FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas may finally have a first-team offensive line the coaching staff feels comfortable moving forward with.
Saturday scrimmage links
http://www.wholehog…">Freshmen QBs get work in Peavey's absence
http://www.wholehog…">Injured players get light day
http://www.wholehog…">Offensive line taking shape
http://www.wholehog…">Observations and notes
http://www.wholehog…">Unofficial stats
http://www.wholehog…">Depth chart
Redshirt freshman Colton Jackson worked at right tackle with the starters for the entirety of Saturday’s second scrimmage during fall camp, with left tackle Dan Skipper, left guard Hjalte Froholdt, center Frank Ragnow and right guard Jake Raulerson rounding out the group. That’s the five the Razorbacks will roll with heading into next week after a constantly fluxuating line the first few weeks of fall camp.
“I think we’ve probably settled (on that line),” coach Bret Bielema said. “Feel pretty good about that, but not saying that’s etched in stone.
“I’m not locking it in 100 percent. (We’ll) wait until we see the film, but they’ve had that rotation the last two or three days and they keep getting better at it.”
Jackson worked as the starting left tackle all spring and in the early stages of fall camp but largely struggled, prompting the staff to slide Skipper to the left side. Jackson worked behind him at left tackle for a while, but moved to right tackle and competed with Merrick for the position.
“Colton at that right side seems to be more comfortable than he was at left,” Bielema said. “Skip definitely looks better at left.”
Redshirt freshman Jalen Merrick had worked on the right side with the first-team offense at guard and tackle this week, but didn’t scrimmage Saturday after suffering a concussion earlier. He and Jackson rotated with the first-team offense at right tackle Thursday.
“Should be joining us Tuesday when we resume practices,” Bielema said.