State of the Hogs: Coaches hit final countdown

Bret Bielema, Arkansas head football coach, speaks to the media on Friday July 29, 2016 during the NWA Razorback Club's 15th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament at the Kingswood and Berksdale golf complex in Bella Vista.

— Bret Bielema didn't have any earth shaking announcements when he met with the media before playing in the Northwest Arkansas Razorback Club golf outing in Bella Vista on Friday.

The Hogs report Wednesday of next week and begin fall camp on Thursday.

Bielema begins his fourth season at Arkansas. He said the big news is that the program is on the upswing. He said it's pretty easy to see the difference between the SEC record of 0-8 in his first season and the 5-3 the Hogs posted last season.

"There is a big difference," he said. "And, that's in the SEC West. A 5-3 in the SEC West is huge, not like you did it anywhere else.

"That's a substantial jump. I just want to make sure our guys know how it happened."

The Hogs are picked in the bottom half of the seven-team SEC West, fifth in several polls. Bielema said he wasn't concerned.

"My first year at Wisconsin, we finished in the top five, with a victory over Arkansas in the bowl," he said. "We started that year ranked 88th.

"The preseason polls don't mean anything except in the barber shops or the chat rooms. It's all what happens at the end that matters."

There were a handful of coaches at the outing. Kurt Anderson, the new offensive line coach, greeted the media after a trip to his truck to change shirts.

"I had on a Razorback red shirt," he said. "But it was soaked with so much sweat that it looked black. So I changed. I do sweat on the course."

Anderson said his guys on a rebuilt line have done the sweating this summer, in a fine fashion. He thinks they'll be much improved over the unit that was given new technique in the spring.

"I don't think they'll look like the same group that started the spring," he said. "I had them watch a lot of film of my Eastern Michigan line and the one with the Bills when I first got here. I'd play it back over and over, snap after snap. I asked them what they saw. They all said, 'It was everyone stepping exactly the same, as one.' They weren't like that in the spring. They may not be exactly like it when we start in camp. But they are closer and we'll be like that eventually this year.

"Their feet didn't match in their steps. I think they aren't quite ready to be on a Broadway play just yet. They will look more like an off-Broadway outfit. Pretty good, but not where they will be later this fall. I do think before the season ends they'll give the Rockettes a run for their money. Well, no high leg kicks."

Anderson dodged questions about who will line-up at what spot when practice begins. Eventually, he gave the first team status of all but the right guard position. He said that's the mystery spot and it may not be determined for a few days. It's clear that Texas transfer Jake Raulerson figures into the battle there.

"Jake has some natural attributes at center, but he's gained some weight and could play guard," Anderson said. "He was in the high 290s when he got here and he's at 308 now and he's carrying it well."

Anderson confirmed that Dan Skipper would stay at right tackle after some thinking in the offseason he could move to guard. Frank Ragnow is at center, Hjalte Froholdt manning the left guard spot and Colton Jackson at left tackle.

"I'm not saying there aren't going to be some battles for those spots," he said. "We've got some newcomers who are going to battle and some returnees who can make a move. It's going to be great competition in camp."

Froholdt continues to impress. Bielema said his work in the squat lifts under the lights at Reynolds Razorback Stadium to end the summer workouts drew cheers.

"The loudest roars were for Hjalte," Bielema said. "He's the guy who made the most impressive progress (over the summer)."

Anderson raves about the work ethic of Froholdt. He continues to say the Denmark product is a natural at left guard. Moving from the defensive line to the offensive line can be tough, but Anderson said it's something he did as a player and thinks he's been able to show him the tricks of the conversion.

"Obviously, he's not the first to do it and have success," Anderson said. "I made the same transition. I know the intricate parts of doing that. I taught him what a defensive lineman has to change and the adjustments.

"I tell you what, we had a willing soul. You ask him to jump off the Empire State Building for the University of Arkansas, he's going to do it.

"He's got the athletic ability, the power in the hips and he learns quickly. He's got an impressive tool box. You know those fancy garages with the neat looking tool boxes? That's him. He's going to keep adding to his tool box until he's like one of those places, with a big master tool box."

Jackson continues to impress Anderson. A redshirt freshman from Conway, Jackson took the left tackle top spot early in spring and will be there next week. Jackson didn't see the field much at Conway until his senior season. He just hasn't played much football, but he's an impressive specimen.

"I'm a firm believer that what's in the past is in the past," Anderson said. "I don't know how much he's played. I just know what I see. Colton is a special athlete. He's got an unbelievable body, speed, strength and length. He's got a quick twitch. When he realizes his full potential, watch out."

That's starting to happen.

"I think he's developed this summer," Anderson said. "He's just naturally gifted.

"The last thing he's got to do is the easiest thing to master, that's the finish. He's got the ability to finish in a dominant way. It's a matter of becoming the master craftsman that the finished offensive linemen has in his tool box. It's muscle memory. It's the feel of something. He's going to get it. He has the ability to do it and he'll do it."

Tight ends coach Barry Lunney said he thinks there has been summer progress within his group, especially some of the youngsters. Jeremy Sprinkle is the man there, now that Hunter Henry is in the NFL. It's a matter of who can join him to give the Hogs a two-prong attack like last year.

"We are looking for that guy who can do everything," he said. "I think they made progress since the spring, but I want to see if there is one guy who can be an every down tight end. Austin Cantrell is 270 and he's the guy who can block an SEC defensive end. But he's not quite as good in pass routes. C.J. O'Grady is more the guy in pass routes, can make an acrobatic catch in traffic. Will Gragg is more a guy who does a little bit of everything.

"Jack Kraus is ready to go after knee surgery. He may not be able to practice twice on the days we do two-a-days, but it would be just for precaution. He's worked so hard. He's a guy who knows all of it."

Another firmly in the tight end picture is 220-pound Anthony Antwine.

"He doesn't have the bulk but he's the one who knows our offense the best of that second group of guys after Jeremy," Lunney said. "He's shown that he'll stick his nose in there. He's also very good in the pass routes. He's going to be one that we know can play."

Lunney confirmed that Jamario Bell is still at tight end and could be a factor if he proves that he's got a complete grasp of the offense.

"I like my room," Lunney said. "We've got a lot of gifted guys like Jamario. When someone sees our group of tight ends, they are going to be jealous. We just have to continue to develop all of these guys. I like my group.

"I know that Jeremy Sprinkle is going to have a great year. He's ready and loves the game. I just need some more to join him. We just need to get to where we have two guys like last year that can do everything in every situation."