FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ football team on Monday went through its first practice in preparation for Saturday’s home game against South Carolina, which will kick off at 11 a.m. The Razorbacks worked out under overcast skies.
Here are several notes and observations from the open viewing periods:
• Players in green no-contact jerseys: Running back Dominique Johnson (knee) and center Marcus Henderson (pectoral). Johnson, as he did last week, went through some position drills. He appeared to be moving a bit more smooth than the last time I saw him with the ball in his hands.
Sam Pittman noted Monday that the plan with Johnson this week is to "amp up his responsibility and his reps and see what happens."
Henderson began the practice snapping balls to a quarterback. Also looked like he was getting more involved with offensive line drills than in previous practices.
• Did not see safety Jalen Catalon and nickel Myles Slusher at practice.
Pittman said Monday that he was “not ready, really, to figure out exactly Catalon's situation,” and Slusher was in the same boat. Both players left Saturday’s opener against Cincinnati with upper-body injuries.
Defensive tackle Isaiah Nichols, who went into the injury tent on the Razorbacks’ sideline at one point in the second quarter last Saturday, looked to be full-go during the workout. He is listed as a starter on the defensive line and has been a vocal leader there.
• With Catalon and Slusher not present, Khari Johnson got some run with the safeties during position group drills. Pittman said Monday that Johnson was a player who could slide over to nickel if need be.
He was a defensive back I came away impressed with at times in the spring. Johnson brought quite a bit of physicality in the reps I paid close attention to.
• The Razorbacks did not go through their Fastball Start on Monday.
• Something I found kind of interesting prior to being ushered into practice was punter Max Fletcher, as a warmup of sorts, I suppose, jogging 10 yards then dropping to do a pushup. He did that the length of the turf field and back before joining other specialists for stretch.