FAYETTEVILLE — As frustration mounted during Arkansas’ 2-10 campaign last season, Razorbacks offensive line coach Dustin Fry was well aware that him and his struggling offensive line was a lightning rod for criticism.
The offensive line gave up 32 sacks and the offense averaged 335 yards per game while scoring a paltry 260 points with just 29 touchdowns.
The narrative has been that some on that line might not have been pulling in the right direction and did not buy in with the new coaching staff, many like Fry that arrived from SMU.
“Absolutely, but it is a new year,” Fry said. “I kind of feel like last year was Year 0 and now we are in Year 1. The buy in, the lock in and I am not saying our group was bad last year, but it is now here fully this year and I think just up and down the O-line roster, guys are now hungry to win and the young guys are coming from good programs, used to working hard and winning, and that influences a lot of guys.”
Arkansas' offensive line was beset by injuries before and early in 2018 preseason camp. At one point, the Razorbacks had just six healthy offensive linemen to get through a practice and averaged around nine.
“We had like nine healthy guys for three racks and they knew they have got to play for me,” Fry said. “We are at a point now where I can do more hiring and firing on the field, pressing guys and competition has really helped that room and turned the leaf a little bit.”
The staff went to work in getting some depth for that offensive line by signing six players in the 2019 class, got the others healthy and now have 16 on the roster.
“Guys see a lot of guys nipping on their heels now,” Fry said. “I think signing six in the 2019 class really opened some eyes of helping with depth and helping with competition.
“No longer do we have just nine guys to cover things, but I have three full offensive lines. They realize that I am not going to have to go 15-20 plays straight in a practice, so I can’t take a play off. It’s a welcomed sight.”
He does see a much closer group this season as preseason camp opens Friday.
“I have been really happy with the cohesiveness of our unit from the older guys. Really I only have two seniors in Colton (Jackson) and (Austin) Capps, but the younger guys came in with a work ethic and if you tell them there is a wall, they will pretty much run through it for you,” Fry said.
“I have got really good mid-year leaders, juniors and sophomores like Dalton Wagner and Shane Clenin. I think our leaders complement each other real well.”
Hjalte Froholdt, now with the New England Patriots, was the clear leader of last season’s offensive line.
“Last year, we had one guy really in Hjalte and he left a big void, but multiple guys have taken over,” Fry said. “It hasn’t been one of those deals where you are leaning on one guy.
“It really has been a great group this year in how they have worked and what they try to do extra. They are always asking, ‘Hey, Coach, what do we need to do here?’
“They do a great job of doing what they need to do and doing a little bit more.”
Arkansas will open practice Friday with a first-team offensive line that will feature seniors Jackson at left tackle and Capps at left guard, junior Ty Clary at center, sophomore Clenin at right guard with right tackle being manned by sophomore Wagner, who Fry thinks may be his most improved and impressive player.
But junior college offensive lineman Myron Cunningham is likely to break up that group, per Fry.
“Myron Cunningham is going to start the first day as the second-team left tackle, but here is the deal with Myron: I have got to get Myron on the field,” Fry said. “Myron has a chance to be very special. He is an elite talent. If he is going to be one of my best five, which I think he is going to end up being, I have got to find a spot for him.
“The reason we brought him in is to light a fire under Colton and that really happened. Colton had a great first half of spring and then got injured late. We are going to find a spot for Myron whether it is at guard or tackle because he is too good to be over there holding his helmet.”
Chibueze Nwanna, the Razorbacks’ other junior college offensive line addition, is behind Cunnningham.
“We knew that going in and we talked with (Nwanna) about that and he knew that he had some work to do,” Fry said. “We knew he would be more of a project guy than Myron that would come in and earn a spot. That’s what we told the JUCO guys all through recruiting. You are not coming in and being anointed. You have to go to work for that spot.
“There is still a reason that Myron is on that second team. He has done some really good things at first team and I see where he is going to be, how he has changed his body…When he takes that power and now that he is in shape and he takes that to the field, I am excited about what he is going to do with that.”
Clary will get the first shot at being the starting center this season, but will be pushed by a group of youngsters.
Those include redshirt freshman Silas Robinson, Clenin, true freshmen Beaux Limmer, Ricky Stromberg and Notre Dame redshirt freshman transfer Luke Jones, who is waiting to hear on his appeal for immediate eligibility.
It’s a plus for Fry, who was a center at Clemson and in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers.
“I have 5-6 guys now that can snap the ball,” Fry said. “Last year, it was a little scary when I was the best center on the roster snapping-wise. That wasn’t a good thing.”
Fry and Clary have had some heart-to-heart talks in the offseason.
“Ty, just for his year, had a rough start to spring ball and I really challenged him coming out of spring ball and really after spring break to have a better second half of spring,” Fry said. “We had closed door meetings and put it it all on the table about who we want to be and since then I have been really proud and really excited about the way he has responded and kind of turned into a leader of our O-line.”
Fry is very sure what he wants out of the center position.
“Being a former center myself, you may not be the guy that is always running the show, but we had better hear your voice, better hear your leadership and we need you pulling guys through and even the older guys,” Fry said.
“He has got to make calls. He is the quarterback of the O-line, he makes a call every single play. He is going to tell guys based on his call where they need to go and to be demonstrative and be able to communicate without demeaning guys, without cussing. You can influence guys without demeaning that person.
“We are teaching that you don’t have to be a jerk to be a leader. That really is not what leaders are about. It is about pushing guys out of their comfort zone and doing it in a respectful manner and making sure they know that not just coaches are watching, but players are watching.”
Clary had issues with shotgun snaps at times last season.
“We had some issues the first half of spring ball and that was part of it,” Fry said. “It wasn’t just the snaps, it was a lot of things. The second half (of spring) his snaps got a lot better.
“Are we going to perfect in snaps this year? I can’t say that because you are always going to have something, but we better be better. It shouldn’t be an issue. Your guys shouldn’t be back there holding your breath on 3rd and 8 wondering if this ball is going to sail over his head or is it going to be in the dirt.
“He understands that as many reads as those quarterbacks have to do you put them at a disadvantage if their eyes are down or their eyes or up at the start of the play. He has taken a lot of pride on working on his snaps and getting out there with the quarterbacks.”