By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — One of the most intriguing position battles throughout preseason camp has come at a position that may get overlooked: Center.
It’s importance isn’t lost on the Razorbacks, though, with less than a week before the season opener. It’s not clear when the Razorbacks will make a decision on whether Seth Oxner or Travis Swanson will start against Tennessee Tech, but the they’re confident Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett will be comfortable with both centers.
“Each quarterback – we’ve always done it – each quarterback takes snaps from all the centers, so if something were to happen, another kid goes in the game, Ryan is comfortable with both guys and Tyler (Wilson) is comfortable with both guys,” offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said. “All our centers are comfortable with the quarterbacks that are playing. So we feel comfortable with those guys.”
Both centers — and even reserve guard Wade Grayson — have shared repetitions in practice throughout the month. Oxner, who started all 13 games last season, and Swanson have split the first-team work. Grayson got his share of reps early in the preseason and spends time snapping before practice.
“If you don’t have at least two ready, you are going to be in trouble,” Arkansas offensive line coach Chris Klenakis said. “I have done this long enough that I lost five centers in a 3-week span one time. I had to move a guard to center in four days and get it done. So we are going to prepare.”
Arkansas did have some troubling moments with quarterback-center exchanges early in the preseason despite the constant work. Two of the most glaring mistakes came near the goal line, when fumbled snaps drew obvious criticism from coaches.
But the Razorbacks say the exchanges have gotten much better. They believe the competition at the position has been invaluable this preseason and are confident both centers are ready for gameday.
“It’s a good thing that we have enough depth to say that you have to play well snap-in and snap-out or there is somebody that is going to take your job from you,” McGee said.
Advanced Camp
Arkansas wrapped up its preseason camp with a mock game last Friday. A day earlier, Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino was asked how the three weeks rated to his first preseason with the Razorbacks.
“We’re a long way ahead than that first year that you’re together,” Petrino said. “There’s so many situations that you have to cover. So many things that come up. … We lived through those battles when we played 16 true freshmen (in 2008) and sometimes they didn’t know which way to go when they broke the huddle. Now, we’re past that.”
Breeding Improvement
Arkansas’ depth chart indicates its battle for the punting job is still ongoing between sophomore Dylan Breeding and freshman Zach Hocker. But Petrino complimented Breeding for his improvement after struggling with his consistency in 2009.
“I think Dylan has done a really nice job of improving in his technique,” Petrino said of Breeding, who averaged 38.7 yards a punt. “His consistency in his drop, following through. He’s got a huge, huge leg. When he does things right the ball is going to go a long way and hang up there a long time. He’s just got to prove that he can take it from the practice field to the game.”
Love on Watch List
Offensive tackle DeMarcus Love was named to the watch list for the Lombardi Award late last week.
The senior is one of 87 players on the watch list for the award, which includes offensive linemen, defensive linemen and linebackers. It is the second preseason list Love has landed on this summer. He also is on the watch list for the Outland Trophy.
Football Replays
Arkansas fans hoping to catch replays of games will be getting their wish this season.
The program announced last week that Cox Sports Television will show replays of the previous week’s games on Tuesday’s at 7 p.m. and Thursday’s at noon. In addition, KATV in Central Arkansas will show football replays on Tuesday’s at 7.
