Click play for audio of Razorback head coach Bret BIelema from Wednesday's media teleconference.
Key Notes
"We've had a good fall camp, stayed relatively healthy. Unfortunately lost a great person and a great player in Jonathan Williams," Bielema said. "Have a tremendous opportunity this week with UTEP coming in town this weekend to start our season."
- For the first game and the last game, they want Jonathan Williams on the field with them, but during the course of the year as to whether they travel him or not will be week-to-week. The coaches will wear a blue ribbon on their arm for National Prostate Awareness Month. Bielema's father, who is a survivor of prostate cancer, will be with Bielema this month.
- Regarding not opening with a conference opponent like with last season, Bielema said they were able to get more in on some early SEC opponents like Tennessee, which Arkansas has yet to face under Bielema.
- Cornelius Floyd is "day-by-day" with an ankle and is questionable for the game. His availability will be determined on how he practices Wednesday and Thursday.
- Bielema said they think they'll get the best they've ever had with Alex Collins, and the next guy int he game would be Kody Walker, who just became a father yesterday. After him, Rawleigh Williams - who Bielema said was the surprise of camp - will turn heads on Saturday and during the season. After that, Denzell Evans and down the road.
- Bielema said Mitch Smothers is No. 1 at center and Frank Ragnow is No. 2. And Bielema said Zach Rogers would come in if there was an opportunity to get more work for younger developmental players. Josh Allen will now come in as the top back up at both guard spots.
"There's no doubt he can fill in, in that role in a very good way, so Zach would handle the majority of center. At guard would be Josh Allen for sure at either right or left if we had to pop him in there," Bielema said. "He's not huge on length, but he's compact, powerful, explosive. Really like what he's bringing to the table."
- Brian Wallace will get on the field in the playing rotation early, and there could be a lot of shifting to make that happen, including moving right tackle Dan Skipper inside to guard and moving Frank Ragnow into center or whatever they decide to do to get him more action.
- Bielema said he first met Joe Moore at the University of Iowa and quickly found out who he was and what he was about after not knowing him prior.
"We may have formations on Saturday that have as many as seven-to-eight offensive linemen on the field at the same time. We've done that in the past," Bielema said. "What we continue to build here, it's fun to see those guys line up and take a lot of pride in what they do, especially in today's world where it's about how many cute, sexy guys you get out on the field at the same time with a lot of programs."
