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Kirkland, Tretola at front of line for steals

Arkansas offensive lineman Denver Kirkland (55) and tight end Hunter Henry (84) warm up prior to the first half of the Liberty Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Late Sunday night, Razorback Nation's Aaron Peters -- the sports anchor for KNWA-TV -- pitched to reporter Alyssa Orange for an interview with Denver Kirkland.

Razorback Nation and KNWA -- which also supply Razorback news and commentary for KARK-TV -- are known to go the extra mile in covering the Hogs, so it didn't come as a huge surprise that Orange was in Miami, Kirkland's hometown.

Almost immediately, the reason why the offensive lineman had bypassed his senior year with the Arkansas Razorbacks and declared for the NFL Draft was apparent. Kirkland's neighborhood was not one of picket fences and manicured lawns.

The likable Kirkland gave a good interview to Orange, who is a talented reporter, and he talked openly about being disappointed he wasn't drafted but said he was optimistic after signing a free agent contract with the Oakland Raiders.

Exactly why Kirkland slid out of the draft -- before last season, he was predicted by some experts to be the first guard drafted -- had little to do with the fact that he moved from his natural position of guard to tackle last season.

There were a couple of lines in one evaluation on a draft site that said Kirkland had habits on contact of lowering his head and bending over at the waist, and NFL teams are wary of players who do both.

Or maybe the Raiders, who are trying to move to Las Vegas, got a steal.

Kirkland was a four-star recruit who had interest from several schools, including Florida State and Miami. He made official visits to both.

He and guard Sebastian Tretola were the cornerstones of Arkansas' successful running attack, and that may have had something to do with Kirkland not being drafted and Tretola sliding to the sixth round.

NFL teams have taken an emphasis off the running game and are passing more. In the Hogs' pro-style offense, they blocked for the run and the pass.

The same website claimed Kirkland had bad habits and Tretola had short arms and wasn't athletic.

Tretola is 6-5, so if his arms measured that of someone who is 6-3, that means he has short arms?

He's the guy who threw a touchdown pass as a junior. Tretola was also the vocal leader of the Razorbacks.

Tretola grew up in a similar neighborhood as Kirkland. Because both have always said they want to buy homes for their moms, hopefully both will have long careers in the NFL.

Of all the Razorbacks drafted, Hunter Henry -- who was taken with the 35th pick by the San Diego Chargers -- will sign the most lucrative contract.

Henry said all the right things, such as getting to study under tight end Antonio Gates, who played college basketball (including one season for Stan Heath at Kent State) and was a long-shot free agent with the Chargers. Gates now is 35 and has two years left on his contract.

Many experts say Jonathan Williams was a steal in the fifth round for Buffalo -- if he is healthy. Williams could push 27-year-old LeSean McCoy, last year's starter, and second-year man Karlos Williams for playing time.

Seattle Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll hopes that coaching up Alex Collins, also taken in the fifth round, will help with the running back's fumbling problem. Collins has the quickness and elusiveness to be an impact player, but he's already been coached up.

Quarterback Brandon Allen was taken in the sixth round by the Jacksonville Jaguars, and he would have to be outstanding to threaten starter Blake Bortles, who threw 606 of the team's 607 passes last season.

All the former Hogs have a shot, especially if they outwork everyone else.

Sports on 05/04/2016