Arkansas, on the field for the first time since Chad Morris’ dismissal Sunday, practiced inside Walker Pavilion on Tuesday. Here are a few notes from that, plus our roughly 10-minute interview with Barry Lunney Jr.:
• The lone bit of news from today is that freshman safety Jalen Catalon will miss the remainder of the season with a minor injury, Lunney said. He has been dealing with a shoulder issue for much of the year. He recorded six tackles in four games played - Ole Miss, SJSU, UK, WKU - and broke up one pass and forced a fumble.
• Arkansas practiced without music for the first time in recent memory. Lunney made the decision himself. It was not designed as a punishment. His aim was for the team and players to create their own energy. Lunney also noted the staff is shrinking practice a bit this week. He wants everyone to be recharged physically, emotionally and psychologically entering next week.
• Lunney said he is still running on adrenaline since being named interim coach. He has been working hand-in-hand with Randy Ross, Arkansas’ director of football operations. Together they have been mapping out what the next couple of weeks will look like.
• Barry Lunney Sr., who won eight state championships as a high school coach at Fort Smith Southside and Bentonville, was in attendance Tuesday.
• The only player in a green jersey at practice was left guard Kirby Adcock. Running back Rakeem Boyd, who had been in a green jersey for almost every workout since the Kentucky game, was back in standard red. Linebacker Bumper Pool was in yellow and observed practice from the sidelines today. No word on his status at the moment. He appeared uninjured when he entered the interview room following the Western Kentucky loss.
• Lunney also hit on the quarterback situation a bit in his media session. He said the plan right now is to “let them all play a little bit.” He and offensive coordinator Joe Craddock met and agreed that they are going to give each of the quarterbacks a chance to re-establish themselves.
“We’re going to continue giving them an opportunity to show us what they’ve got down the stretch,” he said.
• Freshman running back A’Montae Spivey, who was suspended for the Western Kentucky game last weekend, should be available for the LSU game. Spivey has carried three times for 14 yards in one game this season.
“Need him to be ready to go and help us,” Lunney said. “He’s got a lot of ability.”
• KJ Jefferson injured his non-throwing shoulder in the loss to Western Kentucky, but Lunney believes he will be “more than fine” moving forward. He is dealing with a bruise on the shoulder. Jefferson was working with the first-team offense as we were walking out of practice.
• Lunney said wide receiver De'Vion Warren (ankle) is "not really" making a lot of progress in terms of getting back on the field. Warren was injured during the Mississippi State game. Lunney will provide another update later in the week, he said.
• There were no changes to the first-team offensive line (L–>R) Myron Cunningham, Austin Capps, Ty Clary, Ricky Stromberg, Dalton Wagner. Grayson Gunter was the first tight end on the field, Boyd was at tailback, and Trey Knox, Treylon Burks and Mike Woods manned the receiver positions.