Tuesday, April 29, 2008

More Hogs Heading to NFL

While not drafted over the weekend, a handful of other former Razorbacks have since signed to NFL teams as free agents.

They are:

OL Robert Felton BUFFALO BILLS (pictured)
CB Michael Grant JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
CB Matteral Richardson WASHINGTON REDSKINS


Others hopeful of becoming free agents include:

WR Robert Johnson
WR Chris Baker
S Matt Hewitt
S Kevin Woods
DL Fred Bledsoe
LB Weston Dacus

Monday, April 28, 2008

Razorbacks Spring Into Petrino Era

The Razorbacks wrapped up their Spring practice period with a blowout scrimmage at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. It all started with the RazorFest Festivities and concluded with a full contact Red/White game. Attendance was estimated to be 40,200 ranking in the top ten for Spring game attendance for 2008.

Arkansas piled up over 600 yards of total offense by the starting team (RED) under the leadership of Senior QB Casey Dick. Dick completed 33 of 49 (that's right, 49) passes for 404 yards and 2 touchdowns. Also staring in the scrimmage were WRs London Crawford, Carlton Salters, DJ Williams, and RB Michael Smith. Looking very strong on the defensive side of the ball was the Defensive line led by Antwain Robinson and Malcolm Shepherd.

Below are the official stats:

RUSHING Smith 13-157, 1 TD; Barnett 17-89, 4 TDS; Gregory 6-11; C. Dick 6-(-10); Mortensen 4-(-15); Huskisson 2-3; L. Williams 2-4; N. Dick 2-(-9); Coleman 1-26. PASSING C. Dick 33-49-1 404; 2 TDs; Mortensen 2-7-0 29; N. Dick 2-4-0 50. RECEIVING D.J. Williams 9-80, 1 TD; Crawford 8-82, 1 TD; Salters 7-108; Smith 3-63; Wade 3-39; Davie 2-20; Barnett 2-12; Coleman 1-50; Cleveland 1-20; Henry 1-9. SACKS Robinson 1 1 /2-7; A. Davis 1-7; Bequette 1-7; Sheppard 1-2; Stumon 1-6; Barnett 1-5; Berezansky 1-5. INTERCEPTIONS Fenton 1-2. TACKLES Broadway 14, Burton 10; Je. Love 7; B. Harris 6; Minde 6; Stumon 5; S. Johnson 4, R. Johnson 4; Barnett 4; Sheppard 4; Robinson 4; Gray 3; Powers 3; Washington 3; A. Davis 2; Bequette 2; Ja. Love 2; Franklin 2; M. Harris 2; Ambrose 2; Davis 2; Salinas 1; Glasper 1; Wade 1; Jones 1; Forte 1; Berezansky 1; Jones 1; Fenton 1. FIELD GOALS Tejada 1-2.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

NFL Drafts 6 Hogs









4 (4) Oakland Raiders Darren McFadden RB Arkansas
22 (22) Dallas Cowboys Felix Jones RB Arkansas
7 (90) Chicago Bears Marcus Harrison DL Arkansas
4 (211) New York Jets Nate Garner OT Arkansas
20 (227) Denver Broncos Peyton Hillis FB Arkansas
41 (248) Chicago Bears Marcus Monk WR Arkansas

Expect other hogs to sign with NFL teams in the next week or two. Michael Grant, Robert Felton, Matt Hewitt, and Weston Dacus were not drafted, but will likely sign contracts with teams.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Spring Game Teed Up for Saturday

This Saturday's final Red/White scrimmage will wrap up the Spring practice season for the hogs. Petrino appears to be excited about this team and the upcoming season. Razorback fans have high hopes and expectations. Players and coaches have worked hard to get to this point, and fans are extremely excited to see this new team in action. Many thousands of die-hard hog fans are expected to fill Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium for the big game. This should be a fun weekend for all Razorbacks.

GO HOGS GO!

Dicks Out in Front

With Ryan Mallet's broken hand and the unlikelihood of him receiving an NCAA waiver to play this year, it appears Casey Dick will be the go-to QB for the remainder of the Spring and going into two-a-days. The lead backup will likely be Casey's brother Nathan Dick with Alex Mortenson backing the younger brother up. Look for incoming freshmen QBs Jim Youngblood and Tyler Wilson to compete for the third string position during two-a-days late this Summer.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Mallett Out For Spring

Razorback quarterback Ryan Mallett fractured his finger on a helmet while passing during a scrimmage Friday. He will sit out the rest of the spring practices. It looks like Casey dick will be the primary QB through the rest of the Spring with brother Nathan and Alex Mortenson backing him up.

