Like it is

Hogs at a glimpse: Players tall, music loud

Arkansas football practice on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016, at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- It wasn't that stinking, steamy, almost suffocating heat that often opens the first week of Arkansas Razorbacks' August football drills.

Players have caught a break so far, going indoors on a hot Friday and then getting after it on a Saturday in the mid-80s. Today is media day, and that's in the air-conditioned football facility.

Understand this practice was only open for four five-minute sessions, one of which finished the warm-ups and another of special-teams play. Not a lot was going to be learned during the third practice, although a few observations were made.

Overall, the Hogs look like an SEC team. That's been a work in progress for Coach Bret Bielema, and while this team lacks experience in some critical spots on offense, they looked the part.

With music -- the type young people like but keeps older people in their cars until kickoff -- blaring loud enough to be heard in Pea Ridge, the players seemed to embrace their exercises.

Dan Skipper definitely looked the part of a captain as he busted it on drills to be near the front. He gave his all to set an example, but then he's never been one to back down from anyone or anything.

Another observation was that when offensive tackle Skipper, 6-10, and true freshman quarterback Cole Kelley, 6-7, took the field for a snap, they looked like guys who might have dropped by after missing the basketball team's flight to Spain Saturday afternoon.

Incidentally, someone wisely chose not to identify the exact locale of the Hogs' exhibition games in Spain. It is called security.

On the football field, the offensive line might have to give way on its claim to being the biggest in the country and become part of the tallest offense if Kelley gets into a game with Skipper.

It might be too early to name a starting offensive unit, but Austin Allen is the apparent quarterback and Skipper and Frank Ragnow are returning starters on the offensive line.

Incidentally, Jake Raulerson, an offensive lineman who graduated from the University of Texas in two years and transferred to Arkansas for his final two years of eligibility looks to have a lot of potential.

All the running backs saw early action, including true freshman Devwah Whaley. But that isn't indicative of anything other than the coaches want to see everyone they think might be needed in person and again later on film.

In those four periods of light drills, sophomore running back Rawleigh Williams looked recovered from the neck surgery and he's carrying more muscle, up to 226 pounds.

The Razorbacks had six quarterbacks in green jerseys, including walk-on Carson Proctor from Vero Beach, Fla.

That's a lot of quarterbacks on scholarship, and a lot of guys took snaps. But this is not a team that will be quarterbacked by committee.

Bielema, who was not wearing a long-sleeved jacket, was smack dab in the middle of everything. He seems totally comfortable and in his element as he prepares for his fourth Arkansas season.

The players look thick and fit for the most part. No guts were hanging out, even though at least 10 reported in at 300 pounds or more, and several were close to that weight.

There are several question marks surrounding this season's Hogs, but on Saturday the attitudes seemed to be positive and poised.

More than 30 media members headed to the exits when when the horn blared after the fourth period. For a few of them it was an escape, not from stifling heat, but noise that is music to the ears of some young people.

Sports on 08/07/2016