Arkansas' early enrollees are 5 (Ty Storey), 11 (Will Gragg), 50 (Josh Allen), 55 (Jeremiah Ledbetter), 75 (Zach Rogers), 79 (Jalen Merrick), 91 (Hjalte Froholdt) and 98 (Daytrieon Dean).
Gaines' lesson
Senior safety Rohan Gaines returned to the team for winter workouts after being suspended for the Razorbacks' 31-7 Texas Bowl victory over Texas.
"Once kids have the opportunity to realize this is the last go-around, they pay a little bit more attention to detail," defensive backs coach Clay Jennings said. "They're a little more conscientious about their actions. The care factor is a little stronger, it seems. I think that's just human nature when you see it's the swan song because it's your senior year."
'Duwop' develops
Damon "Duwop" Mitchell has earned praise from the coaching staff early this spring, which could translate to a bigger role in the receiving rotation in the fall.
"The ceiling is very, very high," offensive coordinator Dan Enos said.
Mitchell switched from quarterback to a multi-purpose skill player last spring and had 58 rushing yards in four games last season.
Coach Bret Bielema said Mitchell has been intriguing to a variety of visiting coaching staffs this winter.
"Almost every coach that came in would say, 'Who's that? Who's No. 7?' " Bielema said. "I told Duwop that tells me the naked eye sees you as a very talented football player, and he's been an incredible breath of fresh air.
"We had one of my most enjoyable head coach meetings with him. He's had some life-changing experiences that I think have changed him for the better."
Calling mom
Bret Bielema has proven he will call a player's mom if the occasion warrants, as shown by his call of Tevin Beanum's mother Sandra after Beanum's recent arrest for driving while intoxicated and other charges.
Bielema's latest phone call to a mom came when he rang up Patricia Robinson, the mother of redshirt freshman receiver Jojo Robinson, after the player got in trouble for showing up late to a commitment.
"I had a very enlightening and spirited conversation with his mom yesterday," Bielema said Wednesday. "I've basically come to this point ... I said with Jojo, 'Hey, you're trying to become a young man. You're a man on the field, but off the field you act like a child.'
"What do you do with a child? You call their mom and tell them what's wrong."
Too early
Arkansas running back Jonathan Williams gave a thoughtful answer when asked what he saw as the biggest differences between the offenses coordinated by Jim Chaney and that of new assistant coach Dan Enos.
"It's kind of too early to tell," Williams said. "It's a new thing. I feel like later in the spring and into the summer and into the season I'll be able to see a bigger difference."
Worth noting
• Former New England Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel, now the linebackers coach for the Houston Texans, visited with the Razorbacks while in town last week to work out former Hogs Trey Flowers and Martrell Spaight.
• Coach Bret Bielema said the fullback position -- manned by Kody Walker, Chris Jones and Tyler Colquitt -- has been "dinged up" during the first week of spring, although he gave no particulars.
• The Razorbacks return to practice after spring break March 31.
Sports on 03/22/2015