FIRST DOWN
Arkansas has a familiar face lining up at middle linebacker this week. After spending most of the preseason on the weakside, and much of the month with the second-team defense, junior Jerry Franklin moved back into the first-team spot and is expected to start the opener against Tennessee Tech.
“It was part of moving people around and finding the right combination,” defensive coordinator Willy Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said. “We felt like as this has come to a head that Jerry was our Mike linebacker. He makes calls. He gets the defense set. We’ve kind of gone back to two years, a year and a half ago when Jerry was our Mike. He was very efficient and very productive.”
Franklin led the Razorbacks in tackles last season, but has had a challenging offseason.
Franklin split time between the field and the weight room last spring after falling behind, according to coach Bobby Petrino. He was working behind Anthony Leon — who moved from safety — at the weakside spot the past two weeks as well.
But Franklin was back in the middle when the Razorbacks held a light practice Monday.
“We show up to practice and I look and he was calling the play and I was like, ‘All right. Let’s go then,’” Arkansas linebacker Jerico Nelson said.
Franklin — who is on the Butkus Award watch list — is lining up with Leon and Nelson with the first-team defense. Robinson said Freddy Burton and Jermaine Love are with the second-team defense.
“I knew it was eventually going to come around for Jerry Franklin,” Arkansas cornerback Ramon Broadway said. “Me and him had a long talk before the mock game the other day and he’s definitely in a good place right now and he’s ready to get it on.”
TWO SUSPENDED
Petrino said Wednesday morning fullback Van Stumon and offensive tackle Anthony Oden have been suspended for Saturday’s season opener.
The suspensions stem from the offseason when Stumon and Oden were arrested for separate alcohol-related offenses. Petrino said the length of the suspensions, as of Wednesday, are for one game.
Stumon was Arkansas’ top fullback last season and earned two starts. Oden played in seven games with one start, becoming the first true freshman to start on Arkansas’ offensive line since Shawn Andrews.
Tight end Austin Tate is listed as the first-team fullback on the depth chart, but running back Knile Davis has also spent time at the position in certain packages. Arkansas has four other tackles on the depth chart for the opener. DeMarcus Love and Ray Dominguez are the starters, while Grant Freeman and Tyler Deacon have been working with the second-team.
TWO-MINUTE DRILL
• NG Zach Stadther has been in an unusual spot this week. The junior — who has started 16 games in his career — is working with the scout-team defense, while Alfred Davis and Byran Jones handle first- and second-team work in practice. Petrino was asked about the demotion during the SEC teleconference and indicated that Stadther hasn’t been good enough this preseason. “Zach has had a good camp,” Petrino said. “He’s just not quite where we want him yet.”
• One kicking battle has been decided, according to Petrino: Sophomore Dylan Breeding has edged freshman Zach Hocker for the punting job. Hocker continues to battle with Alex Tejada for the place kicking duties, while freshman Eddie Camara will redshirt. “I don’t know when I’m going to tell them,” Petrino said about naming the starting kicker. “But that’s how we’re working it, allowing them to continue to have competition and get a number of kicks in practice throughout the week.”
• Arkansas’ starting quarteback is clear. But what about the backups? Petrino said he has confidence in both Tyler Wilson and Brandon Mitchell: “I would not hesitate to have either one of them in the game.”
• Former Razorback kicker Bill McClard has been named the honorary captain for the season opener. McClard played at Arkansas from 1969-71 and is eighth on the school’s field goals made list with 29. His 212 points ranks 10th in school history.
QUOTABLE
“This is a game for us. You can call it what you want. This is a game for us. We don’t look ahead to any other games. How could you even make that comment? This is not a tune-up game. This is a game.” — Robinson when the phrase “tune-up game” was mentioned in a question by a media member.
— Robbie Neiswanger • Arkansas News Bureau
