FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas tailback Rawleigh Williams liked being tackled in Saturday's scrimmage.
It was the first time the sophomore from Dallas had been tackled since he underwent neck surgery in October.
"It feels good to be back playing football again and be able to get tackled and be OK from it," Williams said Tuesday. "It's a good feeling to know that I'm back."
Offensive tackle Dan Skipper said it was emotional to see Williams in action.
"Any time you see a guy in the hospital in a [cervical] collar, it's pretty scary," Skipper said. "You think back to those types of memories, but then you see him being tackled Saturday and getting up, it's really a special feeling."
Williams rushed 14 times for 67 yards and scored on a 1-yard touchdown in the scrimmage.
"I think I was anxious more than anything," Williams said. "Not scared or anything, just anxious because it's been so long since I've played and got tackled to the ground."
Williams' scoring run was a tough yard through contact.
"That's the kind of run that you know you have to get," he said. "One or two yards, you know you have to get it, and I knew at that point that I was going to do anything it took to get that one or two yards."
Assessing the O
Quarterback Austin Allen said he was pleased with the start of Saturday's scrimmage, which began with situational work.
"I think the offense executed pretty well to start off the scrimmage and then kind of hit a lull there in the red zone," Allen said. "You have got to convert there. That's a big part of the game right there. Then I thought we played pretty well, but you can always improve."
The red zone lull Allen referred to was capped by his third down pass that went wide of receiver Drew Morgan, followed by a missed 35-yard field goal by Cole Hedlund.
Run game rave
Several offensive players said Tuesday the running game has looked strong.
"I think we ran hard. I think we saw the right holes, and I think it was a good day for us," tailback Rawleigh Williams said of the scrimmage.
Williams rushed for 67 yards, Devwah Whaley had 96 yards and a touchdown, and the other running backs combined for 68 yards on 21 carries.
"We've been running the ball well all spring and fall now, and I thought we did pretty well today," quarterback Austin Allen said.
"We've been doing well as a unit, and I think we're getting some good push and it's coming together," lineman Jake Raulerson said. "Hopefully the second scrimmage will be a little bit better than the first, but I thought the first was pretty good."
Injury update
Cornerback D.J. Dean suffered a hamstring injury in Monday's morning workout, and the senior is likely to miss two or three weeks. A three-week recovery period would put him into game week for the opener against Louisiana Tech.
Tight end C.J. O'Grady was dinged up in Saturday's scrimmage and a return date is uncertain.
Going green
Receiver Keon Hatcher, tight end Anthony Antwine and running back Devwah Whaley all wore green no-contact jerseys for Tuesday's single afternoon workout.
"Yeah, I got a little bruise on my shoulder, nothing serious," Hatcher said.
Whaley and Antwine's injuries appeared minor as both players moved well in the open portions of practice.
Running back Rawleigh Williams did not don a green jersey, but he looked gimpy after his 14th and final carry in Saturday's scrimmage.
"I just got rolled up on a little bit," Williams said. "I got rehabbed and was out there practicing today. Just a little ankle."
Merrick's merit
Redshirt freshman Jalen Merrick has taken first-team snaps at right guard for much of the past three practices as the search continues for Arkansas' top five linemen.
"Third practice ... it was really nice, especially getting on a roll with them and getting to go against [Jeremiah] Ledbetter," Merrick said. "Our defensive line is really good, so I know if I can hang in with them and our offensive line can handle them, we'll be pretty good. As a unit we did really good today."
Merrick said he's down to 322 pounds after reporting to Arkansas last summer pushing 350.
"I was heavy and that was kind of hard," Merrick said. "I would just get tired and out of energy and never really looked good after the first couple of plays. So losing a lot of weight has really helped me."
Roster update
The Razorbacks added linebacker signee Giovanni LaFrance to the 105-man roster. LaFrance broke a bone in his right hand in the summer and was sporting a cast when camp opened. The 6-1, 255-pounder from New Orleans St. Augustine has to wear a helmet and shorts for two practices, then he can add half pads for two workouts before donning full gear.
Connor McPherson was in half pads Tuesday, so he's a practice or two ahead of fellow running back Juan Day. Both tailbacks should be able to help with depth by Saturday's scrimmage.
Line update
The offensive line had yet another tweak Tuesday during the open portion of practice with Jalen Merrick working at first-team right guard in place of Zach Rogers.
Rogers, who has been the starting right guard much of camp, worked at second-team center.
Merrick split first-team reps at right tackle with Jake Raulerson in Saturday's scrimmage.
Dan Skipper remained at first-team left tackle Tuesday with Hjalte Froholdt at left guard, Frank Ragnow at center and Raulerson at right tackle.
Weird, funny genius
Center Frank Ragnow said offensive line coach Kurt Anderson has a diverse personality.
"He's a combination of a weirdo, a comedian and a genius," Ragnow said. "He's been around so many good football players, and he knows so much good technique. He knows everything.
"But then he'll say the weirdest things. He's funny, too. I think it's great for the younger linemen, because he knows when to get on you, but he also knows when to lighten the mood."
Anderson, who spent three seasons with the Buffalo Bills, smiled when told of Ragnow's assessment.
"He's probably spot-on," Anderson said. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Anderson said he believes humor can help young players learn and retain information.
"Playing at an SEC school -- especially in the SEC West for Arkansas -- for a young man could be a stressful situation in terms of the pressure that we put on these guys to get better on a daily basis," Anderson said. "Sometimes just a little bit of levity when it warrants itself is good.
"I don't know if I'm weird or I just reference things sometimes they've never heard about. If I quote the movie Fletch, they have no idea what I'm talking about, so of course they think I'm weird. I think it's funny. Then it's time to move on to football."
Sports on 08/17/2016