FAYETTEVILLE -- Cornerback D.J. Dean, who started 14 games the past two seasons, is sidelined with a severe hamstring pull and is a redshirt candidate, Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said Wednesday.
"One of the options I explained to D.J. the other day was a possible redshirt if he wasn't in our two-deep," Bielema said. "And right now, it'd be a stretch to get there."
Dean was limited in spring with a toe injury that required surgery.
"We always stress in our program you've got to practice to be where you need to be," Bielema said. "I think that missing this spring really, really has put him behind some of those guys. The good news is the other people have really come along in our two-deep."
Jared Collins and Henre Toliver have worked at the top outside cornerback spots throughout camp, with Kevin Richardson at nickel back. Ryan Pulley and Britto Tutt are the second-team cornerbacks.
Eye on
The rapid rise of De'Jon Harris behind Brooks Ellis at middle linebacker is what allowed the coaching staff to ask Kendrick Jackson to return to fullback, where freshman Hayden Johnson needed assistance. But Harris is not the only freshman linebacker making moves.
"Dee Walker is another guy to keep your eye on," defensive coordinator Robb Smith said. "I thought he really flashed. As those guys continue to learn the system, I think you'll see better play from them."
Offensive coordinator Dan Enos said the pairing of Johnson and Jackson at fullback makes it a position of strength.
"We're at a better place at fullback now certainly than we were last year," Enos said.
Line update
The offensive line has undergone more tweaks this week. During the open portion of practice Tuesday, Jalen Merrick worked 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 with Hjalte Froholdt at left guard, Frank Ragnow at center and Raulerson at right tackle. Brian Wallace and Colton Jackson have gotten first-team reps in camp as well.
"I just want to get to a point, probably by next Tuesday, maybe 10 days out from our game, where we feel good about where we're at with the top five and go and let the other guys serve as the second unit or sub in in certain packages," Bret Bielema said Wednesday.
"The thing we've got to do, and I know Coach Bielema has addressed it, is here by the end of the week, we have to figure out who our five are going to be and get those guys going, start establishing some continuity as we move into game prep with Louisiana Tech," offensive coordinator Dan Enos said.
Back to school
Bret Bielema let his assistant coaches take their children to school this week for the first day of classes.
Offensive line coach Kurt Anderson, who came to Arkansas from the Buffalo Bills, thanked Bielema on a Twitter post, saying it was the first time he's been able to take his children to school.
"I think that comes back at you tenfold, hopefully," Bielema said.
Defensive coordinator Robb Smith said it was a "great treat" to take his children to school, but he wasn't used to the morning routine at his house because he's usually at work. He heard about it from his wife, Amy.
"Let me tell you this, the admiral, my wife, was barking out orders," Smith said. "She was blasting a few people this morning, but we got the troops moving and we made it on time.
"You've got to toe the line and make sure you're doing your job. Let's put in that way."
Bielema said when he talked to the coaches about taking their children to school, defensive line coach Rory Segrest was the only one who hesitated.
"Coach Segrest, he said when they get to high school, they try to avoid you as parents," Bielema said. "He's got a great one in James. I thought that was funny."
Injury updates
Offensive lineman Paul Ramirez, who has been working at second-team guard and tackle, is likely to miss up to 10 days with a strained medial collateral ligament in his knee.
"He got leg whipped, I think, by Ty Storey of all people," Bret Bielema said. "Ty was running a little quarterback scramble and caught Paul on the backside, and he unfortunately tweaked his MCL."
Tight end C.J. O'Grady, who missed a couple of days with a leg injury, made it through about half of Wednesday's morning practice and is "gimpy," Bielema said.
Receiver Dominique Reed remains sidelined by an ankle injury but may be back next week, Bielema said.
Receiver Keon Hatcher and tailback Devwah Whaley are practicing with green no-contact jerseys because of minor injuries, Bielema said.
Tailback Kody Walker, who was wearing a walking boot because of a sore foot earlier in the week, is able to practice, but he doesn't go twice a day as a precaution.
Receiver Jordan Jones is back after missing some practices because of a high fever.
Capps impressing
Austin Capps, a freshman from Star City, is getting second-team work at nose guard while Armon Watts is going through what Coach Bret Bielema called a minor health issue, which has limited Watts in practice.
Bielema said Capps had an impressive effort against a double-team block from Frank Ragnow and Hjalte Froholdt on Tuesday.
"He was able to push the pocket, which impressed me, and I think it also impressed those two guys trying to stop him," Bielema said.
Defensive coordinator Robb Smith said Capps has worked his way into the two-deep behind Taiwan Johnson as Bijhon Jackson is rotating at both nose guard and at the three-technique behind Jeremiah Ledbetter and T.J. Smith.
Extra points
• Bret Bielema will be the first featured speaker at the Northwest Arkansas Touchdown Club on Wednesday. Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long will speak Sept. 21, and former Razorbacks Tony Bua and Eddie Jackson will speak Sept. 14 and Nov. 9, respectively.
• Bielema said team captains probably would be voted on early next week after classes begin.
• Kendrick Jackson traded in the No. 44 jersey he had been wearing as a middle linebacker and is now sporting No. 34 while working at fullback along with Hayden Johnson.
• David Johnson made his annual trek from Hope with a trailer load of watermelons Tuesday. The Razorbacks posted pictures on social media of players enjoying the supersized melons.
Sports on 08/18/2016