HawgBeat - Stats, depth chart, highlights from Arkansas' 6th spring practice
Takeaways, notes, tidbits, highlights and depth charts from Arkansas' sixth practice of spring football.
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The Arkansas football team held its sixth practice of the spring schedule Tuesday inside the Walker Pavilion on a chilly morning in Fayetteville.
Media members were let in to view about two hours of practice, and HawgBeat has plenty of notes for subscribers. Arkansas was rocking shells and shorts for Tuesday's practice.
"Man, it’s been fun," defensive tackle Cam Ball said Thursday of spring practices. "I can remember just like yesterday yesterday just walking into this building and now I’m one of the vets around here. So as much as I can I try to give advice to the younger guys and the up and coming freshmen, but it has been a blast and especially with the group that we have and the bond that we have in the defensive line room."
Below are HawgBeat's takeaways from 11-on-11 team drills, 7-on-7 team drills, depth charts from the team portion, highlights and other tidbits from Tuesday's practice.
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Notes/Tidbits
The Rundown
Practice officially began at approximately 8:30 a.m. CT and we walked out around 10:45 a.m. CT. The team began with 11-on-11 fastball starts, which is just four scripted plays ran by the first, second and third team groups to get things going.
The Hogs transitioned to individual drills for a bit before getting into one-on-ones, situational 11-on-11 drills, special teams work and much more.
The Quarterbacks
The first team offense continues to be ran by Boise State quarterback Taylen Green, while Malachi Singleton and Jacolby Criswell battle it out behind Green. Leadership has been the quality Green is praised the most for, but speed was the topic of conversation Thursday.
"He’s doing an awesome job," running back Ja'Quinden Jackson said. "Big. Fast. I’ve never seen nobody that tall that can run. He can run. It’s going to be a crazy duo this year."
I did my best to chart completions, incompletions, touchdowns and interceptions for each quarterback. All of it is situational, meaning some throws are from the goal line, some are from midfield and some are from your own 20-yard line. These numbers are just a general look into how each performed, but they are not at all official.
Green: 6-9 in 7-on-7; 3-4 with 2 TD in goal line; 7-8 with 1 TD in combined 11-on-11
Singleton: 4-5 in 7-on-7; 2-2 with 1 TD in goal line; 6-9 with 2 TD in combined 11-on-11
Criswell: 4-6 with 1 TD in 7-on-7; 1-3 in goal line; 4-6 in combined 11-on-11
Situational Offense
As mentioned above, they worked plenty of situational things on offense and performed probably the best they have on that side of the ball this spring. During third down drills — start from 48-yard line and run random distance on third — the first team offense converted two of four tries and the second team converted on three.
The red zone offense also performed well, as I had them scoring at least six touchdowns (out of roughly 15 or so plays) while starting from anywhere within the 20-yard line.
Hunter Yurachek stops by
I'm sure a lot of Arkansas fans would love to ask the program's athletics director some questions about another head coach on campus, but Yurachek stopped by to view a portion of Tuesday morning's practice.
On the offensive line
I spent some time with the offensive line during individual drills. First-year o-line coach Eric Matoes was working with guards and centers, while head coach Sam Pittman had the tackles off on his own. Both coaches were working intensely and purposefully, as Mateos was even recalling conversations from position meetings with freshman Kobe Branham.
Brad Spence's big day
When Jaheim Thomas hit the transfer portal from last year's team, I was a bit worried about the linebacker position. Sophomore Brad Spence continues to make me feel more confident the more I watch him. He had at least two pass breakups Tuesday, a goal line interception and he was also playing some as a stand-up edge rusher.
It was kind of quiet
You could kind of tell it was the Monday after spring break. While there were plenty of times where teammates celebrated each other, pads popped and coaches got red in the face, it was an otherwise quiet practice. I remember specifically during the two-minute get the ball back drill with the second team offense and defense, I found myself whispering to the person next to me because it was so quiet inside the Walker Pavilion.
