FAYETTEVILLE -- Coach Bret Bielema revealed during Arkansas' Liberty Bowl preparations last year that Georgia Coach Kirby Smart called him about wanting to hire offensive coordinator Dan Enos.
An SEC noncompete clause in Enos' contract -- barring him from taking an assistant's job within the conference -- kept Bielema from agreeing to let Smart talk to Enos, who is back for a second season.
Bielema said on Sunday that Arkansas defensive coordinator Robb Smith has also drawn interest from SEC schools.
Smith, after learning what Bielema told the media, confirmed he was offered a defensive coordinator's job by an SEC school after each of the previous two seasons. He declined to name which schools.
Smith also has a noncompete clause in his contract, but said he wasn't interested in leaving Arkansas or seeing if he'd be able to break his agreement and take another job in the SEC.
"I really like being an Arkansas Razorback," Smith said. "I really like the players in our program. I love coming to work and working with these coaches every day.
"Our goal is to win an SEC championship, and that's what I want to do, and I want to do it here at Arkansas."
Fast recovery
Tight end Jack Kraus, a redshirt sophomore from Bentonville, is a quick healer.
Kraus, who underwent surgery Jan. 8 for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, said Arkansas' medical staff told him the recovery time to play again would be six months to a year.
Today marks seven months since the surgery and Kraus will be going through his fourth practice of camp.
Kraus, who played in 12 games before injuring his knee during a Liberty Bowl practice, said he was determined to make it back for this season's opener against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 3.
"With the resources we have at Arkansas, with the training staff and the strength staff, if I just put my head down and kept working, I figured I could come back for this season," Kraus said. "I trusted it."
Kraus said he injured his knee after planting his foot and turning upfield during a pass play.
"My knee feels pretty good right now," he said. "It gets a little sore in practice, but that's just because it's my first time practicing since December."
Ramsey reward
Redshirt sophomore Randy Ramsey signed his scholarship papers on July 22 after earning his way back into the good graces of Coach Bret Bielema and the staff.
Ramsey, who signed as a linebacker out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has been moved to Arkansas' rush end spot, where he is working behind Karl Roesler and McTelvin Agim.
"I thank God first and I thank Coach B for allowing me to earn my way back," Ramsey said. "Because when I was home watching these guys on TV I realized I messed up. I'm just thankful for the second chance."
Rossi injured
Sophomore walk-on receiver Luke Rossi, who played primarily on special teams last season and made one start against Auburn, is expected to miss about two weeks because of a hamstring injury, Coach Bret Bielema said.
Troy Allison, a redshirt freshman walk-on who moved from quarterback to receiver in the spring, has been added to the 105-man roster to replace Rossi.
Young safeties
Deon Edwards is working at free safety and Micahh Smith, another true freshman, is working at strong safety.
"During the June and July sessions, they were always watching film and trying to learn our defense," starting free safety Josh Liddell said. "They're smart, they're big, they're athletic. So they're going to be good."
Defensive coordinator Robb Smith said it's too early in camp to know if Edwards or Smith will play this season.
"They've both flashed at different times in practice," Smith said. "We're only three days in. We'll do a lot more install this week.
"We've really just done the basics so far. I'll probably be able to answer that question a lot better next week."
Lighter side
Kody Walker beefed up to 265 pounds before last season with the expectation he would be a combination fullback and big tailback, but he ended up as the No. 2 tailback behind Alex Collins after injuries to Jonathan Williams and others.
Now, listed as the Razorbacks' No. 1 tailback, Walker said he weighs between 235 and 240 pounds.
Walker said it's the lightest he's been since he played at Jefferson City (Mo.) High School.
"I feel quicker," said Walker, a sixth-year senior. "Cutting that much weight, you definitely are going to feel a difference."
Walker said healthier eating and workouts with strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert have helped him lose weight.
"I cut out the fried food, late-night eating, sweets, all that stuff," Walker said. "It takes discipline to do it every day, every night. It's tough, but it helps in the long run."
Brotherly love
Austin Allen is set to take over at starting quarterback after watching his brother Brandon hold the job the previous three seasons.
How often does Austin call big brother for advice about replacing him and leading the offense?
"Me and Brandon really don't talk that much about any of that," Allen said. "Off the football field, we rarely talk about football. It's just regular stuff. If I need something, I can call him any time I want. But we just usually really don't talk about it."
Allen said the brothers don't talk on a daily basis.
"I've seen him for 21 years every single day," Allen said. "So I'm giving him some space and he's giving me some space."
Brandon Allen is a rookie with the Jacksonville Jaguars trying to make the team as a sixth-round draft pick. The Jaguars' first preseason game is Thursday night at the New York Jets.
"I'll probably google his name every single day, 'Brandon Allen,' trying to see what he did," Allen said. "I don't really want to call him.
"He texted me the other day. I guess he was just leaving the facility. It was 9:45 at night. He said he got there at 5 a.m. So he's grinding, trying to make the roster. I think he'll be fine."
Staying put?
Dan Skipper has started at a different position on the offensive line each of his first three seasons. The 6-10 senior was a left guard as a freshman, left tackle as a sophomore and right tackle as a junior.
Skipper, who has been at right tackle since the spring of 2015, was asked if he expected to remain at right tackle.
"I have no idea," he said. "That's above my pay grade."
Uneasy in green
Wide receiver Drew Morgan wore a noncontact green jersey in spring practice because he was recovering from shoulder injury.
Morgan said he's full-go now.
"I'm 100 percent," he said. "The surgery went well. I'll never be in that green jersey again, knock on wood."
Bigger, not slower
Tight end Jeremy Sprinkle said redshirt freshman backup Austin Cantrell is playing well at 270 pounds.
"Oh, he's carrying it pretty good," Sprinkle said. "He hasn't lost a step. He's still just as fast."
Sports on 08/08/2016