FAYETTEVILLE — This is the second in a series of 10 questions facing Arkansas football headed into fall camp, which begins July 27.
Dre Greenlaw should be ready to go when fall camp rolls around at the end of the month, Bret Bielema said last week at SEC Media Days.
10 Big Questions
Looking at some of the key storylines as Arkansas prepares to kick off fall camp July 27.
http://www.wholehog…">Who is the backup QB?
That’s important. Arkansas coaches know what they’re going to get from a healthy Greenlaw. He averaged nearly 8 tackles a game as a starter his first 2 years on campus and is one of a few Razorback defenders (Sosa Agim, Ryan Pulley) who have the talent to make a push for All-SEC consideration at some point.
Other than Greenlaw, the coaches don't know what to expect. There is still uncertainty about the depth at linebacker, a reality which has often been the case during Bret Bielema’s tenure.
Sophomore Scoota Harris is a virtual lock to start alongside Greenlaw at the other inside linebacker spot, the heir apparent to graduated four-year starter Brooks Ellis.
The 6-foot, 238-pounder shed 20 pounds in the offseason and showed signs of being a playmaker in the spring, unofficially tallying a team-best 22 tackles and a pair of pass breakups in the Hogs’ two major scrimmages. He is still young and relatively inexperienced, but appears to have the physical tools needed to succeed in the SEC.
There is a sense Greenlaw and Harris have what it takes to be a solid tandem, but the Hogs need depth. Last year, Greenlaw and Ellis were gassed in the second half of games because they couldn’t afford to come off the field.
Plenty of players got extended looks this spring as a result of Greenlaw being out, extra reps the staff hopes will translate to quickened progression this spring.
Junior Josh Harris worked with the starters at times and has been productive in scrimmages the last few years despite being undersized. To this point in his career, he has been a special teams player. Redshirt freshman walk-on Grant Morgan, younger brother of Drew Morgan, is another undersized player who was given a chance to prove himself this spring.
Kyrei Fisher isn’t undersized at 6-2, 235. His physicality impressed the coaches in the spring, but he is just a true freshman. Enrolling early helped speed up his development, but it is unclear whether he can earn the staff’s trust to get on the field for meaningful snaps this fall, especially during SEC play.
Of course, that goes for all of the above. Senior Dwayne Eugene has played meaningful snaps, starting the final 6 regular-season games last year after Greenlaw’s injury, but the coaching staff moved him to outside linebacker late in spring ball. Bielema said he is a more natural fit outside, but if needed he seems like the likely candidate to be plugged in at either of the inside spots.
The inverse was true for redshirt freshman Dee Walker, who began the spring outside before moving inside as the staff experimented with players in different roles while trying to find the right fit.
Depth at outside linebacker is a question mark, too.
Randy Ramsey may be poised to have a breakout season at the newly minted Razor position, but the Hogs would probably be hard-pressed to find a similar playmaker off the edge to back him up.
Karl Roessler is the Hog opposite Ramsey after essentially swapping roles with Michael Taylor, who moved to defensive end. Defensive end turned tight end turned outside linebacker Jamario Bell was in the mix to back him up by the end of spring ball. Junior college signee Gabe Richardson will likely be tested early and often in fall camp to see whether he can help.
An inside linebacker tandem of Greenlaw and Harris has potential, while an outside pairing of Ramsey and Roessler could prove solid. After them, there is still uncertainty.