FAYETTEVILLE — No position on Arkansas' offensive line saw more changes in 2019 than left guard.
Ty Clary and Dalton Wagner started each game last fall at center and right tackle, respectively. Colton Jackson began the year as the starter at left tackle, but Myron Cunningham closed the year at the position after Jackson opted to retire because of various injuries.
Cunningham also saw time at right guard to begin 2019, though Ricky Stromberg won and held on to the job after Week 3.
Left guard was more of a revolving door. Four players — Austin Capps, Stromberg, Kirby Adcock, Shane Clenin — started at least one game left of center last season. Capps had the longest string of consecutive starts at four games, then three straight to end the year.
There is more uncertainty at the position heading into the 2020 season.
"The left guard position is probably the most open position that we have on the offensive line," Arkansas coach Sam Pittman told reporters on Monday.
But a number of players are viable candidates to start at the position. Through the first two weeks, it appeared Notre Dame transfer and former Pulaski Academy standout Luke Jones was the frontrunner.
Pittman has spoken highly of Jones in camp, complimenting his quickness, footwork and intelligence. He is also receiving reps at center, where Stromberg, Clary and Austin Nix are practicing as well.
"He’s very talented. When I got here, I don’t know what he weighed, but he’s gained quality weight," Pittman said of Jones. "He looks like an SEC O-lineman and he moves like one. Very smart. Obviously, with him being able to play center it brings a lot more value to the table from him.
"Just a really good kid who works hard. Just been really proud of him."
And recently, Clary began seeing time at left guard. Although he has played the majority of his career snaps at center, the Fayetteville native does have experience at both interior spots.
As a true freshman in 2017, Clary earned a starting nod at right guard in the Razorbacks' first four games. The following season, he started two games — losses to Colorado State and North Texas — at left guard.
Shane Clenin, a redshirt junior, is another option at left guard, but Jones and Clary may be a step ahead. Pittman said Tuesday he feels good about the Razorbacks' progression along the offensive line, but questions remain.
In Friday's scrimmage, he noted the line performed well, protected the quarterback and opened holes for tailbacks. To begin this week, run blocking has been a positive, but pass protection has been iffy.
"That's concerning to me," Pittman said. "We’ve got to get better. It's concerning to (offensive line coach Brad) Davis, and it’s concerning to the O-line. ... I think we have plenty of tackles on the team that can play in this league. We still haven't quite found all our inside pieces yet.
"We're still looking at several different guys at the guard spots and certainly the second and third center."
Davis and Pittman are attempting to find the right combination up front, and they feel like they're close to nailing down their top five.
Arkansas' second scrimmage of the preseason, which is scheduled to take place in Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Friday, will be a proving grounds for offensive linemen. In the past, Pittman has wanted his starters set two-and-a-half weeks prior to the first game of the season.
That target date this fall would be next Wednesday.
"It's big," Pittman said of scrimmage No. 2. "It's not all or nothing, but I think you'll solidify four of them and then there'll be another position there where you go, 'You know what, this is a guy we're going to put with the 1s and we're going to live with it unless somebody else just looks really good in the next week after the scrimmage.' It's a big deal.
"You can tell a lot about your team when everything is live. The answer is yes, the scrimmage is a big deal for everybody, probably especially the offensive line."