FAYETTEVILLE -- As Danny Ford, the former Razorbacks football coach, former Clemson national champion coach and always malaprop king once surmised, there are things that you don't have to be a "scientific rocket" to figure out.
For the March 29 start of spring practices, Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema and offensive coordinator Dan Enos reached a scientific rocket conclusion on Damon "Duwop" Mitchell.
Initially recruited in 2013 out of Egg Harbor, N.J., as an elusive running quarterback before being moved to receiver in 2014, Mitchell had 6 catches for 84 yards and 1 touchdown and 4 carries for 29 yards last season on reverses and occasional running back cameos. But the fourth-year junior is a running back now.
With All-SEC running back Alex Collins getting set for the NFL Draft and Rawleigh Williams (neck surgery last fall) still being withheld from spring scrimmaging, senior Kody Walker (90 carries for 394 yards and 6 touchdowns last season) is Arkansas' only running back practicing this spring consistently counted upon last fall.
Arkansas does return a great deal of production at receiver. Drew Morgan had 63 catches, 843 yards and 10 touchdowns, Dominique Reed finished with 28 catches 734 yards and 3 touchdowns, Jared Cornelius had 24 catches for 393 yards and 3 touchdowns and Cody Hollister ended with 4 catches for 65 yards. The Razorbacks also add redshirt freshmen LaMichael Pettway and Deon Stewar to the mix for next season.
Hardshipped senior Keon Hatcher, Arkansas' leading receiver in 2014, was granted a hardship fifth year of eligibility for the 2016 season after an injury ended his 2015 campaign after just two games. Hatcher had 13 catches for 198 yards and 2 touchdowns in those two games.
"At wide receiver they all look good," Bielema said. "We're going to have a great situation there with the competition that we have going. And Duwop at running back I think is doing some really nice stuff."
For two years, Bielema has talked up the on field potential of linebacker Randy Ramsey and talked down Ramsey's commitment to academics.
Last season with Ramsey not cleared to participate, Bielema said he told the Floridian to transfer, and that he would not have a UA scholarship waiting.
Instead of leaving, Ramsey chose to earn his way back as a walk-on.
"He's earning it," Bielema said. "I hate to brag on him too much just because he tends to take sugar and run with it a little bit. But I think the addition of bringing Randy Ramsey back, he's As and Bs, he's very, very engaged with the football activities. I'm super excited about him."
With two-year starting center Mitch Smothers and 2015 All-American left offensive guard Sebastian Tretola having graduated from the offensive line, Frank Ragnow, the 2015 starting right guard and 2014 backup center, Hjalte Froholdt, who made the move from the defensive line to the offensive line and junior college transfer Deion Malone begin spring ball as the team's center and guards.
"We're going to get our five best guys on the field," Bielema said of juggling the line. "We'll take all four weeks (of spring drills) if we need to."
Sports on 03/21/2016