Sam Pittman
• On the SEC coaches conference on Thursday: I can't address what was in our private meeting. I can tell you we're excited about practice starting. Been here a long time without practicing. You can feel the excitement of our team, staff and everyone in the building. We're excited to go see more about our players.
• On special teams: Those jobs will be determined like every other job. We're happy AJ Reed and George Caratan are here. Every job will be earned. ... I love Scott Fountain, the special teams coordinator. If we'll coach special teams as hard as our position groups - he's had more meeting time than any other place I've been around. I like the direction we're going mentally there and Fountain is a special coach.
• On the offensive line: I'll be honest, we've been 2-spotting our walkthroughs, and the best thing about it is we've had different kids play different positions. I've been really pleased with that group. We have some players there, we're bigger than we've been in the past.
• If we go in the indoor, we open every avenue we can to get air in there. There will be times we want to go indoors, though, because of heat or whatever.
• Luke Jones, who has been placed on scholarship: He has excellent feet. He's quick. Very talented. He's gained quality weight and he looks like an SEC offensive lineman. Really good kid, works hard. Been really proud of him.
• On Georgia and Florida: My reaction is it allows us to potentially be the hottest team in the country to talk about. Gives us more chances against highly ranked teams. Will there be an advantage against Georgia? I don't know. They're well coached and know some of their schemes.
Feleipe Franks going back to Florida, you'd have to ask him, but I'm sure he's excited, like the rest of the team.
• We're going to have a full two-hour practice on Monday, and our guys will be able to cover, throw and catch. It's going to be an exciting day. It'll be an amped-up version of what we've been doing.
• I think we're in the greatest conference in America. It's everybody. Our medical team has been unreal. We have a wonderful plan with covid-19, and most importantly, I think our kids believe that. It's still real fluid, but right now we believe we're going to play, and we're happy with it and happy with and thankful for Greg Sankey.
• Biggest questions for him in camp: I want to see how good we are at QB because it drives your football team. I want to see how we run to the football. I want to see how tough we are. I think we're going to react well and come roaring back the next play. We have to test our football team in practice. I want to put us in some adverse situations before we have to figure it out on a Saturday.
• I'm pleased with the freshman we have in here. The guys who are here, they've worked hard and they're high character. The three defensive linemen who are freshmen, we really like those kids, then you add Xavier Kelly and Julius Coates. We addressed the defensive line (in recruiting), the quarterback situation and tried to get a little more competition in the kicking game.
• This state's high school coaches are loyal to Arkansas. I've called every coach in the state. I didn't talk to them all, but a majority of them I did. They're good men who care about these kids. Our state's football is going to get better and better.
• We'll have music during stretch. After that, not so much. We've talked to the guys about being energetic. We're going to try to practice better than everyone in the country every day. When we're on the field, it's a work day.
• This week is going to be pretty hard for them because it's going to feel more like camp to them. We'll start at 2:45 p.m. on Monday.
• We're going to test players two, probably three, times per week and then on Friday. We're not taking any chances at all.
Barry Odom
• Blayne Toll back at DE: Speaks volumes to the type of person he is that he'd go to tight end and then move back to the defensive line. He said he'd do whatever for the program. He's done a tremendous job and has a great motor. He has a huge upside and is picking up what we're doing schematically. He has natural skills. He's been great in the weight room, too.
• Joe Foucha: He has a unique skillset. He has some experience. You can do a number of things with Joe in coverage. He's multiple enough that you can line him up in a bunch of different spot. For a young player, he's got some football savvy and his football IQ is high.
• If you look back at my history, specifically when I was a coordinator, I was very multiple defensively. We'll have a four-down look, but within that first series, we'll get into a number of looks. We have so many competitive battles going on.
• Defensive line: I'm excited about the way they've handled January through today. There's been ups and downs. They've been laser-focused and kept the blinders on. That group, the weight gains and strength gains we've had in the weight room, some of those guys have been transformed. They've made a lot of ground up. Got a long way to go, but it is a group that has surprised me - in a good way. I should caution, we've got work to do, but they've done a nice job trying to get SEC ready.
• We haven't seen guys in pads, so there are questions there. What are we going to do when we give up a touchdown? What's our mental focus in being able to put that behind us? Let's see how we play together and communicate. I want to eliminate explosive plays and be a good tackling team. I'm looking forward to seeing it play out.
• I've been so impressed with Coach Pittman. He's created a belief in our program. The decisions he is making for our organization is for us to move forward. He's doing a heck of a job. He's got a clear plan for what he wants and how he wants it. The things I've known about Sam for 20 years, you're seeing it come out as a head coach. He's caring, and he's passionate about the Razorbacks.
• If you have poor habits and don't prepare the right way, it's going to get exposed really quickly.
Kendal Briles
• On Feleipe Franks: It wasn't disappointing. We've been able to work some drills. I've watched him on tape and figured he'd have a live arm, and he does. He's consistent with all his throws. Not a lot of wobble with the ball. I think he's going to be sharp when we get going. I've been pleased with all the QBs. It's been a long time waiting to see that.
• KJ Jefferson and Malik Hornsby: KJ, he's healthy. Looks really good. He rehabbed back home. He has said his shoulder has not bothered him. I think he's full-go. Malik's head is spinning a little bit, and we've put a lot on him, and that's kind of by design. His want-to is there.
• We've probably got about 75 percent of the offense in.
• This has been different. I feel like where we're at, I feel good. I think the retention has been good. These guys are eager to learn, want to get better and are taking coaching. ... We're going to be preaching ball protection. Right now, there's no contact with walkthroughs and the first week, but that's going to be the biggest thing. Right now, you can run freely and nothing is going to happen to you. We just need to protect the ball.
Tempo and how we mechanically want to run the offense, we're where we want to be right now. We've had 19 really good practices. We're all ready for Monday.
• On tight ends: I think we've got good tight ends. I feel good about the guys in that room. Blake Kern and Hudson Henry, I like those guys. Nathan Bax is another. When we get them in pads, we'll be able to better see who separates.
• Running backs, specifically the backup to Rakeem Boyd: I'm pleased with the running backs. Rakeem has been great with the leadership aspect. I'm looking for production, pass pro and protecting the football. Trelon Smith has done a tremendous job. We'll see how it shakes out. We're going to need them, from Boyd on down.
• I think Coach Pittman has kept it pretty simple since he got here. You know what you're getting every single day. You're going to come to work and have fun, but you're going to get things accomplished.
• All we can do is continue to do what the government is allowing us to do. We feel like this is the safest place you can be. Dave Polanski is doing a great job giving us updates on players, and the players are going to him as well, and it started with Sam.
• Receivers: They're going to get a lot of reps, and that's by design. Those guys are going to get worn out. They better find a cold tub, because they're going to need it. I think our top 5-6 guys can be explosive, and then we'll need to develop some guys. Got some good leaders in there - Mike Woods, Trey Knox, Treylon Burks. I'm excited to watch them. I want to see them catch it.
• I think it'll take a couple weeks for us to figure out who can lead us to victory, quarterback-wise. All the guys have played. I don't think there's a set time you pick a guy. I think it's a feel thing. I'm not going to say I'm the guy who makes the decision. I want us all to feel good about it. Hopefully, Feleipe will be as good as we think he is. I'd say the job is his to lose.
• Offensive line: Getting all these reps has really helped us. Coach Brad Davis does a great job, and Coach Pittman is going to have an eagle eye on the line. The strength staff has done a great job, too. I feel like our energy level is really good at that position. We've got good players, and now we have to see how physical we can be. I feel like the depth at OL, I think we'll have 10 guys we feel good about.