Arkansas’ football team opened spring practice Thursday afternoon inside Walker Pavilion.
Reporters were invited inside to view the workout for roughly one hour. Here are some takeaways and observations:
• Defensive backs Quincey McAdoo, Al Walcott and LaDarrius Bishop were among a group of players who were not involved in the on-field activities. Running back Dominique Johnson and freshman offensive lineman Luke Brown were sidelined as well.
Many of the players spent time on stationary bikes and did a variety of exercises with team personnel. McAdoo watched a good bit of the practice from the sideline, too.
• During a period in which wide receivers and defensive backs went 1-on-1, cornerback Lorando Johnson broke up a KJ Jefferson pass intended for Sam Mbake. I came away impressed with a few reps from receivers Andrew Armstrong and Tyrone Broden.
Armstrong caught a deep ball for a score in 1-on-1s and Broden made a nice grab along the right sideline after breaking on an out route. Chris Harris made several catches and showed good speed. He has impressed in spring drills and pre-season workouts for years, it seems.
• Here is how Arkansas was aligned defensively during some team work:
First team
DE: Landon Jackson
DT: Eric Gregory
DT: Cam Ball
DE: Jashaud Stewart
LB: Chris Paul
LB: Jordan Crook
CB: Lorando Johnson
CB: Dwight McGlothern
S: Hudson Clark
S: Jayden Johnson
Nickel: Jaylen Lewis
Second team
DE: Nico Davillier
DT: Marcus Miller
DT: Taurean Carter
DE: Zach Williams
LB: Antonio Grier
LB: Mani Powell
CB: Landon Phipps
CB: Jaylon Braxton
S: Malik Chavis
S: TJ Metcalf
Nickel: Courtney Snelling
Third team
DE: John Morgan
DT: Kyle Thompson
DT: JJ Hollingsworth
DE: Trajan Jeffcoat
LB: Kaden Henley
LB: Carson Dean
CB: Landon Phipps
CB: Jaylon Braxton
S: Dylan Hasz
S: RJ Johnson
Nickel: Dallas Young
• Here is a look at the Razorbacks’ top two offensive line groups:
LT: Devon Manuel / Terry Wells
LG: Brady Latham / Patrick Kutas
C: Beaux Limmer / Josh Street
RG: E’Marion Harris / Josh Braun
RT: Ty’Kieast Crawford / Andrew Chamblee
• I walked to the far end of the indoor facility to take a look at the linebackers. It’s a group with a lot of impressive size and bodies.
Grier and Powell, in particular, impressed when going through a drill in which players were tasked with pushing a small sled with a 35- or 45-pound plate attached on the bottom, then attacking a tackling dummy. Grier turned the sled on its side after one rep, and I think Powell flipped it over completely.