What was anticipated about Nathan Dick last Saturday became Wednesday’s reality.

The Arkansas true freshman quarterback got the increased practice Wednesday that Arkansas coach Houston Nutt and offensive coordinator David Lee predicted after the rookie outshone all the quarterbacks while completing 8 of 10 passes during last Saturday night’s scrimmage.

Though he’s listed behind junior starting older brother Casey Dick, and redshirt junior transfer Nathan Emert, Nathan Dick is “ moving, ” said Nutt. Nathan Dick took some second-unit and even first-unit turns in Wednesday morning’s workout.

Quarterback and receiver — especially a wide receiver core now temporarily minus injured senior leader Marcus Monk — need all the help they can get even from true freshmen like Nathan Dick and Shiloh Christian wide receiver alum Crosby Tuck.

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“ I thought Nathan Dick threw the ball very well today, ” Nutt said. “ We got him some extra reps and Crosby Tuck some extra reps. We keep calling on these receivers. ”

While Nutt calls on receivers, media kept calling on Nutt about Nathan Dick after Wednesday morning’s practice.

Nutt said Nathan Dick has “ come the farthest for everything we’ve thrown at him. His arm has looked good — he’s catching on. ”

Casey Dick was having one of his best throwing days in the morning workout inside the Walker Pavilion, but two mistakes undid it. Under a rush, Casey Dick threw two picks that under game conditions would have been returned for touchdowns by cornerback Jerrell Norton and outside linebacker Chip Gregory.

“ We don’t accept that, ” Nutt said. “ You are under duress, you’ve got to throw the ball away. It’s got to be to our guys or throw it away. Period. One of them he thought he threw it out of bounds. That ain’t good enough. Throw it in the third row. ”

Defensive coordinator Reggie Herring was asked if he’s happy with his defense.

“ We aren’t happy, ” Herring replied, “ until we go undefeated and date the prom queen. ”

Well the unbeaten part remains just 0-0 and can’t change until the Sept. 1 season opener with Troy University. And no prom queen was seen Wednesday at the Walker Pavilion.

Nonetheless, Herring did seem happy to see North Little Rock’s Jamar Love step up and make some plays at first-team cornerback while senior starter Matterral Richardson convalesced with a painfully inflamed wisdom tooth. Herring called “ an early Christmas gift” this week’s move of junior Elston Forte from reserve safety to backup outside linebacker behind Ryan Powers.

Herring and Nutt both seem pleased with the progress of the first and second linebacking units.

Marcus Harrison, the 6- 3, 307-pound senior seems so mobile coming off major knee surgery last spring that he’s playing the defensive end position he played as a freshman instead of defensive tackle like the last two years.

Herring beams, both because it shows Harrison’s progress and allows former end Malcolm Sheppard to continue his recent conversion to tackle.

Regarding Harrison playing against Troy, Herring earlier this month said, “ No. Get over it ! He’s not going to play. ”

Now there’s a hedge on that no with Harrison two days into pads.

“ Right now, no, ” Herring said, “ It’s day to day with him. We’d like to think realistically, Alabama [the Sept. 15 SEC opener ], but then again it’s up to Dean [Weber, the trainer ]. ”

The quality end-tackle versatility Harrison and Sheppard lend vastly enhances depth. Herring seems to like this Harrison on the flank and Malcolm in the middle setup even more than the Sheppard on the end and Harrison at tackle alignment touted last spring until Harrison’s injury.

“ Malcolm Sheppard is doing such a good job inside, ” Herring said. “ And now we’ve got the chance to have a 310-pound defensive end out there setting the edge in the SEC. ”

The other first-team defensive end, Chris Wade, did limited drills Wednesday for the first time since his concussion last week. Wade is expected to scrimmage Saturday night.

Tight end / H-back D. J. Williams (concussion ) returned to practice Wednesday.

Still on the injured list are fullback Peyton Hillis, tight end Ben Cleveland and punter / kicker Jeremy Davis.

The Razorbacks go back to an evening workout with a 6 o’clock practice tonight.