FAYETTEVILLE — Illinois State transfer John Ridgeway is doing his best to get to know his new teammates at Arkansas, especially one of his locker neighbors.
One of the more colorful personalities on the Razorbacks’ roster, Ridgeway has a tough case to crack in fellow defensive lineman Eric Gregory, said to be reserved and quiet natured. But through 16 days of preseason practice, he is making progress.
“I’ve been able to open him up a little bit and talk to him more and more each day,” Ridgeway said Tuesday in his first media appearance as a Razorback. “He's a real good kid.”
While he attempts to pull personal details from Gregory, Ridgeway already has a good idea who the Memphis native and IMG Academy product is as a player — and what his ceiling is.
The two are battling for prime playing time and a potential starting role at tackle, but Ridgeway is quick to compliment Gregory.
“I think he's going to be really good,” he said. “I didn't know he was a (redshirt) sophomore. I was like, 'Dude, you're big. Dang.' He definitely has some stuff he can work on.
“But he's definitely going to be a first-round draft pick if he keeps excelling the way he does in practice every day.”
As a redshirt freshman in 2020, Gregory finished with a team-high 2.5 sacks. In the Razorbacks’ home victory over Tennessee, he grabbed the first interception by an Arkansas defensive lineman since 2013.
Gregory is also the team’s leading returning tackler among frontline players. And according to Pro Football Focus, he had five games last season in which he recorded a tackle grade of 70 or higher.
Markell Utsey, one of two transfer defensive linemen from Missouri, believes Gregory’s hand work makes him effective.
“I think he’s got a lot of room to grow,” Utsey added. “I think he’s going to be a real good player. Just watching him play every day, him wanting to learn and wanting to get better, I feel like that’s one of the biggest things with him. He wants to get better and he puts in the work.
“It’s nothing but the best to come for him, I feel like, if he plays hard, he focuses on his technique and things like that. I feel like the sky’s the limit for him.”
Defensive line coach Jermial Ashley views Gregory as a unique player, able to play end and on the interior and do it well. Understanding there is more on Gregory’s plate, Ashley wants to see continued growth in his combo role.
Described by Ridgeway as strong, fast and twitchy, Gregory will benefit from training at multiple spots, Utsey said.
“To me, it's definitely difficult,” Gregory said. “It’s really like the same technique, but it's just different. I'm taking on double teams in the nose. At the end, I really wasn’t looking for that except when the tight end comes. Also the pass rush is different inside/outside.
“Everything is quicker inside, so I had to learn to adapt to that and fight.”