FAYETTEVILLE — Of all the one-on-one matchups Thursday, one between preseason all-SEC players was easily the most entertaining.
Senior offensive tackle Dan Skipper and senior defensive end Deatrich Wise went back-and-forth in a battle of arguably the team's two best draft prospects.
"I think it makes both of them better," defensive line coach Rory Segrest said. "Dan is a good pass blocker and obviously Deatrich is a good pass rusher.
"They're both long and they both have to focus on their technique and fundamentals. Hopefully that will help them both during the season."
The two players could be heard talking at one another between plays and even exchanged some shoves after one play.
"Those are two highly competitive guys that are both playing at a high level," offensive line coach Kurt Anderson said. "Brothers fight, but at the end of the day you're still brothers, and that's kind of how you see it. Those guys are good buddies and they're competing to make each other better, and sometimes in this game that turns into something physical.
"It gives you an opportunity as a coach to turn that into a teaching moment. You keep your calm when you go in the huddle, focus your next play on your technique and assignment, and don't worry about, 'I'm going to maul this guy,' because that's when you get yourself in trouble. One play turns into two bad plays and that's not what we're trying to get done."
During another play, Wise took Skipper to one knee, but Skipper was still able to hold back the defensive end, allowing quarterback Austin Allen to get a pass away.
"Watching those two guys, they both unbelievable reach," Anderson said. "Skipper is 6-10 and has great reach, but Deatrich Wise has freakishly long arms. They are good battles."
Anderson said Skipper has learned how to use his long arms to his advantage since the spring. That will come in handy if he remains at left tackle, where he has worked the past week.
"Length doesn't mean anything if you don't know how to use it," Anderson said. "Sometimes in the spring he was short-arming stuff and making himself a shorter player. That would get him in trouble because he is such a tall guy, so that changes leverage.
"When he uses his hands and uses his length, he's got better recoverability, he's able to keep guys at bay and able to change directions."
Wise had more success when he was lined up against right tackle Brian Wallace. He overpowered Wallace on one of the final plays of the practice, helping to collapse the pocket and forcing coaches to blow the play dead.
Segrest said he was also happy with the pass rush from Jeremiah Ledbetter at defensive tackle.
"Deatrich shows up, Led shows up," Segrest said. "We have some guys who are pretty consistent in their pass rush abilities and we're looking for some big things from them."