Editor’s Note: This is the third in a series of nine stories previewing the 2008 Arkansas Razorbacks, position by position.

Had one asked prior to spring football practice what would be the Arkansas Razorbacks’ weakest link for the 2008 season, the answer could very well have been the secondary.

If the loss of all four athletes who started at least part of them time and two key backups to graduation, weren’t enough, part-time starting cornerback Jerell Norton (pulled hamstring ) and key backup safety Walner Leandre (rehabbing from shoulder surgery ) missed practically all of spring drills when a new defensive system was deployed.

The outlook did not look good.

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However, as the Razorbacks worked through spring ball, it became apparent that the positions of safety and cornerback were no longer considered a weakness by first-year head coach Bobby Petrino.

“ I like our secondary, ” Petrino said following spring drills. “ I think we have depth at corner and depth at safety. I do think we have a freshman or two who are very talented and can compete to help us there. ”

What was the difference ?

“ Hard work, ” said junior free safety Matt Harris (6-2, 192 ) of Richardson, Texas. “ I think we all saw an opportunity to play and prove our- selves with the new staff and we seized on it.

“ We’re all a year older and we’re learning a new scheme so there’s lots of concentration and teaching and we picked things up. ”

Early on Harris and senior strong safety Dallas Washington (6-2, 210 ) of Douglasville, Texas, who are coached by UA first-season defensive coordinator Willy Robinson, were picking up too much as the linebacking corps adjusted to their new responsibilities in Robinson’s zone pass coverage scheme.

“ Our safeties can tackle, ” Petrino said following a practice. “ We’ve learned that. We just don’t want them to have to make as many. ”

Harris, whose father Cliff starred for a decade as a sixtime pro-bowl free safety for the Dallas Cowboys, agrees with his head coach on that point, but he and the other safeties understand that their job is to make the tackle no matter the circumstances. The Hogs safeties understand they are the last line of defense.

“ I think more than delivering that big hit, what we pride ourselves is in getting a lot of hats around the football, ” Harris said. “ That means running to the ball. You want to deliver that crushing blow, you do. But if it’s third-and-4, and it’s you and the running back, don’t worry about the knockout. Get him on the ground and get off the field. ”

Junior Rashaad Johnson (6-1, 191 ) of Waco, Texas, closed spring behind Matt Harris, and red-shirt freshman Bret Harris (6-0, 209 ) of Irving, Texas, filled the slot behind Washington. However, Leandre (6-2, 213 ) is sure to be in the mix this fall if the senior’s shoulder heals as expected this summer.

Under the tutelage of Lorenzo Ward, the Razorbacks’ cornerbacks may have come the furthest in the spring. The first-year Arkansas assistant came to the Hogs from the Oakland Raiders and had a reputation for putting players in the NFL as a college assistant at Virginia Tech.

Five of his Hokies earned All-American honors and the NFL selected a dozen of his players from 1999 through 2005. Virginia Tech led the nation in interceptions in 2002, was third in 2000 and fourth in 2004.

In 2006, the Raiders cornerbacks pilfered 14 passes and led the league in pass defense.

While Ward’s position group may have seemed like a rag-tag bunch at the opening of spring ball, he knitted them together into a close, confident group.

Senior corner Jamar Love (6-1, 197 ) of North Little Rock said Ward’s ability to relate and teach has been key to the player’s development in the spring. It was not uncommon to see Ward and his players gathered together and laughing after the close of practice.

“ He [Ward ] has your respect because of coaching in the NFL, and he teaches the little things that make a difference for you on the field, ” Love said. “ He’s demanding, but you also have fun. He’s got some good stories. ”

Ward himself has fallen for Love’s size and range at corner.

“ You don’t see many 6-1 corners, ” Ward said. “ His height gives him an advantage. ”

But Ward is not an elitist when it comes to size as sophomore transfer Darrell Glasper (5-8, 180 ) of Baton Rouge, La., learned. Glasper impressed with his knack for breaking on the football and making big hits despite his size.

“ He’s been a good surprise, ” Ward said of the LSU transfer. “ He’s played a lot bigger than he is. I’ve been impressed with his skills and being physical against the run. He’s made some good open field tackles. He’s stepped his game up. ”

Sophomore Isaac Madison (6-0, 181 ) of Dallas impressed with his speed and nailed down the right cornerback position opposite Love in the spring and sophomore Ramon Broadway (5-9, 191 ) of Shreveport, La. also worked himself into the mix.

A healthy Norton (6-0, 190 ), who led the Hogs in interceptions as a sophomore last season with 5, should not only add depth but also fight for a starting spot in August. He will be behind, though, after missing the bulk of spring drills with a hamstring problem.

Arkansas also signed seven players with the skill set to play in the secondary. The ones who aren’t quickly slotted to play wide receiver could find playing time on defense.