Bobby Petrino and his assistant coaches were still yelling up a storm, correcting big mistakes (including alignment of receivers inside and outside the hash marks) but a couple of guys really started to stand out today.
My thoughts and observations from the first practice are below. Make sure to check out the complete Razor Review tonight after the veterans’ practice, which is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. inside Razorback Stadium.
— Eric Bennett has really impressed me at punt return. If he keeps it up, he will push for a shot at the punt return job with the four veterans (Joe Adams, Jarius Wright, Cobi Hamilton and Dennis Johnson) once practices are combined next week.
— Freshman receiver Javontee Herndon (6-1, 185) was the sharpest newcomer in practice today. His routes were crisp, he made a great catch near the sideline past a defender and also saved a high pitch on an option play to the right side near the end of practice.
— Freshmen receivers Marquel Wade and Maudrecus Humphrey stayed after practice when positional groups broke apart, but didn’t do much conditioning.
— Fullback Van Stumon and offensive lineman Anthony Oden, who were both arrested on alcohol-related charges earlier this year, continued their apparent punishments after practice with some extra work.
— Jatashun “Big Tex” Beachum was asked to say after practice for the second consecutive day. He did several things after practice, including sprints and strength work on the ground.
— Spotted a random No. 24 today (he was out there as well Thursday). The man behind the facemask is kicker/punter Weston Cox of Jonesboro. He shanked a few punts to Bennett and Wade, and proved to be inconsistent.
— Sophomore linebacker Terrell Williams appeared at the tail end of the newcomers practice. He chatted with some Arkansas administrators, slapped a few players’ hands and got a warm welcome from inside linebackers coach Reggie Johnson as he took the field.
I’ll try to find out more about why he was late during the veterans’ practice tonight.
— I counted 45 players at the newcomers’ practice.
Make sure to check out WholeHogSports.com and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for more coverage. You can also follow us on Twitter for breaking news updates with @bmarcello and @wholehogsports.
Exciting stuff. Glad to hear Bennett is stepping up in punt return. Mabye he can be our guy. I sure hope Odom and my man Van keep themselves out of trouble the rest of the year.
Great report Brandon! Wish I was there to see “Big Tex” run!
Thanks Brandon. Can’t begin to tell you how much your reports mean to those of us who live and bleed Razorback Red but are stuck far away from NWA… especially here in GA where UGA sports is all you hear about.
Any impressions yet re: Chris Smith? The young man seems to be a prodigy with great physical gifts.
Keep up the great work and WPS!
Hey masters hog, you must be here in Augusta with me. I hope we can beat the dogs so we don’t have to listen to all there barking. Are you gong to the game in Athens?
I should have proofed before I hit submit!! (their, going)
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