Razorback Report

Anderson stirs line to observe

Arkansas offensive line coach Kurt Anderson talks to players during practice Tuesday, April 5, 2016, at the Walker Pavilion in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas offensive line coach Kurt Anderson said he continued to tinker with lineups in Monday's practice, including swapping tackles Dan Skipper and Colton Jackson from right to left during some pass protection work.

Anderson has also made shifts on the inside, including Zach Rogers working at right guard as well as center and Johnny Gibson and Brian Wallace working at guard and tackle.

"I moved some guys around a little bit, just to see how they responded when you put them in a different situation," Anderson said. "Very seldom in a given season does an offensive line stay 100 percent healthy, so you'd hate to have their first taste of being asked to do something ... to be in the middle of the third quarter of an SEC West game. I get a sense of what they can handle and what they can't."

Wallace missed his third consecutive practice on Monday while recovering from concussion-like symptoms he suffered last Tuesday, his first day at right guard.

Anderson and Coach Bret Bielema said they expected Wallace to return this week.

Injury report

Bret Bielema said receiver Keon Hatcher, who had three catches for 52 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown from Austin Allen in last Saturday's scrimmage, is still "feeling his way" back in his recovery from foot surgery.

"He should be full go this week and really be able to play in the spring game," he said.

Chanticleers coming

Arkansas will pay Coastal Carolina a $1.5 million guarantee for a game on Nov. 4, 2017, according to The Sun News of Myrtle Beach, S.C.

The payout will be Arkansas' largest known one-game guarantee. Arkansas paid Toledo $1 million to play in Little Rock at War Memorial Stadium last season. Toledo won the game, 16-12.

Coastal Carolina Athletic Director Matt Hogue told the newspaper it's the biggest game guarantee "by far" for the Chanticleers, who are making their Football Bowl Subdivision debut in the Sun Belt Conference in 2017.

Coastal Carolina, based in Conway, S.C., lost 59-0 at Georgia in 2011 and 70-10 at South Carolina in 2013 in its only previous games against SEC opponents.

Stewart's rise

Coach Bret Bielema said he liked the work of freshman receiver Deon Stewart in last Saturday's scrimmage work. Stewart, 5-11, 163, from Highland, had 2 receptions for 51 yards and 1 carry for 4 yards. He turned an intermediate route over the middle into a 37-yard gain that ended with quarterback Rafe Peavey blocking more than 30 yards downfield for Stewart.

Kicking it

Sophomore Cole Hedlund continues to lead Adam McFain and Lane Saling in the race for place-kicking duties. Hedlund had another solid day on Saturday with a 30-yard field goal and two PATs in scrimmage work and successful field goals of 30 and 38 yards in the special teams portion of practice. Hedlund's 53-yard field goal attempt came up just short.

"The biggest thing is we have great competition, and obviously with Cole, he has that experience under his belt," specialists coach Rory Segrst said.

No peace

Bret Bielema scoffed at the idea that senior offensive tackle Dan Skipper was moving into a brief fracas between offensive guard Hjalte Froholdt and defensive end McTelvin Agim in the middle of last Saturday's scrimmage.

"I doubt very much that Dan Skipper is trying to settle anybody down," Bielema said. "I don't think the odds are there on that."

Hog ratings

ESPN.com ranked Arkansas 10th in the SEC in its first football power index (FPI) for 2016. The site gave the Razorbacks a 0.5 percent chance to win the SEC and projected Arkansas to win 6.5 games.

LSU was the favorite in the FPI, with a 38.8 percent chance to win the SEC and 10.5 projected victories. The Tigers were followed by Tennessee (28.3 percent to win SEC), Alabama (10.8), Georgia (10.5), Ole Miss (5.7), Florida (2.1), Texas A&M (1.4), Mississippi State (0.8), Auburn (0.6), Arkansas, South Carolina (0.4), Missouri (0.1), Kentucky (0.0) and Vanderbilt (0.0).

ESPN.com ranked Arkansas No. 27 in its national FPI, behind No. 1 LSU, No. 5 Tennessee, No. 6 Alabama, No. 7 Ole Miss, No. 9 Georgia, No. 14 Texas A&M, No. 21 Auburn, No. 22 Mississippi State and No. 23 Florida.

Sports on 04/12/2016