FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ offensive linemen are never quite sure what to expect when they walk into their meeting room and glance at the whiteboard listing where they’ll line up at practice on any given day in fall camp.
“Inevitably, at this rate, everyone’s number will be called,” senior left tackle Dan Skipper said. “You’ve got to be ready. I think that helps our guys knowing that they’re never out of the competition or down for the count.”
But the last three days have been the same for redshirt freshman Jalen Merrick — first-team right guard.
Merrick earned the bump up to work with the starters beginning with Monday’s two-a-days, continuing the revolving door at right guard even after the starting offensive line had one of its better performances in fall camp during the team’s scrimmage Saturday.
For now, Merrick has replaced sophomore Zach Rogers, who’d worked at right guard all last week. Merrick performed well during the scrimmage Saturday while working primarily at right tackle with the second-team offense, prompting the staff to give him a look inside with the ones.
“I like Jalen Merrick and (we’ll) see what he can do in there,” coach Bret Bielema said Monday. “Zach did good things, but want to see what Jalen can do.”
Rogers worked behind Frank Ragnow at center with the second-team offense Tuesday. Jake Raulerson, who’s played center, right guard and right tackle so far during camp, remained at right tackle, where he helped stabilize what had previously been a struggling offensive line Saturday.
Merrick redshirted last year after arriving on campus as a consensus four-star recruit and one of the top 20 guards in the nation in the class of 2015. Since getting here last year, he’s slimmed down considerably, dropping from around 350 pounds to 322. Still, standing 6-foot-4, he gives the Razorbacks plenty of bulk inside.
“He’s so big and strong,” senior left tackle Dan Skipper said. “Any time you can get a guy like that in the middle, it’s a huge asset for our line. The biggest thing with him is making sure he knows where he’s going at guard. And the footwork, because guard is actually a lot more technical for us than tackle is as far as technique.”
In addition to his physical gifts, Merrick has been a student of the playbook, devoting time to learning his assignments, whether at tackle or guard. That’s made the transitions back and forth easier.
“I know the whole playbook and everything,” Merrick said.
The first-team offensive line has undergone a litany of changes and differing test runs so far in camp. Merrick got a quick look with the starters in the first week of camp, but this week’s stint is his chance to seize hold of the position and make it his own after working at both tackle and guard off and on during the first few weeks of camp.
“(OL coach Kurt Anderson) really wants us to know every position on the field,” Merrick said. “He always says, in case someone’s shoes come off he wants you to be ready at all times.”
No one lost their shoes, but Merrick is hoping his latest stint at right guard ends the musical chairs at the position.