FAYETTEVILLE — Some of the names are the same, but Bret Bielema said on his Tuesday night radio show that this is a much different Arkansas football team heading into the season opener against Florida A&M.
Bielema will begin his fifth season with the Hogs on Thursday against Florida A&M at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
“Frank Ragnow said this week, we aren't the same team,” Bielema said. “I would agree. We are a whole new group of people. Yes, we have some players who were on the team last year. But we have a lot of new players, like Grant Morgan who is in the two deep (at linebacker) and is an explosive, dynamic player.
“There are guys like T.J. Smith at defensive end who have changed their body. And, you have someone like (De'Jon) Scootah Harris at linebacker who is set for something special.”
Bielema looks for good things from players in new roles at almost every position group.
“In the offensive line, you have Colton Jackson at tackle who has changed his body and is much more flexible,” Bielema said. “You also have a true freshman in Ty Clary who is going to get a chance to play.
“At tight end, you have C.J. O'Grady, who has emerged along with Jeremy Patton, a junior college transfer, who is big and dynamic.”
At wide receiver, Bielema said Deon Stewart and LaMichael Pettway are the headliners, but there would also be good things from true freshman Jarrod Barnes and junior college transfer Brandon Martin.
Bielema praised the defensive line with a three-man rotation at nose tackle with Bijhon Jackson, Austin Capps and Dylan Hays. He called Hays “a Tasmanian devil who closes holes like a crazy man. All three of those at nose tackle are totally different and we are going to rotate them every four plays.”
Bielema said his two inside linebackers, Dre Greenlaw and Harris, make up the best tandem of inside linebackers in his time at Arkansas.
Wide receivers Jared Cornelius and T.J. Hammonds both practiced Tuesday and could play against FAMU.
“It will be how they respond,” Bielema said. “How they do the day after they practice is the key.”