Injuries
Arkansas did see tight end Luke Hasz (ankle) fully participate, plus it was the first practice for tight end Ty Washington (shoulder) in a green jersey as he's returning from a season-ending injury in 2023.
Wide receiver Bryce Stephens (ankle) did not participate and neither did safety Dylan Hasz (broken hand). Freshman linebacker Justin Logan continues to wear a green non-contact jersey.
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Notable plays
- Taylen Green threw a perfectly placed deep ball over the middle to Andrew Armstrong for a long touchdown during one of the first 11-on-11 team portions. That connection seems to be strong, as Green also found Armstrong for a touchdown during 1-on-1s with talented corner Jaylon Braxton in coverage.
- I'd venture to say today was one of Isaac TeSlaa's best spring practices. He made a really nice one-handed catch on a ball from Green during 7-on-7s.
- Var'keyes Gumms caught a lot of passes Tuesday, including a touchdown in the back of the end zone from Malachi Singleton during red zone drills.
- Jacolby Criswell found redshirt freshman walk-on Emmanuel Crawford for a touchdown on the left sideline during 7-on-7 drills. Crawford has changed positions from running back to wide receiver.
- The two interceptions I had on the day were thrown by Singleton, as Spence had the pick on the goal line and Florida transfer Miguel Mitchell had an interception during the two-minute get the ball back drill.
- I had the trio of Ja'Quinden Jackson, Isaiah Augustave and Rashod Dubinion all scoring touchdowns in the red zone.
- Defensive tackle Eric Gregory blew up the first team offense's first play of two-minute by stopping Jackson immediately in the backfield.
- Kicker Vito Calvaruso was good from 51 yards out during the last portion of practice. Hawaii transfer Matthew Shipley missed from 51.
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11-on-11 Depth Chart
These depth charts are unofficial and just a general list based on the multiple 11-on-11 drills ran. They go with different personnel and different formations often.
FIRST TEAM
Offense
QB: Taylen Green
RB: Ja'Quinden Jackson
TE: Luke Hasz
WR: Tyrone Broden, Andrew Armstrong, Jaedon Wilson
LT: Fernando Carmona
LG: Patrick Kutas
C: Addison Nichols
RG: Joshua Braun
RT: Keyshawn Blackstock
Defense
DE: Landon Jackson
DT: Cam Ball
DT: Eric Gregory
DE: Nico Davillier
LB: Xavian Sorey Jr.
LB: Brad Spence
NB: Snaxx Johnson
CB: Jaylon Braxton
CB: Kee'yon Stewart
S: Hudson Clark
S: Jayden Johnson
SECOND TEAM
Offense
QB: Malachi Singleton
RB: Isaiah Augustave
TE: Andreas Paaske, Var'keyes Gumms
WR: Isaac TeSlaa, Jordan Anthony
LT: E'Marion Harris
LG: Josh Street
C: Amaury Wiggins
RG: Kobe Branham
RT: Ty'Kieast Crawford
Defense
DE: Anton Juncaj
DT: Kieve Rose
DT: Ian Geffrard
BUCK: Brad Spence
LB: Carson Dean
LB: Alex Sanford
NB: Doneiko Slaughter
CB: Jaheim Singletary
CB: Marquise Robinson
S: TJ Metcalf
S: Miguel Mitchell
THIRD TEAM
Offense
QB: Jacolby Criswell
RB: Dominique Johnson
TE: Shamar Easter
WR: Kamron Bibby, Dazmin James, CJ Brown
LT: Tommy Varhall
LG: Paris Patterson
C: Brooks Edmonson
RG: Luke Brown
RT: Aaron Smith
Defense
DE: Charlie Collins
DT: Kyle Thompson
DT: Kaleb James
DE: Quincy Rhodes
LB: Brooks Both
LB: JuJu Pope
NB: Tevis Metcalf
CB: Selman Bridges
CB: Jaden Allen
S: RJ Johnson
S: Ahkhari Johnson
