FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas' defensive line has been a dominant force throughout spring practice. That didn't change in Saturday's Red-White game.
The defensive linemen combined for nine sacks, including two each for senior end Deatrich Wise and senior tackle Jeremiah Ledbetter.
Sack dance
Seven Arkansas defenders recorded a total of nine sacks in Saturday’s spring game, spread across two quarterbacks (Rafe Peavey was sacked 6 times, Austin Allen three times):
RED TEAM
PLAYER, YR., POS. SACKS-YDS
McTelvin Agim, Fr., DE ......................1-5
Brandon Lewis, Sr., DE .....................1-4
Kwan Cummings, Jr., DT ..................1-4
Armon Watts, So., NG ......................1-2
WHITE TEAM
PLAYER SACKS-YDS
Jeremiah Ledbetter, Sr., DT ............2-12
Deatrich Wise, Sr., DE .....................2-11
JaMichael Winston, Sr., DE ..............1-5
"That's what we do," said Wise, who played in only the first half. "We worked all spring on getting into the backfield and playing aggressive."
Seven linemen were credited with sacks. Senior ends JaMichael Winston and Brandon Lewis, junior nose guard Armon Watts, junior tackle Kwan Cummings and freshman end McTelvin Agim had one sack each.
"It shows that we have depth on the line, that anybody can be a star on any given day," Wise said. "Our twos aren't really twos. They play like ones.
"We have a good rotation. There's no lack of athletic ability."
Arkansas junior quarterback Austin Allen wore a green no-contact jersey Saturday as he has all spring, but he's felt plenty of pressure from the defensive line.
"Those guys have been bringing it all spring," Allen said. "Deatrich Wise has been a monster every single day. He's always there.
"The quarterbacks on the other teams are going to have a tough time with those guys. Hopefully, they'll keep getting better this offseason and be even more of a force for us this fall."
Ledbetter moved from end to tackle this spring.
"Led's so fast on the inside he can get past any guard," Wise said. "He can get a lot of sacks this year."
Ledbetter said after playing tackle all spring, he approves of the move inside.
"I think it's been a step for me for the better," he said. "I'm able to use my quickness inside to get to the quarterback faster. In this league, most of the guards aren't as athletic as me.
"It did take a little time for me to get used to it, attacking my man vertically. But over time, it kept getting easier."
The first-team line Saturday was Wise, Ledbetter, senior nose guard Taiwan Johnson and junior end Karl Roesler.
Roesler, a former walk-on who was awarded a scholarship this semester, got first-team reps the second half of the spring after junior Tevin Beanum took an excused absence from practice for personal reasons.
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said Beanum is expected to rejoin the team for workouts in June, but teammates said Roesler has been a capable replacement.
"Karl's always played well," Wise said. "He's very technical, very sound. He does what he's supposed to do: make plays, and that's what you need."
Lewis, who has been slowed by injuries much of his career, led the defense with eight tackles Saturday.
"Now that Brandon's getting healthy, he's going to be a force to be reckoned with, too," Wise said. "He has so much speed off the edge."
Wise, listed at 6-5 and 280 pounds, brings size and speed as a pass rusher.
"He can really use his length to his advantage," Ledbetter said. "He's just such a long guy, and he uses that to beat those offensive tackles."
Sports on 04/24/2016