Razorbacks report

Hogs say Storey is their No. 2

Arkansas quarterback Ty Storey participates in a drill during practice Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016, at the football practice field on the university campus in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema tabbed redshirt freshman Ty Storey as the team's No. 2 quarterback behind starter Austin Allen on Wednesday after a shakeup at the position over the weekend.

Redshirt sophomore Rafe Peavey, who entered camp as the No. 2 quarterback, did not play in Saturday's scrimmage and announced his intention to transfer to SMU late Tuesday.

"I would say that Ty has had his best camp by far," Bielema said. "He's throwing the ball extremely well. He handles the huddle, handles the reaction, handles the situations very well. He's been good with the football. All his intangibles are very, very positive."

Bielema said Storey and true freshman Cole Kelley both would take snaps with the second unit.

"They'll work through it together," Bielema said. "I think ... whether Cole plays or not depends on how he handles the next week and a half."

Offensive coordinator Dan Enos said Storey has shown improvement since the first day of camp.

"I've always been impressed with his work ethic every day. His mindset, his preparation," Enos said. "He's had the same businesslike attitude since I got here."

Enos said all of the quarterbacks competing for the No. 2 job had days where they looked like freshmen.

"I think at the end of the day, it comes down to having confidence that when you call something they're going to execute it," he said. "I think Ty earned the trust of his teammates and his coaches and did a good job. Still got a long ways to go, a lot of development to do, but we like where he's at and we like his progress."

$925,000 to Tech

The contract between Arkansas and Louisiana Tech calls for the Bulldogs to receive $925,000 within 90 days of the game, which is Sept. 3. The game originally was contracted in 2010 to be played at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

The two sides agreed to move the site to Fayetteville in the fall of 2014 at no additional expense.

The game will be worked by SEC officials.

Tight end talk

Bret Bielema said freshman tight end Grayson Gunter has moved into the fifth spot at tight end and targeted to play in 2016, while 2015 tight end signees Will Gragg and C.J. O'Grady opened practice this week on the scout team.

Gunter would slot in behind starter Jeremy Sprinkle, Austin Cantrell, Jack Kraus and Anthony Antwine for an offense that likes to use multiple tight ends.

"He's done a great job," Bielema said. "Came in and knows the offense."

Gunter's even earned a nickname in camp.

"We call him 'Little Hunter,' " said receiver Drew Morgan, referencing former Razorback All-American Hunter Henry. "He's got a lot of potential. The kid plays really fast. He's got some wheels on him. I wouldn't say he's faster than Hunter, but I don't know."

Gragg and O'Grady's places on the scout team don't relate to their ability, Bielema insisted.

"They've just got to get to know our offense a lot better and become a lot more dependable," he said. "They're redshirt freshmen. The guys that need mental and physical development, they need time.

"If we try to push it and put them in when they're not ready, that could digress them more than anything. We'll play them when their time comes."

Offensive coordinator Dan Enos said tendinitis in O'Grady's knee has slowed his progress and that Gragg has shown glimpses of being a quality player.

"I see a guy that has a very bright future here," he said. "He did some really good things, and he could certainly work his way back into the mix very, very quickly."

More transfers

Cornerback Cornelius Floyd is planning to transfer from Arkansas and defensive tackle Ke'Tyrus Marks is transferring from Arkansas to Samford, Coach Bret Bielema said.

Floyd had been working at third-team cornerback.

"C-Floyd is trying to find a home right now," Bielema said. "He's got a couple options right now we're working for him."

Marks, who will have immediate eligibility at Samford, hasn't been with the Razorbacks in practice this fall and didn't figure into a loaded rotation on the defensive line.

Bielema said Rory Segrest, a former assistant at Samford, played a pivotal role in helping Marks get on at Samford.

Back to work

A handful of Razorbacks who were held out or limited in Saturday's scrimmage returned to varying degrees of practice participation this week.

Receivers Keon Hatcher (shoulder) and Dominique Reed (ankle); cornerback DJ Dean (hamstring); running backs Kody Walker (foot), Devwah Whaley (shoulder) and T.J. Hammonds (knee); tight ends Austin Cantrell (ankle) and Anthony Antwine (shoulder); and offensive lineman Jalen Merrick (concussion) participated in some segments of practice Tuesday and Wednesday, the team's first since the scrimmage.

Bielema said Hatcher, Whaley and Antwine were out of the green no-contact jerseys they wore last week. He added that Reed and Dean participated in the early periods and stretch before heading to rehab.

Hammonds was scheduled to get work with the second-unit offense less than two weeks after needing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee.

Michigan Man

Offensive line coach Kurt Anderson, who played at Michigan, didn't take offense to the shot at his alma mater by Bret Bielema at Wednesday's Northwest Arkansas Touchdown Club.

Bielema came up with the term "Michigan us" in reference to the Wolverines canceling a series with Arkansas so they can play Notre Dame.

Anderson said he was disappointed about the cancellation, too, and he let his friends in the Michigan athletic department know about it via text messages.

"I think they have a I-AA [opponent] or somebody like that, and I'm like, 'You couldn't reschedule them for Notre Dame?' " Anderson said. "I've been looking forward to this. My kids have been looking forward to it.

"But we'll find a quality opponent, and whoever it is that week is going to be maize and blue and winged helmet for me. So the O-line is going to go after them like it's Michigan."

Rafe's departure

Bret Bielema said quarterback Rafe Peavey talked to him Sunday night about transferring, and he was on the phone later that night "trying to find some spots for him."

Offensive coordinator Dan Enos said he wished Peavey the best.

"He's a great young man," Enos said. "He came here every day and gave 100 percent in everything he did. He's an outstanding person of character on the field, off the field."

Taylor update

Bret Bielema said the transfer process for junior college defensive lineman Michael Taylor is "in the final stages," and he believes Taylor will be enrolled at Arkansas by Friday, which is the deadline for him to be eligible to play this season.

"I will put out an announcement on that one when we get the final stamp of approval," Bielema said. "But there's still paperwork coming through our end, his end and the NCAA."

Sports on 08/25/2016