Transformed Gregory working in multiple roles

Arkansas defensive lineman Eric Gregory (right) takes part in a drill Thursday, March 11, 2021, during practice at the university practice facility in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE — When defensive lineman Eric Gregory arrived on the Arkansas campus as an early enrollee, he was a strapping lad of 6-3, 270 pounds.

Fast forward two years and he’s listed on this spring’s roster as a 6-4, 298-pound redshirt sophomore who is working at both defensive end and defensive tackle.

“I’m actually 300 right now,” Gregory said Thursday after the Razorbacks finished up their fifth of 15 spring practices. “I really feel like I haven’t gained any weight, to be honest with you. I’m still moving pretty good, so I don’t feel like I gained too much weight. I feel like I can move pretty good with it, in or outside.”

One change that defensive coordinator Barry Odom has instituted is wider splits, said Gregory, a Memphis native who finished his high school career at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

“I feel like it’s great,” Gregory said. “It gives us like less men double-teamed on the interior. The movement has helped us a lot with our pass rush. We can set more moves and stuff up instead of getting double-teamed and clustered up in the middle.”

The fact that Odom spurned reported offers from Texas and LSU earlier this year was of much joy to Gregory and his fellow Razorback defenders.

“It was huge, man,” Gregory said. “All our defensive players love Coach Odom. He brings a different mindset to the game for us. We just feel like we can trust him so keeping him here was very big. We appreciate him for staying and (Arkansas coach Sam Pittman) for keeping him here also.”

Media practice observers have noticed an increase in intensity from spring practice two years ago. The Razorbacks were unable to practice last spring after Pittman was hired to replace Chad Morris.

“Our coaches have installed that, basically all offseason, to be more intense, to bring intensity and enthusiasm to each practice and workout," Gregory said. "So everything we do we’re trying to do it intentionally and fast."

New defensive line coach Jermial Ashley is working on hand-foot coordination to improve the group’s development.

“That’s helping us out a lot with our pass rush," Gregory said. "Then just shedding, and learning how to work on a double team, like pressing one guy instead of pressing two. All of that is helping our pass rush a lot.”

Dorian Gerald (6-3, 255) and Isaiah Nichols (6-3, 290) are veteran leaders, but Gregory believes the entire defensive line group is motivated.

He has been impressed with what he has see from Tauren Carter (6-3, 300) , who will be looked upon to replace departed captain Jonathan Marshall.

“Really everybody is stepping up,” Gregory said. “I would say (Gerald), he steps up a lot. Isaiah is more of the vocal leader for us in the D-line group, and even (Carter)...has been more vocal also. I would say those two really are the vocal of our D-line group."

Gregory is impressed by junior college transfer defensive tackle Jalen Williams (6-5, 310).

“He's going to be a great player for us also,” Thomas said. “Just coming in, just coming from where he's from JUCO, there's a lot of work to improve on, but overall he's going to be pretty good. He's going to be a great player for us."

Sophomore Eric Thomas (6-3, 260) has gone from a hybrid linebacker-defensive end to a full-time defensive lineman and Gregory sees vast improvement.

“He’s going to be great for us, man,” Gregory said. “He’s doing pretty good, transitioning from linebacker to defensive end. He’s doing pretty good. So he’s learning the basic like flipping your hips, hands and feet together. He’s coming along pretty good.”

Gregory praised the mental side of Thomas’ game.

“Really just his mindset,” Gregory said. “ He’s always had a dog mindset, but now he’s really got that dog mindset, influencing everybody else on the D-line, also, to come with it every practice and every rep that we do.

“Just overall, he’s getting way better. He’s getting better at (getting off) run blocking, or fitting his runs, pass rush, reading from pass to run. So he’s doing pretty good also.”

Having a spring practice this year will improve the defensive front, Gregory said. He expects the Razorbacks to have a more aggressive defensive line.

“We’ll be a better front just by what we installed, basically,” Gregory said. “Making more plays, not really sitting on our line, just pressuring everything, putting pressure on the quarterback and just getting up the field, getting in the backfield and being disruptive.”

Gregory, who had 27 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 1 interception last season, has found himself matched up against young offensive linemen Marcus Henderson (6-5, 295) and Jalen St. John (6-5, 340) in spring drills.

“Henderson is improving a lot,” Gregory said. “Just going against someone when he first got here to now, he’s improving a lot, especially in pass (protection). It’s really hard to work the edge against him. But he’s lighter, so you have to bull him, but I’m trying to work more pass rush against him because he’s a really good pass setter.

“St. John, he’s big, so takes up a lot of space and it’s hard to just run through him. So you’ve got to work moves against him. But he’s improving a lot on the offensive line, him and Henderson."

Gregory is excited about Arkansas’ Saturday scrimmage, which is scheduled to be open to the public.

“It’s going to be huge,” Gregory said. “It’s going to feel like another game. We’ll be happy to bring the fans in. It’s going to give us a lot of energy for our defense and offense, so it’s going to be pretty good.”