No word yet on Mallett's appeal to the NCAA for a waiver to allow for him to play this fall for the Razorbacks. If granted, Mallett could work his way back into the starting role during August. However, such a waiver is very rare from the NCAA.

Friday, April 4, 2008

Petrino's First Practice

ARKANSAS SPRING FOOTBALL
Petrino era off to a fast start

BY TOM MURPHY ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ first football practice of the Bobby Petrino was a beehive of activity.
Constant motion, no pauses between periods and sprinting from one drill to the next is the look of a Petrino practice. Conditioning work isn’t necessarily at the end because it takes place throughout.
“I like the tempo,” Petrino said after Thursday’s two-hour practice that was held inside Walker Pavilion because of midafternoon thunderstorms. “We are going to work at a fast pace, and hopefully when we do that we won’t have to spend a lot of time running sprints at the end of practice. We should be in good shape from the way we practice.”
Petrino called Thursday’s work the “easiest” practice the Razorbacks will have all spring.
“Our tempo and timing needs to be better, but the first day, it wasn’t too bad,” Petrino said. “I liked it, but again, it was an easy day. We’ll find out when it’s 90 degrees and the players are tired who is going to step up.”
Signs of hyperactivity were everywhere from the start of the first period as the offensive skill players sprinted a gantlet of four coaches and managers slamming them with dummies as they ran the sideline.
“That’s a drill that focuses on body positioning and pad level and ball security,” running backs coach Tim Horton said. “It probably helps with a little toughness as well.”
The intensity was jacked up on both sides of the ball. Ball carriers and receivers had to sprint well down the field whether they stayed on their feet, fell and got up or were “tackled” with a below-the-belt touch. Defenders had to sprint to the ball carrier no matter where they were positioned on the field.
At least four times, offensive coordinator Paul Petrino went tearing down the field bellowing behind a runner, shouting once to receiver Marques Wade, “Sprint after the catch!”
The only water breaks were quickly snatched squirts from a bottle between drills. Many periods, two defensive units would be lined up side by side against scout teams, alternating snaps to keep up the pace.
“It’s real fast, up-tempo, no slacking, so you’ve got to be ready to run,” safety Rashaad Johnson said. “No walking, no jogging, just straight to it.”
In offensive pass skeleton, the reps came fast and furious.
“What you want to do as a coach is put your kids in gamelike positions,” quarterbacks coach Garrick McGee said. “Have the tempo as fast as you can make it on the practice field so that when you get in the game it’s not a shock to them. I think our kids did a good job of playing fast, but playing healthy and playing smart.”
Transfer quarterback Ryan Mallett, 6-6, 255, had a touchdown pass to Carlton Salters over Isaac Madison. He took most of his snaps with the second and third units, but also mixed in at the front of some drills.
“They told us we were going to have a fast tempo, going from period to period,” Mallett said. “Everybody worked hard in conditioning, just running and lifting.”
Said tight end Ben Cleveland: “It’s a whole different atmosphere. We’ve got a whole different pace in the weight room and we’re bringing that to the field.”
Standout performers on Day 1 included running back Michael Smith, receivers Wade and Lucas Miller, tight end D.J. Williams, defensive end Adrian Davis and cornerback Jamar Love.
“I thought Michael Smith looked pretty quick,” Petrino said.
Miller had a handful of diving catches, while Wade and London Crawford caught deepball “touchdowns” from Alex Mortensen in pass skeleton. Davis stayed honest on an endaround to be in position to blow up a reverse for Wade, who showed good hands all practice.

Congrats to Sonny

He won the ESPN NCAA slam dunk competition last night. Well Done!

Petrino adds 3rd to 2009 class


Today, after receiving an offer from Arkansas, RB Turrell Williams of West Helena, AR changed his commitment from Ole Miss to Arkansas. Turrell is a teammate of Darius Winston - another Arkansas commitment for 2009. Another top target from West Helena is DL Eric Smiley. All of these players project as 4-5 star players.

Running back
West Helena (AR) Central
Ht: 6-foot-2
Wt: 215 lbs
Forty: 4.5 secs
GPA: 2.8
Class: 2009 (High School)