FIRST DOWN
Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said the Razorbacks have four items they look at when deciding whether to play a true freshman.
Are they physically ready? Are they mentally prepared? Can they help at their position? And are they talented enough to where they might be bound for the NFL as soon as they’re eligible?
All four are items the Razorbacks have been weighing as they prepare for the season opener against Tennessee Tech on Saturday night. So how many fit the criteria? Petrino said this week he anticipates “six to nine” true freshmen to play.
The group includes: Defensive tackle Byran Jones, defensive end Chris Smith, receivers Maudrecus Humphrey, Julian Horton and Javontee Herndon, linebacker Jarrett Lake, cornerback Eric Bennett, safety Darrell Smith and kicker Zach Hocker. Jones and Smith are the only two who appear to be shoe-ins for work, though.
“They’re two guys you’ve got to watch,” Arkansas defensive end Jake Bequette said. “Byran and Chris are two guys who came in with high expectations and they’ve lived up to those and even exceeded them. I think you’ll see them play early and often on Saturday.”
Receiver Jarius Wright believes the three freshmen receivers should help as well.
“We did a good job of bringing them up,” Wright said. “We told them what to expect. What to get used to. So they should be pretty good.”
But the number of freshmen who will play is not expected to reach or exceed the total Petrino’s first two seasons at Arkansas. There were 16 freshmen on the field in 2008 and 12 played last season. The Razorbacks have more veterans and depth at most positions this fall.
The freshmen that do play will be counted on to perform. Bennett is one of those after moving to the second-team defense midway through preseason camp. The cornerback said he is prepared.
“I thought I had a good chance of playing,” Bennett said. “I just had to go out there and work for it. That’s what I went out and did.”
TWO-MINUTE DRILL
• Petrino was asked which players will be starting along his offensive front Saturday, but declined to answer the question. Travis Swanson and Seth Oxner have been fighting for the center spot. Wade Grayson and Grant Cook have been competing at guard. “We’ll see how that all plays out,” Petrino said. “We still have got a lot of evaluation to do on the video of practice. We have got some guys still rotating in. Those or’s (on the depth chart) are there for a reason and we will get to Saturday.”
• There’s no doubt Ryan Mallett will be Arkansas’ starting quarterback for the season opener. However, Petrino said after Thursday’s practice he would like to get backups Tyler Wilson and Brandon Mitchell some playing time Saturday: “You’d like to see all three of them get in there and get some work, but you never know,” Petrino said.
• Petrino said Arkansas will start Jerry Franklin (middle), Anthony Leon (weakside) and Jerico Nelson (strongside) at linebacker.
• Arkansas will induct 11 members into its Sports Hall of Honor tonight. The inductees are: Ike Forte, Greg Koch, Jim Williams and Kevin Scanlon (football); U.S. Reed (men’s basketball); Bubba Carpenter (baseball); Erick Walder and Tracy Robertson (track); Karen Gorham (diving); Terry Don Phillips (football player, coach and athletics administrator); and Milan Creighton (three-sport standout)
QUOTABLE
“Everybody is a little tired of talking, a little tired of answering the same questions over and over since media day in Birmingham – mainly the head coach. But I know our players are, too. It’s time to go out and play football.” — Petrino on the buildup to Saturday’s season opener.
— Robbie Neiswanger • Arkansas News Bureau
